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Secondary education

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Original poster

Taking 2 languages

41 replies

Sunshine1239 · 01/03/2020 14:41

Hi

Dd is choosing her options and is in all top sets. She’ll be taking 10 GCSEs

She wants to do both gcse languages french and German but currently these are her lowest grades - not necessarily low just lower than the rest of her subjects

MFL teachers say this is normal as they’re relatively new to kids until secondary and that kids and their levels catch up. Anyone have any experience?

Just wandering if she’d be better choosing a creativedge subject for a better grade at the end rather than two languages -but she genuinely likes languages!

She’s also taking a humanities and PE

Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunshine1239 · 01/03/2020 14:42

Creative

OP posts:
TeenPlusTwenties · 01/03/2020 14:47

Surely creative subjects are only easier to get high grades if you are good at them?

She's in top sets and likes languages. Even if she gets 1 grade lower in them than she might have done in something else, is that really a good reason to not do them? GCSEs are about education as well as grades.

(My DD1 did 2 MFL under the old GCSEs).

Moominmammacat · 01/03/2020 14:53

Mine did three languages and I think it made unis want them/give them lower offers!

Original poster
Sunshine1239 · 01/03/2020 14:55

I’m just worried that say- for example she is currently pushing (almost) two grades higher in say DT and Computer science compared to her languages even though she’s mid set 1 out of 5 sets. I’d like her to pursue languages as I feel they’re superior and they interest her but DH reckons it’s all about numbers and grades

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunshine1239 · 01/03/2020 14:56

Did your children manage two languages ok? Not get confused etc?!

OP posts:
RedskyAtnight · 01/03/2020 15:02

DT is a lot of coursework. Computer Science can be hard to get your head around.

I'd suggest your DD should take the subjects she enjoys. Grades would only come into it for me if, for example she chose a subject where she was predicted a 2 over one where she was predicted a 9. Getting a 6 rather than a 7 doesn't really make much difference unless you specifically need a 7 for something you want to do later (entry requirement for A Levels in very academic school for example). And there's no way any grade prediction can tell you at this point anyway.

TeenPlusTwenties · 01/03/2020 15:41

We found for DD1 that the advantages of doing 2 MFL outweighed disadvantages.

The 'exam technique' was the same for both subjects.
There was (then at least) less revision load for MFL than for some other subjects as they are more cumulative.
She could guess words she didn't know if she knew them in the other language (did French & Spanish, might not be the case with German).

cologne4711 · 01/03/2020 16:33

DH reckons it’s all about numbers and grades

Languages provide a skill for life. Much better to get a 7 for a language (or two) than a 9 for art, say.

clary · 01/03/2020 16:48

It's great that she wants to take two MFL, also that she has the chance to 👏👏 yes, there is a steeper learning curve. What grades are they predicting? And does she plan on applying to Oxford for uni? Cos if not, seriously, her GCSE grades don't matter beyond a certain level - so 6666778899 is just as good as 6777888999 for her future. Obviously she will need 6+ or even 7+ in her A level choices but apart from that, don't let predicted grades be an issue.

Disclaimer: if it's a choice between PG of 3 and PG of 8 then Obv the 8 is a better bet.

clary · 01/03/2020 16:52

I see others say the same as me 😁

Teen makes a good point about revision - it's cumulative for MFL so there's less of a, massive load in April of Yr 11, as long as you keep it going.

I should add that I taught MFL and it is still my passion so I may be biased 😏

Original poster
Sunshine1239 · 01/03/2020 16:54

Not sure if her expected grade but based on sats etc then they say they’re aiming for all the top set to get a 7 minimum but I’d have thought she’d need to be on a 5-6 by now and she’s not

She’s determined to stick with languages tho so I’ll continue to encourage her as I actually think these are her favourite subjects

OP posts:
clary · 01/03/2020 16:58

I think her "being on a 5-6 now" is meaningless really. Does it mean that's what she'd get if she took the GCSE now? If so, I never know why this matters, as that's not what she's going to do.

What do they think she is capable of getting at GCSE in Yr 11? That's the key question. Though if she is in top set and enjoys languages then it sounds like a good plan to take them.

lanthanum · 01/03/2020 20:40

Agree with Clary; what you need to know is what they think she's capable of getting.
It does tend to be a steeper learning curve for languages, especially if it's one they haven't started at all until secondary, so it may well be the case that she'll go up more in languages than other subjects.

