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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

which languages are your dc learning?

63 replies

ZZZenAgain · 05/01/2013 16:12

Just that really, which languages are your dc learning in secondary school and do you think they are being well taught?

OP posts:
NewYearNewNN · 05/01/2013 16:15

ddtwin one French Spanish and Latin, ddtwin two French German and Latin.

I think they're being taught ok but we're getting extra tuition in the MFLs. But this is partially because we're able to get the tuition at mate's rates.

sicutlilium · 05/01/2013 16:32

DS1 Y9 French, German, Latin & Greek. Next year, fingers crossed, he'll add Russian. Very well taught.

lljkk · 05/01/2013 16:43

French & German. I think it's a lousy way to teach languages because they only get 2 hours of German & 4 hours of French per fortnight, both learnt from scratch. I don't care if it's standard English way to teach languages in English secondary schools, it's still a lousy way to teach languages. DS gets very confused and is learning very little of either.

SauvignonBlanche · 05/01/2013 16:44

None!

Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 05/01/2013 16:54

amazng how it varies. Five languages is quite a lot to juggle sicut. If you are happy with the teaching, could you say a bit about how he is being taught? Latin/Greek I can imagine but the MFLs?

I thought a MFL would be compulsory sauvignon. I didn't realise you go elect not to learn any (I am overseas so out of touch with it)

OP posts:
Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 05/01/2013 16:59

Iljkk, just saw on the horrors of Dutch shops thread that you are American. Do you think MFL are generally taught better, more intensively perhaps, in the US? I presume it is usual for dc to learn Spanish as first foreign language in the US, how many lessons a week do you think would be spent on it?

OP posts:
SauvignonBlanche · 05/01/2013 17:03

It is compulsory for most ZZZ but they have made an exception for DS as he just doesn't 'get it', it's a shame, I love languages but it's not for him. Sad

Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 05/01/2013 17:16

was he learning French? Probably if it really wasn't for him, it is a good thing that he doesn't have to continue. Might have been just the wrong approach for him though. Why do you think he didn't get on with it?

OP posts:
SauvignonBlanche · 05/01/2013 17:20

It was French, he has AS and has problems with language processing.
I'm pinning my hopes on DD!

BackforGood · 05/01/2013 17:29

ds - none anymore, now he's in 6th form, but did French to GCSE. I think it was taught very poorly - but them I'm old enough to have done O-levels where you had to learn to speak the language. His experience seems to be learning a passage to recite for each exam. Can't have a very basic conversation even at my low levels from 30+ years ago Sad

dd1 - is doing French and German. I think it's a lot better at her school, although still driven by this ridiculous 'learn a passage' business. She was doing the same passage in Yr7 though, as ds was doing in Yr10, so I know she's further on. 1/2 her year started Spanish and 1/2 started French in Yr7 (was a randsom split but you were asked to let them know if there were a particular reason they should do one or the other), then those that showed an apptitude were offered a 2nd language in Yr8).

creamteas · 05/01/2013 18:25

My two are doing French, and it is the only one on offer now.

Since MFL was dropped from the NC for KS4, the numbers declined so much it wasn't viable to offer two at their school any more.

It is still compulsory for top set, but an option below that and few choose it Sad

EmpressMaud · 05/01/2013 18:29

French and Latin.

I think it is being taught well, if I do say so myself.

spudmasher · 05/01/2013 18:36

Creamteas they only do Spanish at my DDs school, nothing else, for the same reason. It's quite a small school so difficult for them to offer more.
I do think is is well taught- DD totally inspired by hervteacher and doing well....but announced her pregnancy just before Xmas break so I'm a little concerned about the future as I do think it depends on the teacher, not the scheme of work.

badgerhead · 05/01/2013 19:38

DD1 & DD2 both did French & Italian to year 9 & then stayed with Italian for GCSE. DD1 got an A & DD2 takes hers this year, don't expect an A but a good C. Different capabilities for them both.

motherinferior · 05/01/2013 19:39

French, German and Latin. Don't know yet what I think about the teaching; she's only had a term.

Original poster
ZZZenAgain · 05/01/2013 22:15

quite a range from 0-5!

OP posts:
sicutlilium · 06/01/2013 00:10

ZZen - French from Y1, Latin from Y5, Greek from Y8, German from Y9 (when he changed schools), Russian (depending on performance in other languages) would start in Y10, but he would take French & Latin GCSEs a year early at the end of Y10.

kaumana · 06/01/2013 00:22

French for a couple of years, dropped it for Spanish and studying Latin atmo. Pick something that they are likely to use.

manicbmc · 06/01/2013 00:23

Fluent swearing.

cheesesarnie · 06/01/2013 00:28

dd and ds1 are both learning German. taught very well, teacher is fantastic and really encourages both. Told that German is a good language to learn for dyslexics as it 'makes sense'? Either way, they both love to speak it at home as I don't know any German!
ds2 is learning french although he's primary. (but very happy with how he's being taught too!).

CarrotsAreNotTheOnlyVegetables · 06/01/2013 00:44

DD has done French, Spanish and Latin from year 7, she is now in year 8. Teaching seems very good, DD seems to have learnt loads in past 2 years and enjoys the lessons.

DS still in year 6, does French and Latin. Teaching seems very good, have even managed to spark some enthusiasm from very laid back DS!

LS25 · 06/01/2013 09:54

My dd is 14 and in the year above for her age, she learned latin last year, did it in 1 year and got A she is also learning Spanish and Mandarin and has already taken her French GCSE A My ds is 16, he's already taken his GCSE French and is now learning Spanish, which he loves, both of my children are in the same academic, year but in different schools.

circular · 06/01/2013 10:46

DD1, yr11. oversubscriibed, just above average comp.
French, German & Spanish (just a term of each) in Yr7.
French compulsory for all from yr8, plus a choice of the other two (DD1 did German).
From yr10, after choosing options in yr9, only continued with French. for GCSE. Not great teaching at this level, she has the only teacher that does not teach A'level, and only teaches the mixed ability group to a B/C standard, although DD is hoping for an A, and planning to take French A'level.

TheFallenMadonna · 06/01/2013 10:49

French and Latin. And he'll do Spanish next year if he does well in French.

He enjoys them, and what I've seen looks OK.

Bunbaker · 06/01/2013 10:51

DD is year 8 and is learning French. I'm not convinced they teach it very well as I have French A level and have spotted mistakes in the teacher's marking. DD say that her teacher speaks French with a Barnsley accent!