Any language teachers about? Moving schools and starting new language in Y9 - tips for catching up!

[Candlestickchic]

My dd is moving to a new school in Sep and will be starting Spanish in Y9 (did different languages so far). She does seem quite a natural linguist, but appreciate it is going to be a challenge. She is willing to put in some time most days from now and over the summer to try and cover some of what they will have done in Y7/8. Obviously there is Duolingo but can anyone recommend a more structured approach, either online or in a book, that she could work through? Thanks!

I would ask the school if they can photocopy the class work of an able student so she can see exactly what they have done so far.

Mu DD did this at her school, choose a language and then really didn't enjoy it. In Feb half term of year 9 school let her swap to another language.

We got all the notes etc from the teacher so she could go through those. Her school also has language assistants (native speakers in the UK for a year or so who work as a sort of super charged TA). She had a few 1-2-1 sessions with that person to cover basics. And I booked 4 lessons with a private tutor that did help in getting her up to the year 9 starting point. She has caught up with the class now so shouldn't need anything extra in future - got 70% overall in year end tests.

She tried Duolingo but found it a confusing mix alongside the school notes.

It also does help that she is enjoying the new language a lot more so she's motivated to do thr work!

Thank you both. I’ve just found that Oak Academy has KS2/KS3 Spanish lessons for all the way through, so I think she might start with that as a basis and maybe add in bits as you’ve suggested (ask school for notes, consider a tutor etc). Feeling optimistic! Might even do Oak Academy with her for a bit ahead of our Spanish holiday in the summer 😀

I found Memrise much better for language learning than Duolingo as there are modules where you hear native speakers saying the same phrases. It helps with gaining an ear for the language.