Idiot mother alert - Missed deadline for choosing language in yr 7

[MinginInTheRain]

I am an idiot. First ever post - feel like I've let my DD down dreadfully. My DD is off to secondary school and we received a massive pack of forms to fill in once her place was confirmed.

We were also signposted to the school website for more information to 'aid her transition to Year 7'. I tried to access website without much luck and called school but to be honest I thought that the most important forms (ie those requiring action or signatures) had been sent by post.

I have just found out that on the website was a letter regarding a modern language to be taught in Yr 7. This language will be taught alongside Latin. InYear 8 Latin can be dropped in favour of another language or the first modern language can be swapped.

The letter didn't ask for first, second preference etc but just asked parents to inform the school if they had a particular reason for wanting a specific language.

So basically I have missed my opportunity to choose the language my DD will learn for potentially the next 5 years. I am guessing she won't be keen on Latin as she wants to focus on modern languages and has talked about doing them for GCSE and beyond.

I have talked to the school but no joy. Is it wierd that language choice is decided in such a hidden way? I would have thought this letter should have been right at the front of Welcome Pack that came in the post.. Certainly above a form to give permission to take DD photo or the one evolving how canteen works!!!

I'm in the kaka! Any advice for me to rectify this before my DD realises what has happened?

I think Six said almost everything I was going to!

I'd only add that (from experience) German is a great language to learn, different to French/Spanish, and opens up a world of history and politics if she studies it further.

If she has an aptitude for languages she won't struggle starting Spanish formally in year 8. A group of the best linguists in my year started an MFL from scratch in year 10 and all got A*/A/B grades.

And don't weight German speaking countries off as a holiday destination. There are great opportunities for city breaks and Bavaria is a great summer holiday spot.

At the school dd will be going to we also were offered a preference but not a choice. They take two MFL from year 7. The languages are paired. So if you get German, then you also do Spanish. If you get french, then you either do Italian or Spanish as the second language.

We expressed a preference for German as then guaranteed Spanish as other language. If Italian, then definitely french with it. We preferred the difference between the two languages, definitely wanted Spanish rather than French.

They can also take Latin from year 8 as a third language option.

I grew up abroad so with a greater focus on languages. I did Latin, English, German, French and Italian. My mother tongue is Spanish. I continued to do a UK degree in German and Italian, and I agree that Latin was a great help when learning German. Given that your daughter already speaks some Spanish, I think that accademically German would be more beneficial at this stage as it will give her the insight of a language which gramatically is very different to her current ones. As for career prospects, German has always helped me in all the jobs I've had. It is considered harder than French and so it makes employers think you are more focussed

We often spend holidays in Germany and Austria - skiing in the Alps, cycling around Lake Constance, visiting Munich, Berlin and of course the lovely Christmas markets!

Germany is the only country in Europe still doing well in business abd industry whilst the rest of Europe is still ckimbing back up after the recession.
Lits of pdotple dismiss the potential importance or use of German. Its actually a very goid language to learn these days.

One of my dc had learnt Frech and Spanish at her prep school and actually dropped Spanish for a year to take up German as it opened up the chance to experience yet another language ( as mfl are her bag).
Now at Gcse she is doing all 3. I know 3mfl are not usually available in most schools but what I am trying to say is that your dd can use this year to experience something new if she does not get Spanish (of which she already knows a little).
Latin is also very good in assisting learning on how languages work.
Don't stress or panic, even if you had completed the form she still may not have got Spanish.

Also if she gets German and wants to continue and develop it then holidaying in Germany can be terriffic. Look at the Black Forest and Bavaria. Its beautiful in the summer and weather favourable. Its as easy to drive or fly into Germany as it is France and Spain.

Another thing to consider is that if your dd has not yet been formally taught a mfl there is a chance it may not be "her thing" quite as much as she is anticipating. Just try not to worry. It seems so big to you now as it's all new, end if one era and the start of the next. I expect by Xmas all this worry will be a dim memory.

Thank you all for your kind words. Ain't MN great!

I can't respond to all but I have really taken on board what you have said and had a swift word with myself to stop feeling that some tragedy has happened. As Doris said by xmas this will be a distant memory..or replaced by some other life or death issue

By the way school responded by saying nothing they can do you hysterical nutjob