Learning a 2nd foreign language at secondary - advice please

[purpleturtle1]

DD has just started year 7 at our local state comp in London and is really happy - doing well academically and loving the social side of things. However pupils only have the option to learn one modern language there. She has been assigned to Spanish, but I would like her to learn French too - even if just for a couple of years.

I’m thinking of finding a French tutor for her - to give 1-to-1 lessons - but am wondering if there’s a different/better option. Anyone have experience with Duolingo? Or group lessons? Or just learning from a textbook? She’s bright (doing very well at Spanish) and I think would pick it up easily. I also did French for A Level so could certainly teach her the basics - but I imagine lessons might go better with someone who wasn’t her mum!

Many thanks in advance.

@Feetache
Most Brits travel without knowing any MFL! They also do business with exactly the same limited knowledge of MFL. Turns out many other people speak English. Gcse mfl is too basic for business so a degree gives an edge.

Australia has a very different position in the world. Few people here learn Japanese, Korean or even Mandarin up to a working level. Russian will now be limited due to the year abroad. I think it’s a huge shame schools don’t offer 2xMFL for all who are interested as it severely limits university options. They should maybe pool lessons with another school? However Dc here see MFL as too difficult so don’t bother with the hard graft of grammar. Duolingo will do! Sadly.

I lived in the states and Europe and it is more useful than french.

Interesting. I lived in Europe and French was more useful than Spanish, given that I was in France. I have only ever needed Spanish in Spain.

I learnt French at school, then Spanish as an adult once I was at uni doing French.

Spanish is a far more useful language tbh and if my kids got randomly selected for Spanish I’d be pleased. It’s also definitely easier.

I’d just go with it tbh- once she does have a decent command of Spanish she will find French not too hard- but learning both at the same time could be confusing.

It isn’t that difficult. DD learnt French and Italian together. Obvious similarities. Dc really can master both. Some Dc find MFLs easy enough.