German or economics for GcSE?

[paplan]

So far our DD chosen geography, RE, and History...
we would like her to take economics as it's a useful subject (she will be studying law for a-level) and a teacher is amazing.

German will be the first year running in the school w a very flaky teacher or an ok one (4 MFL teachers in the school) she likes the language and has great results in exams/milestones etc.

Any recommendations?

They are both good subjects to take.

Economics at gcse isn't needed for economics a level.

What is she planning for a levels or uni?

Let her make her own choices.
I was talked out of doing physics and years later really still wish I'd done physics.

She may well choose not to do Law for A level. It isn't needed for a law degree.

MFL is my subject but even if it weren’t I would say German.

You can’t take A level MFL without the GCSE so if you don’t take it you close the door. Not the case with econ GCSE.
Teachers may leave, new teachers may start.
She has three essay subjects so MFL may add something different.
Kindly, it’s what she would like that matters.

Agree btw that law A level is not needed for law at uni, subjects like history are great.

I agree let her make the choice (as long as she's got the information and pros and cons of each). She'll do much better if she's happy/enjoys the subject and will never be able to say 'it's your fault for making me take this' etc.
Dc3 wanted to take history (I thought geography would be best but let him choose). He now wishes he'd done geography (but understands that he made the descion he lives with it).
Our school makes them do a language on higher pathway? What are school saying is needed/fits with timetable?
Dc2 is currently doing economics and really enjoys it. It not as much maths as he thought and mostly writing. He's actually now going to do it for alevel next year which wasn't originally on the cards. But he says some took it for an easy option and are discovering its not and it is reflected in their grades.

I would pick German. It is a different feel to her 3 humanities.

I am sure economics is a useful subject but it's not generally a subject you need at gcse to pick up at a later date.

German because that's what she wants to take.

Don’t know how true this but our school said Russell Group and higher ranked Universities look for language GCSEs when consdering degree applications for any subject - all pupils had to take at least one MFL at gcse. It’s a state school.

In my day universities looked down on A level law so if she wants to read law at uni I would suggest she chooses something else. Unless something's changed. But might be worth checking before she goes down that route.

German, definitely. No courses require Economics, as others have said, but any opportunity she has for languages should be taken.

I am not a linguist (infact I'm the very opposite)
I'd say German. The others are very "samey" and German will offer a bit more variety.

Same, and German is very much in a decline so taking it would help her to stand out. Plus she might love it and want to take A Level.

German. Economics can be, and usually is, done at A'level without GCSE. German can't.

Languages are always useful & her other GCSEs are all very similar so German adds variety.

Yes, my was looking at doing law A level but the sixth form college advised her to do history instead.

Economics sounds the best option. Law at A level isn't really necessary for those going on to study Law at uni. It's not a very highly regarded A level

That’s not true and your school should not be saying it. GCSE in MFL is always good to have but no uni requires it.

I still say German tho @paplan 😀

I would chose economics - it’s similar to geography and is a good grounding for adult life (how interest rate work,, who pays tariffs etc).

I did both and found Economics much easier - languages didn’t come naturally to me though.

Depends on likely A Level and university subject choice.

German will be much more useful in work and in life, though.

I'm a country where speaking German is less and less common - she might stand out if she take it as a language.
TBH GCSE options aren't that important.it's the A Levels that close doors and funnel the kids in a certain direction.

i have GCSE German - I have to be honest and say I have never really used it. I have spent a little bit of time with work in Switzerland and Austria but apart from ordering drinks in the bar and hello and Goodbye everyone spoke English. GVSE German certainly wasn’t enough to have a working g knowledge of the language in any case! I can only remember I have a sister and a cat😂

Economics I use all the time - every time I watch to news!

Maybe it’s the sector I am in - finance. It would surely be rare that you would use German in work unless you happen to move to Germany?

My DD entirely self studied for her Economics GCSE (home educated) and loved it! She's now at Sixth Form and doing Economics at A level, wishes she had stayed at home and self taught but that's another story 😅

It has taught her so much though as a pp mentioned. Things that she will actually benefit from in real life unlike some subjects.

What does your DD want to do?

And why the law A Level, it doesn't really open doors to anything as far as I am aware?

German if you have a knack for languages. Economics is very similar to the other subjects picked. Why on earth A-level Law?She’s only choosing GCSE options.

Even the most enthusiastic teacher of MFL 🙋would not suggest that GCSE will give you any realistic level of fluency, esp if you dont use it (eg go there on holiday). But it leaves the door open to further study.

If you want to do econ A,level then you don't need GCSE. For German you do.

Does she realise the econ would give her four essay heavy options? Might be a lot.

Not true at all.

@paplan your DD's GCSE choices should be hers, not what you would like her to do.

My mum made me take history O level instead of geography. I failed history, and took geography O level at 6th form where I passed with a good grade.

Had I taken geography instead I would have taken it at A level and ended up with three A levels instead of two.

Don't force your choices on your DD