Does anybody teach MFL and like it?

[Besplendour]

I'm looking into doing a PGCE, but fear this may be a mistake going by Secret Teacher. Please give me your frank opinion of the job.

Why thank you Besplendour!!

I'm not a linguist but both my DDs really enjoy their MFL lessons - in my eldest's case it's the one subject she's really enthusiastic about and I do think that's down to having had really good MFL teachers.
They are at a state comprehensive .

So I'm saying there are good MFL teachers out there!

I've been an MFL teacher for 20 years but went part time in 2005. These days I just do (non subject-specific) supply teaching, private tuition, a bit of primary MFL and an adult class.
I would absolutely hate to go back to full time MFL teaching unless it was in a private school. But that's because of the current state of the education system and excessive teacher workload, not because it's MFL.
I do think MFL is one of the more difficult subjects to teach, but tbh being a teacher at all atm is a bastard of a job whichever subject you teach. Somebody said "Going into teaching at the moment would be like seeing people running screaming out of a burning building and deciding to run in".

I'm in my 18th year. I like it and the kids are motivated and try hard.
I don't like all the faffing around with changing curriculums but I do think the new GCSE is a better test of languages. However, it's a hell of a lot harder and we get no more time, so I'm not sure how it will go.

Teaching/standards are much better in France than in England. - I think that's a bit of a generalisation, although I do admit in my experience that the status of education tends to be higher in France in that teachers have to pass a competitive exam and are treated as professionals. Sometimes in this country a pulse seems to be the only requirement!

Yes cauliflower, I'm a bit at some of the people I see getting on PGCE courses round here! I think a test circling your and you're should be part of the interview...

I taught German and a little French for 12 years. In the beginning I loved it, then about 7 years ago it all went downhill and the more time passed the more unhappy I became.

Being stuck in a school I hated and no options around me as all schools in the area were now offering Spanish instead of German, I decided to teach international. Best decision ever.

I'm now in China at a school with children from 50 countries, languages have a huge value in the curriculum and I teach children who want to learn and do blimming well. I can actually hold conversations on higher level! Something that just would have not been possible in the UK due to the exams and curriculum. My largest class has 12 pupils but that's only because it's a small school. Marking is a doddle.

Just throwing it in there as an option if you love MFL. Do the PGCSE, take the bursary, do the NQT and then go and explore the world.

I actually thought about China in the past but felt a little intimidated by the cultural differences. I shared a flat with a Chinese family and couldn't understand their way of doing things at all.

Did you make friends with other expats?

I have taught MFL for twenty years and I love it. I love seeing even the weakest of students pick up and use a few words, and I love the cultural aspect of the learning. I a, delighted to be moving on to the new GCSE, which although really hard, is a much better test of language ability.

I moved away from MFL for a few years, but now combine it with a pastoral role and am loving my job again

Sorry for the late reply besplendour.

Yes, definitely made many expat friends here. We are all in the same boat basically and it's a little community of teachers and parents who help each other out when needed, socialise and so on.

Two things I hate about China - spitting in the street (or everywhere basically), eating with mouth open and making noises and children peeing wherever they want. Otherwise very friendly folks. It's just something we have to accept, the spitting thing in particular. They are raised from early on that it's good for the lungs to get all the phlem out and spit, as disgusting as it is to us, that's just what they have been brought up to do.

School great, haven't brought work home since the third week of the school year. At all! Weekends and evenings are mine again :)

And that's three things I hate about China not two... Even with little workload I'm tired on a Friday evening.