Options for year 9

[Alsoplayspiccolo]

DS is just coming to the end of year 8.
He's been told he can swop/drop subjects for year 9, one such case being dropping Latin or Spanish and taking up German.

DS is doing well in both Latin and Spanish, and enjoys the latter but dislikes his Latin teacher ( the only Latin teacher in the school and seemingly quite fierce, motivating with the stick rather than the carrot).
Even though he has no real interest in learning German, DS wants to drop Latin for it.

On the one hand, we feel DS should choose what he wants to do, but 2 years of Latin followed by a year of German seems less useful than 3 years of Latin, and because he only wants to do German as a way of not having to do Latin, we're worried he won't actually make any effort in German ( there's no chance he'll take it at GCSE, so it will only be a single year).

Should we just let him choose what he wants to do?

I would let him do German, if he isn't taking either Latin or German to GCSE may as well do what he prefers. A year's German would give him the basics and think it is useful.

2 years of Latin will have taught him some grammar principles that will make German more accessible, potentially.

(doi both mine gave up French in favour of German at this age, one continued Latin one dropped it)

Thanks for your input, both.
Glad I asked now - it sounds like a year of German would have more benefit than we thought.

I think the German's a good idea. Learning some basic vocab and conversation could come in handy one day. Also if there's zero chance of him wanting to do Latin for GCSE, he might as well try something different just on the off chance he falls in love with it.

I think the main Latin I've used is basic declensions/conjugations which he'll have covered already.