French or Spanish at Y9

[longdistanceclaraclara]

DD in y8 does French and Spanish at the moment. Had a letter last night to say that we need to select wither French or Spanish for Y9. Is it usual to do only one MFL at GCSE? I did two and thought that was standard. I have emailed the school.

If they do only do one language what would you go with? I want to push for French, purely because I have never done Spanish apart from a year ab initio and am pretty fluent in French. She wants to do Spanish. What is more 'useful'?

I would go with what your dd wants, but explain your reasons behind what you want. Or how useful one might be over the other. If you visit spanish/french speaking countries more. We tend to visit countries that use French (French part of Switzerland), France and in the past Ive encountered French in other countries I have visited. Some people think Spanish is more useful, but really it depends on where you travel or for example if you are fluent in one language, then its a no brainer....unless your dd has a passion for one language. Another thing to think of, usually if you are able to learn French or Spanish, the other comes easily (dd is fluent in French and she has picked up Spanish easily).

Our school do similar (and can only take the language they study in y9 at gcse). With my 3dc I left it up to them to choose the language they enjoy most /wouldn't mind studying for at least another 3 years (because it's them studying it not me). One chose French, two chose Spanish. They are all happy with their choices. Our school only allows one language (unless they have a language they speak at home) because of the timetable and also because it narrows choices later on.

DC's school only offer a single MFL, unless you are a native speaker or bilingual, in which case you can also take this as your second language (but it's then not taught in school).

My DS’s school offers French and Spanish in Y7, and French and German in Y8. In Y9, he selects from 1 or more of them to carry on to GCSEs. I personally find it a bit of a nuisance because such a large amount of time is spent on these two subjects that could be better spent revising for other subjects. He’s planning on doing his GCSE in Spanish because Spanish is easier to pronounce than French. Also, I’ve taken Spanish to the GSCE equivalent and can help him with it. He’s in Y7, and hasn’t taken German yet.

One MFL at GCSE is sadly standard. (MFL specialist here).

I would encourage the one she prefers, surely. It's her that's studying it after all.

Spanish is spoken by more people, tho that does include S American countries where I believe there are variations. French perhaps more useful in industry. German the most useful there tbh.

I agree that the languages overlap heavily anyway (I took Spanish in sixth form as an O level alongside A level French).

Do you as a family have any connection with either country? Otherwise yes dd's choice.

Thanks all. French is my second language, German as a very poor third. have never ever used German since leaving year 10. She wants to do Spanish so will be doing Spanish!

My DS school can do French, or Spanish or both. I would have preferred French as I am fluent and he has been learning it for a year longer but he preferred Spanish and so chose that. I do think grammar and pronunciation is easier in Spanish anyway so tried not to influence his decision either way.

They are both lovely languages, but the French pronunciation takes French twice as long to learn, especially if you don’t have an interest in or natural aptitude for languages; or a parent who can help with pronunciation. My DS is preparing for end-of-year exams, and practicing for the French oral is taking twice times as long as the Spanish because he has to listen to the pronunciation over and over again. I wish (as does he) that he could drop French next year, and just concentrate on Spanish — but the school won’t allow it. Writing-wise, he is doing equally well in both; although the grammar and spelling is easier in Spanish.