What are the benefits of a language GCSE if you’re not going to study languages further?

[Rollergirl11]

DD is in the process of choosing her options for GCSE’s. She is top set for all subjects. She is torn whether to take Spanish or not. She is very good at it but she doesn’t enjoy it and has no plans to go further in study or career wise with a language. I am saying that it is always good to have a language so why not. And it has now been made compulsory to take a language GCSE from now on in my sons year (Year 7) so my son will have to take one. Will it ever be a detriment to DD if she doesn’t have a language?

Also she is keen to take both Geography and History but a lot of her friends are saying taking both is too much work. Does anyone know if this is true? We have an Options evening next week so can ask all these questions then but thought I’d see if Mumsnet had any advice!

Mine's the same with French plus the schools grades in it are rubbish, they are still predicting her an 8/9 but its the riskiest subject academically, she hates it and we go through periods of no language teachers and just cover teachers with no languages. Her choices are pretty sensible overall and she has reasoning so I'm leaving her to it. I did Economics GCSE and Commerce GCSE and not the most conventional of A Levels and got to Cambridge for Economics and the only ones they discussed at interview were the non-conventional ones and was all positive and they were especially positive that I had been interested in economics from such a young age. Though think it depends who you get though and also was from a comp who had never got anyone in before. The two private boys I was with had much more conventional A Levels and GCSEs.

Not sure in our case if school will force it due to ebacc. But if she gets forced into French instead of RE she is supposed to do another 0.5 RE on top and it's just too much work, takes it to 11.5 with one above GCSE level and start of A level level.

@backintime I disagree. Because of the way we learn and the way the human brain wires up, the earlier you learn a language the better. The learning goes beyond the volume of data and vocabulary or the intellectual challenge. It touches a part of your brain that is pretty open when you are young, I gets more difficult as you grow old.

Please don't let your daughter be "trapped" in her own language. The English-speaking world is wide and deep, to be sure, but there are limits to it.

What do people of other languages do? They leard a foreign language (even if it is mosy likely English). Learning languages is for everybody, not just an elite. How do you think all the Polish plumbers and builders get on? They learn English or German and they have a go. I voted "remain" in 2016, but I do see how British people can feel "Europe" is only for the elite... unless British people also have the education in languages which makes social mobility a reality for everyone.

Both my DCs did two language GCSEs (with 5 option blocks, 2 languages / 2 humanities / a practical arts subject (DS) or 2 languages / 1 humanity / two practical arts or DT subjects (DD) were quite feasible, in fact very common at their standard 'leafy' comp).

DD has carried one on to A-level, but for both they were fantastic options to take. They rewarded 'little and often' learning of e.g. vocab / grammar, very different from the heavy revision schedule of most humanities or the big swells of coursework in e.g. Art / Music. That had a positive impact on work ethic throughout GCSE and also on final revision schedules. They involved solo trips abroad (fans of 'traditional' exchanges / home visits here), and fostered an international outlook. They were also intellectually interesting (one was a non-standard MFL so genuinely a talking point and a 'puzzle solving' type challenge, which suited both of them as good logical mathematician types).

In general, as well, the classes were full of motivated students - nobody takes an MFL as an 'easy ride', so behaviour, generally good in the school, was excellent in the MFL classes.

However, I would say that the MFL department is a huge strength of their school, full of native speakers and passionate linguists (it was possible to take up to 4 MFL GCSEs through in school and after school classes), while the economics / business studies department is ... less well staffed. I think the situation would have been different had the staffing been less good.

She may not be that keen on Spanish, but if she does it to GCSE she might later be able to eg pick up Italian because they are fairly similar. Nothing is ever wasted and I am definitely in the camp that says a foreign language should be compulsory at GCSE.

To answer your other question, history and geography are fine together and not too much work. My ds did both, he is a lazy so and so and got two grade 8s.

Agree with cologne. I am a science / maths person, not a languages person, but having done French (and Latin) for O-level makes SUCH a difference when travelling in Italy or Spain. Yes, I can't converse fluently, but I can decipher notices / timetables / labels well enough to feel less like a fish out of water.

I wouldn’t worry about 3 humanities and an MFL. I think a better mix is to have an art and my DDs loved drama. Luckily their school was amazing at teaching it. Mostly A*s all round. However no MFL and no Art subject is a bit limiting in breadth if she’s aiming high.

I love doing cryptic crosswords and find knowing some French and German helps with some clues