Languages at secondary school

[Mintychoc1]

DS1 is in year 7. They have been studying French since September, and they have just added in Spanish too. In April they have to make a choice - French or Spanish - to study in year 8.

Does this mean that only one language can be studied for GCSE? Presumably if they can't do 2 languages in year 8, they won't be able to do them in year 10?

Is this the norm now? When I was at school the kids who liked languages were able to do 2 or even 3. I think it's a shame if these days kids can only study one.

Sadly it's only one language at my son's school.

Well actually that's not strictly true. They can do two, but as they've all (in his year) only done one up to now and the school won't teach from scratch. They did say if my son wanted to do German as an extra GCSE (he has been doing some at home but would rather do it at school) they would facilitate that by offering a teacher for the oral exam etc but they won't teach it.

So although the school offers 3 languages the kids can only do one. I am hoping that sixth form colleges will realise this is becoming increasingly the norm and offer more ab initio courses at A level for those who want to do more than one language. We do have one college that offers Spanish and Italian from scratch for A level and other languages for GCSE.

Why do we always think MFL are really hard

No idea. For me, there's the easiest subjects of all.

they are not there's

In DS's state school they do 1 MFL in yr 7 from French, German or Spanish 2 in yr 8, can choose to drop 1 in yr 9 or keep going with both, and can then choose to take 1 or 2 or even 3 for GCSE. There are twilight MFLs available too (mandarin & Latin), and twilight booster lessons for French, German and Spanish geared to kids who haven't studied the language since yr 7. The school gets great MFL results.

DS has a good memory and finds MFL really easy with minimal effort. He will do 2 at GCSe

In my experience the more languages you learn and speak, the easier each additional language becomes. And I (and my children) actually find languages GCSE's relatively easier than other subjects, even the current new syllabus (my dd is in Yr 10). But I agree that it is about attitude and wanting to learn another language.

Hi OP

I don't have any current experience but from when I was at school (my local state school/all ability) we could do 2 languages up to year 9, then we had to pick only 1 to take to GCSE.

Then a few years later, I think you could drop your modern language in favour of history or geography, so end up with no GCSE in a ML.

Pretty sad state of affairs and just reinforces the fact that english speakers are poor at MLs, there is no encouragement to keep going to GCSE and beyond.

Grufallosfriend
I completely agree with you there