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Secondary education

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Year 9 language options. German or latin?

10 replies

options19 · 10/02/2019 12:43

My DC in Year 8 has had to learn latin and Spanish since Year 7. In Year 9 they get the chance to pick up another language and/or drop latin.

My DC likes Spanish and is likely to continue that for GCSEs. I doubt they will take a second language for GCSE as they do not get many options in Year 10 and they are already fairly set on what they will do.

With that in mind, for the sake of ease, are they better off doing German for a year or continuing latin for a 3rd year?

They could opt not to take German and also to drop latin but not many pupils do that and the way the timetabling is done, their other humanities/English setting is dependent on their language options for Year 9.

OP posts:
TeenTimesTwo · 10/02/2019 14:55

I'd go for German. A year's worth of German is more 'use' than a 3rd year of Latin. And she may love it.

FeedMeBooks · 10/02/2019 22:48

I'd say stuck with the Latin. Only a year of German won't get you far & I'd query any child's commitment to full effort for a subject they know they're starting from scratch only to drop it 9 months later.

Talksunderwater · 10/02/2019 23:59

I think your DC will do best in the subject he/she enjoys the most. If they like Latin, I’d say continue with that (it’s helpful for Spanish anyway). If not, give German a go.

MaudeLynne · 11/02/2019 00:01

Latin, definitely. Helps with loads of languages, including English and quiz questions!

havingtochangeusernameagain · 11/02/2019 08:16

I think I would also say Latin. It's easier to learn German at a later date, but Latin isn't offered in many places now.

EBearhug · 11/02/2019 08:25

I'd stick with Latin - if they want to do German at a later stage, it will be far easier to find evening classes than it would for Latin, and just a year of German will get you only the very basics.

I learnt German at evening classes, and I picked it up more easily than some of the others there, because I already understood the concept of cases, having done Latin. So in that sense, they complement each other.

SherlockHolmes · 11/02/2019 08:29

Latin. It would help with Spanish vocab.

PenguinPandas · 11/02/2019 12:52

Would definitely do German.

ladygaga01 · 11/02/2019 13:02

What does your DC think?

ConfCall · 11/02/2019 13:02

I don't see the point of one year of German. Better to improve/expand on the good grounding in Latin imo.

Unless of course DC really fancies German for whatever reason. Interest and keenness go a long way.

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