Godolphin and Latymer Mandarin requirement year 7?

[SamPoodle123]

Hello. I am just curious why is it required to take Mandarin year 7? I can understand as having it as an option, but wondering why it would be required for all to take? Why not let the students select what two languages they take from the start instead of allowing it year 8? My dd is waiting to find out if she gets offered a spot there.

I would wait until you have an offer before worrying about the minutiae! No school's curriculum is going to chime perfectly with yours /DD's wishlist. Every secondary school seems to take a different approach to MFL from what I've seen. It's just up to you to decide if it's a deal breaker or not. But for now, I would stop worrying and just put it all out of your mind until Feb 10th!

Maybe it starts all students off at a level playing field?
Maybe they have found that studying it develops part of the mind / learning skills that otherwise lie dormant?
Maybe they have a teacher they need to utilise more?
Maybe they have found that kids won't choose it if given the option, but once they have studied it for a year a number actively choose to continue?

I am not really worrying about it...just curious.

This makes sense. Perhaps it is one of the reasons you posted.

I think all these schools cater to the belief that China is growing so fast that they all need to learn Mandarin for the new world order. G&L is not the only one teaching Mandarin in Year 7. I agree, I find it a bit odd. Maybe learn a language where the home country sort of respects women's rights? Just an idea.

I thought all schools do this now? I think the same happens at LU?

Also, from what I've seen, learning Mandatin is a totally different skill-set to learning other European languages - mainly because there is no alphabet. It may suit DC who don't have a particular flair for Spanish, French, Italian, German. Mind you, I'd say the majority at G&L are bi-lingual anyway. When someone asked that at a talk, more than half the hands went up! Quite a few speak 3 languages.

"Maybe learn a language where the home country sort of respects women's rights?"

Is there a language where the home country had no controversal issues? 😲

Perhaps teaching utopian language in GCSE that never create dialogue opportunities..

you are right. i am sorry.

Yes, my dd is bilingual already and attends a French bilingual school. I was just curious why it is Mandarin they decide is mandatory and not another language. Or why not just let the student decide which language. It is not a deal breaker of course. Just wondering the thoughts behind it.

At FHSS it looks like the mandatory language is French.

Perhaps they have put a lot of effort into recruiting Mandarin teachers and want to ensure they have full classes every year?

Mmmm.. What would be the next emerging economic power house, should I suggest the school start considering hiring the teacher?

Yes, that would be a good idea.

totally agree 😂

I feel like a waste of time for sure, unless the dc wants to do it. I would rather her focus on a language she is more likely to use like French or Spanish.

I can understand why they would have it as an option, not that it is mandatory. I think they should keep the language, just let the students decide if they want to do it or another language instead.

"I would rather her focus on a language she is more likely to use like French or Spanish"
How about what she'd rather focus on? Mandarin is studied in Y7 so those girls who have never had a chance to study it before can decide for themselves whether they'd like to focus on it from Y8. Has your daughter had the chance to study Mandarin before?
If they don't like it they can drop it in Year 8 for a second MFL which some girls choose to take on to GCSE dropping the original Y7 MFL.
There's time at secondary, especially somewhere like G&L, to be exposed to new things for the fun & breadth of it.

Yup, she wanted to take up Spanish as her third language. But obviously, it depends on what offers she gets and what school she goes to. If she has to take Mandarin, she will obviously do it. I just questioned why it was mandatory. If there was a reason for it.

They will have decided for timetabling purposes. As someone said they will have to learn the alphabet/characters and therefore it is probably better to start younger so that if they want to proceed to gcse they have a better chance at getting good grades.

What specifically is it about women’s rights (as opposed to human rights generally) that you’re concerned about?

@SamPoodle123 grammar wise Spanish and Mandarin has a lot in common - speak from my experience..

@SamPoodle123 part of your original question was why any specific MFL should be compulsory, as opposed to simply requiring at least one MFL. I agree that's an excellent question. As for why Mandarin? Why not? Some parents (and girls) will, for various personal reasons, favor one language or another. I don't see any compelling arguments why a year or two of French or Spanish should be compulsory, either.

My DD studies Mandarin in Y7 & 8 at her state school, alongside another MFL (she does Spanish but could do French or German). They do GCSE's over 3 years so can drop it in Y9 if they want to. I rather like that they do something a bit different