We had a similar issue with computer science, where DD's reports have always said "average" for attainment, despite being above in all other academic subjects. We suspected that the teacher just didn't give many kids anything other than average (none of her friends had done any better), but we queried it at parents' evening, since we didn't want her considering the subject if she wasn't going to do as well in it as she would in any other.

Original poster
Sunshine1239 · 01/03/2020 21:12

I’ve no idea what they think she’ll get

They said they’re aiming for 7s for the class but that they can’t say for anyone at this minute what they’d defo get

This is what worried me as she’ll have t go from 4-7 in languages in 2 years compared to grade 5/6 she currently has in other arty subjects

OP posts:
Piggywaspushed · 01/03/2020 21:13

Grades are definitely a bit lower in MFL in year 9 since they are nearer beginners' stage.

DS1 did two MFL. They were his highest grades in the end.

Original poster
Sunshine1239 · 01/03/2020 21:13

I mean she’s already 5/6 In tart subjects so could potentially get higher than a 7 but she’s less interested in them

Languages are known as notoriously harder so choosing two is my concern. 1 is a certain but 2 is her choice

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunshine1239 · 01/03/2020 21:14

That’s very reassuring piggy

OP posts:
BubblesBuddy · 01/03/2020 21:25

My DD1 did two MFL for GCSE and A level. And degree! Old syllabus but if you like them and are good at them, it’s worth doing at least one at university with another subject.

Many MFL grads don’t use their languages though. Also women with MFL degrees are poor earners (if you believe the latest research from the IFS). Lower than teachers and nurses! I think this seems odd but apparently it’s not a passport to riches in the uk! However languages are a stepping stone to other careers but you won’t necessarily use the languages. The skills you learn are way more varied than that.

clary · 01/03/2020 21:37

tbh to say she is working at a 6 in subject X or y is a bit ridiculous really. I do wish teachers didn't have to give this non-info. She hasn't I imagine studied Macbeth and conflict poetry so who's to say she is currently at a 6 in Eng lit, for example.

Op she has done French for two and a bit years so she is going to do that whole time again, I am sure she is able to double her knowledge, as it were. Has she got good mastery of tenses and good knowledge of the vocab she has covered? Those are the key elements in GCSE.

Piggywaspushed · 01/03/2020 21:37

I am guessing quite a lot of them might be teachers bubbles ?

77seven · 01/03/2020 22:03

Is she only in Year 9 now, OP?

When you say “creative” subjects, do you mean a choice between DT or Computer Science? Or were you thinking Art, Music, Drama?

The teachers can’t possibly predict in Year 9 what a student will achieve at GCSE. Even the mocks in Year 11 are usually wrong.

My DS did two languages and when it came to revision, they were the “lighter” subjects really, because as pps say, to some extent you either know it or you don’t by that point. Also, no major essays like in history etc.

UCL is one uni I know of that won’t admit you onto any course unless you have a language at GCSE.

But I guess DT is very useful if she wants to potentially go in that direction as a career. Same with Computer Science.

If anything, I’d be looking at dropping PE out of those because you may find it’s not an “approved” course for some unis.

The good thing about DT would be it’s less exams because it’s coursework assessed. DS’ friends were stressed with it though as it was a lot of work.

What do you see her doing for A-level?

eggofmantumbi · 01/03/2020 22:17

I'm an MFL teacher. Generally if day 4 at end of y9 to a 7+ for GCSE isn't a massive stretch for an able student.
Also, honestly, there is no way of giving an accurate current grade in y9. GCSE is 25% each of the 4 skills (listening, reading, soaking, writing). I've yet to speak to an MFL colleague who feels they can accurately assess all 4 skills (especially S) at KS3.

I think it's brilliant that your daughter can take to MFL to GCSE. ☺️

clary · 01/03/2020 23:19

77seven speaks a lot of sense but please ignore their structure about PE GCSE, no uni will have any issue with a GCSE in PE, in fact outside of English and maths, no uni minds what GCSEs you do. A levels are a different matter but for GCSE she is best to do what she likes.

BubblesBuddy · 02/03/2020 00:10

Piggy: the latest research shows women MFL grads earning less than education, nursing and nearly every other grad bar Arts. So they are not all teaching. It makes little sense to me and it makes me wonder who on earth took part in the evaluation.

BubblesBuddy · 02/03/2020 00:12

My DDs school liked DCs to have an arts gcse and a MFL as well as the normal maths, science, English and a humanity. In order to broadly educate DC. MFL do this because pupils learn about the culture as well as the grammar!