A level MFL

[montlieu]

All I am looking for feedback on whether DD should take MFL A level in Spanish
she is already bilingual in French, so Spanish A level is a bit "easier" (for her than for others) but still exciting

In addition, we have been told than universities tend to disregard MFL A level in the native speaker's language. so a high grade in French would be disregarded as the universities will realise she is a native speaker (she has both French and British passports, plus got A* on GCSE 3 years early-in year 8).

Other A level subject would be
Maths
Physics (or Chemistry)
Economics
Spanish
EPQ (mandatory)
She has to start with 4 subjects then can drop 1.
She is academic but has no idea of what she wants to do ultimately, so can't work it out backward from either career paths or universities.
Thanks !

I am curious how universities always spot native speakers (how woud they know about passports? Might be spottable from the name but they would have to be very sure to penalise on that basis), although doing the GCSE that early is definitely a give away!
If she has a talent for languages, I'd go for it. Relatively few take MFL so that helps one stand out. Is she considering MFL for univesisty. Plus MFL A levels sit nicely with most other combos. And can count as an essay subject, I would have thought, to keep options open against, say maths and a science. Better regarded than econ, and if she does maths, not doing econ doesn't block econ as a degree.

They don’t spot them at all! Plenty get MFL degrees and obviously it’s easier for them and harder for everyone else. We know plenty who have done this - Oxbridge too. Just like the A levels - who actually notices it? The other non native students get lower results though.

Take the Spanish if she is likely to want MFL at university because she’s clearly got an advantage. Maths and Physics obviously lean towards a science degree, so there is a choice to be made. Economics would help with economics degrees and law would be an option with any of them. So little closed off really.

No. MFLs are not essay subjects. Not the same as history, English etc.

Don't they do literature any more? When I did French A level we studied several texts and had essay questions on them in the exams, and wrote essays in French as well.

Yes you study a film and a book (or two books, but who would do that?) and in the exam you write an essay on each in TL - but they are only 300 words for AQA so not as much as a GCSE Eng Lit essay to be honest.

As much of the mark is for the language as for the content of the essay (quite right to IMO)

A level in MFL is much much more about language than it was when I did it (in the dark ages). I studied four books for each MFL A level but wrote the essays in English!

A lot more emphasis now on language ability.

Just my own curiosity - what was the point of her doing the French GCSE in Y8?

@cocomarine
it was suggested by the school for several reasons, if I can remember correctly ! she was ready (got A*), it got it out of the way to allow to focus on other subjects, and also I think the grading was changing from letters to number and at the time, it was not quite known (or clear) how difficult it would be to get a 9 as it was being introduced or about to, the school then offered to prep and get her to sit the DELF as a next stage.

@Revengeofthepangolins I think maybe the personal statement can be a give away ? or what about the passport on the application form, they must be checking on rights of residency etc

She wouldn't take a MFL at university, just to A level, to get better at something she enjoys

thank you all for your comments ! very helpful !

@PresentingPercy

No. MFLs are not essay subjects. Not the same as history, English etc.

This is incorrect. My DS did language A levels and had to write essays on the set text and film. He also had to do an independent research project for the speaking exam.

Of those subjects I would suggest your DD does Maths, Economics, Spanish and French if she wants to pursue languages.

@grenadines

Of those subjects I would suggest your DD does Maths, Economics, Spanish and French if she wants to pursue languages.

My A levels were French, Maths and Economics. I then did a French and Business degree. Much later on, I did Spanish A Level whilst training to be a teacher. I found it very easy compared to the French and got a grade higher too.

I say do it. As a French native, the Spanish should not be that hard. Although the grammar is definitely not easy compared to French imho.

grenadines I think the reference to essays is talking about something different from a 300-word essay though. My dd had to write a 2500 word piece for her English assessment. Not boasting, she found her 300 words in French a lot harder!