My neice is half Spanish. She went to school near Barcelona until she was 9, which meant she was educated in Catalan, and had a bilingual home. Theoretically, at home her father (my db) spoke to her in English and sil in Spanish. Actually, because db is bilingual and sil isn't, they spoke Spanish at home. 2 years ago, they moved to England, and dn went into year 4. She did very well, and has passed the 11&divid; and is going to a very hih achieving grammar school in Spetember. Her English is now very good, but by no means perfect, and her Spanish, although godd is also not perfect. Her new school teaches two languages from year 7, and adds Latin in year 8. Db and sil wanted her to have Spanish as one of her language choices and hoped to work with the school to bring her Spanish on, so that it develops as her English does. The school has said a flat "no" . SHe has to take French and German. She will be dealing with 5 "language codes" - 6 when Latin is added, and she is not being given an opportunity to work on her Spanish, which is, after all, her mother's language, and half her heritage.
If you've got this far, thank you!. Do people think the school is doing the right thing, and has anybody any ideas about a good way forward here?
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Secondary education
Languages - help please. Long - sorry!
6 replies
katelyle · 17/07/2007 22:42
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