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Original poster

Can't do triple science unless you're predicted at least a C in MFL

84 replies

sandyballs · 11/02/2014 10:22

To be fair I haven't discussed this with school yet, my DDs are year 8. But friends with older kids have been discussing it and getting tutors for languages.

Has anyone heard of this before, what on earth has achieving in a language got to do with science?

OP posts:
Martorana · 12/02/2014 22:01

I didn't make myself clear. I think that many people who can do well in other subjects might struggle with learning a MFL. I am talking about getting a GCSE in a MFL. Not the same thing at all!

nickymanchester · 12/02/2014 22:08

martorana

I know you were talking about a gcse in MFL. I have known quite a few people who got Ds - like me - or only just managed to scrape a C while getting straight As in everything else.

We all then went on to good universities.

There were also plenty of other people at our school who also did very well in MFL at gcse.

Being bad at mfl while being good at all other subjects, while obviously far from being the majority is a not unsubstantial minority.

harbinger · 12/02/2014 22:23

OP is this because of the new ebacc, or Uni?

bruffin · 12/02/2014 22:48

Lynette
I dont think that the problem is learning a language as such.German is very phonetical so easy to learn to spell, but I think it's the style of exam that ds struggles with. He is very intelligent with excellent analytical skills, but we spent all sunday for him to learn five sentances for his oral.
The trouble was he was he was in top sets in yr 7 and they did two languages from day 1. Because he was in top sets he was expected to get 75% in the weekly mfl tests. He was being kept in to redo the tests. Thankfully the senco stepped in and they stopped the pressure. I got him moved down a set for mfl in yr8. He chose to take german for gcse but he would have been better getting an A in another subject. He did attempt a short latin in 6th form for a while but he found it too much work on top of 4 alevels and an engineering btech.

Ludoole · 12/02/2014 23:19

DS1 (current year 9) has already been told he's doing triple science (he gets L8) but he does struggle with MFL.
OP, id talk to the school if I were you. It seems each school has there own way of doing things.

irishe · 12/02/2014 23:33

Yes, I agree, that that it is entirely possible to be challenged by a MFL whilst being accomplished at other subjects. I went to a grammar school, where french was compulsary at O level. I was not a straight A student, at O level, 5 A's 2B's, 2C's, but I really struggled with French. I remember asking to drop French, but was turned down as I was viewed as a student who should be able to get a C. I eventually got a U, much to my delight, as this meant it did not make it onto my exam transcript. I always thought this was a better result than having a D on there! Although there will always be 'all rounders', some children/adults can excel in some areas and struggle in others. I understand the need to drive up standards across the board, and the concept of a rounded education, but chafe a bit at the required uniformity/conformity of the Ebacc. Do we all have to strive for the same things - up to GCSE anyway? I agree that English/maths are essential, but why should everyone study a science or MFL?. It's interesting to see how things have changed over the years, I did my O & A levels in the eighties and the mandatory subjects were maths/English Lang/English lit/history/geography & French. There were 3 optional Choices which could be the 3 sciences. Or other combos like art/RE/economics. Many students dropped all sciences prior to embarking on O level courses. My school sent 6 to 10 students yearly to Oxbridge, many of whom had not studied any sciences since age 14. The brightest student in my year dropped all sciences, age 14, went on to study law at Cambridge with an offer of EE. I am not saying children today should not study science, merely remarking that there are many ways to earn a living in adulthood and I think some autonomy of choice in what is studied is not necessarily a bad thing.

pixiepotter · 13/02/2014 14:32

That sounds like typical public sector logic at work to me
l I am not sure about this double/triple science business.As I understand it triple science isn't more difficult you just cover more ground in each topic.Therefore it would suggest to me that if all schools spent more time on science evrybody could go in for triple.My Dc (grammar) schoo spend 3 periods a week on each of teh 3 sciences from Y7 on.That is 9* 40mins ie 6 hours a week.Lets face it much more jobs are in STEM subjects than the arts

hellsbells99 · 13/02/2014 14:36

I have a science degree.....and I failed 'O' level French.

Bonsoir · 13/02/2014 14:49

do dyslexics find learning another language more difficult than others?

There is absolutely no relationship between dyslexia and the ability to learn MFL. Some dyslexics are brilliant linguists.

However they are heavily dependent on aural input, as opposed to reading. They therefore need to be immersed in a high-quality language-rich environment in order to learn an MFL. The environment of the average English MFL classroom does not meet this spec Smile

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