Which language would you choose?

[Stokey]

It's pretty early but DD1 in Y7 has to choose which language to do as a second language in Y8. In Y7 the year is split into two streams doing French or German. Dd1 is in the German stream. In Y8 they can choose a second language from whichever one they didn't do, Russian or Latin.

Dd1 is keen on Latin, but it would mean she'd have to do German GCSE as she has to do a MFL. The school doesn't offer Latin A level which I feel is a bit limiting as she wouldn't be able to follow through on one of her A levels subjects, although could leave for 6th form.

She's not keen on Russian. I think French probably makes more sense but she likes ancient history and would have liked to learn Spanish, which isn't an option.

Would you choose a subject for GCSE that you knew you couldn't do for A level?

@Itonlytakesonetree

Russian and German have very similar grammar systems so it is easier to pick up from a German foundation, if that helps at all.

They don’t have similar grammar system as they belong to different language groups, have different alphabet and are just completely and utterly different :).

Another voice agreeing that German and Russian grammar are not similar!!

French.

@Wandawide

Latin would help her to learn many European languages in the future. Russian has the added problem of the alphabet. Russian would help to study ancient civilisations across Asia that have not been translated yet. There must also be heaps of stuff in Russian about the Vikings. Not Ancient I know but not fully researched and translated yet I think.

Also vikings have nothing to do with Russia and there is not a lot written about them in Russian 😂. Sadly studying Russian will not help you understand neither vikings nor ancient civilizations across Asia, believe it or not 🙈. It is a Slavic language so if you learn it, you’ll be able to understand quite a few other Slavic languages but not “ancient civilizations”. You will get to know amazing Russian culture, art, literature and music which is a privilege if you ask me.

I’d definitely ignore the a level issue as the subjects available may change in the next 4/5 years. Go with what she thinks she will enjoy.