DCHS Parents Information Evening - MFL woes!

[kittymum]

mariposa - if this is not changed I would go to the Governors.

As far as I am aware every other Bucks GS offers a choice or they all do the same two. The reasons they give are not very good ...

SWBGS doesn't offer choice either. In yr 7 all do French and in yr 8 half given Spanish and half German. You can request one if parent a native speaker but that's about it.

[Guest55]

OK - but at least, in the case here, they would get what they wanted.

[Rags]

AHS did have specialist language status I think.

MFL is not everything and I'd still choose SHFGS over AHS any day!

No, indeed - plenty more of importance than just MFL.

And each to their own - knowing staff and pupils from both schools, and having been on school trips with both schools, I (or, rather, my daughter, with consultation) chose AHS. And would every time.

[Guest55]

I also know both well - do PM me the reasons as we are going off topic - I will reply with mine.

[Sally-Anne]

And each to their own - knowing staff and pupils from both schools, and having been on school trips with both schools, I (or, rather, my daughter, with consultation) chose AHS. And would every time.

I also know both well - do PM me the reasons as we are going off topic - I will reply with mine.

Up to you, but I probably wouldn't engage. G55 could have an argument with a mirror, and she won't accept the slightest criticism of SHF.

S-A

[Rags]

Hi Rags
Up to you, but I probably wouldn't engage. G55 could have an argument with a mirror, and she won't accept the slightest criticism of SHF.

S-A

Noted

Nevertheless, I occasionally enjoy a good debate. I accept that they tend to offer more heat than light, but the fun is in the process, not the outcome (which tends to change no one's opinion - if anything, it usually entrenches them further.)

[Guest55]

I do criticise SHF for not shouting about themselves enough! Orchestra in national final yesterday and also recent 4th in Rock challenge premier finals.

[heartmum]

Just wanted to comment on my personal experience of having one DC currently at AHS & one at AGS ... could have opted for the same for DC3 but really wanted DC3 to go to SHF; not because I felt the others didn't offer anything less just that SHF suited DC3s personality and that was it. I always said that I would have three DCs at three different schools just because their personalities were very different and would fit into totally different types of schools. DC1 suited AHS (all girls), DC2 was definitely a boys school only type child whilst DC3 works best with mixed gender ... all schools are excellent. Ironically still all going to three different schools, but instead of SHF she's going to the non-selective instead (12+ was hopefully an option, but since they've decided this year to already offer the additional class for Y7s not so hopeful )- so I was right in a way, just not the way I had hoped

Sorry for going off topic

[Lillie]

And going back to the languages topic (a favourite of mine), please can I remind everyone bemoaning the lack of choice of MFL or classical languages, that they are in fact extremely lucky to have more than one language on offer at all.

MFL has gone down the pan in many state schools. Classics are near extinction. The numbers of entrants at GCSE in decline (except for Spanish). My non-selective comp in the 1970s/1980s, offered French, Italian and Spanish and in classics offered Latin (and I believe Greek if anyone wanted it - no one did, but Latin was fairly popular).

Many of the uppers round here only do French and nothing else, yet this is not questioned by anyone, including Ofsted.

So I'm just saying, be grateful you have more than one MFL at your school - it's a lot better than only having French. There would be an outcry if a science was dropped, but somehow languages don't seem to matter very much at so many schools.

[Rags]

So I'm just saying, be grateful you have more than one MFL at your school - it's a lot better than only having French. There would be an outcry if a science was dropped, but somehow languages don't seem to matter very much at so many schools.

Whilst attempting to avoid political controversy (a vain hope perhaps) - MFL when into a sharp decline about a decade ago, when the then government decide to make it non-compulsory. A sad reflection on the British attitude to foreign languages, maybe (in view, at least) that pupils wouldn't study a language unless required to.
There has been a sharp rise in foreign language uptake in the past few years, since the EBacc was introduced, which requires one in it.

Whilst I very much like Latin, and it can help to give a much deeper understanding of linguistics in genera, in practical terms it doesn't have a huge degree of applicability. (That said, since we're supposed to looking at academics here ....)

I may have mention this before on here (I forget..) but I do have some (limited) sympathy with the general issues with foreign language uptake in this country. In almost every non-English speaking country, the choice of second language is fairly obvious - English - it has the most speakers worldwide (mostly as a second language, granted) - so in practical terms, it's obvious - and that gives you a lot of people internationally you can communicate with.
If English is your first language though, the choice is much more complex. We usually take up French, presumably for historical reasons (and proximity) - but it's no longer the international language - the Lingua Franca, if you will - it once was, and is of limited value. The next most common is German, which has some value in Germany, and some nearby regions, but none elsewhere. Spanish makes a lot more sense, since it's spoken not only in Spain, but the majority of South America and much of Central America too.
Why no Arabic? Or Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese)? These have vast numbers of speakers, and are increasingly important internationally.
These are rarely, if ever, even offered. And the differences in script make them challenging.
So, the choice of what to take as a second language is far from obvious, and is unlikely to have a significant number of people locally with any expertise which whom you can practise.
(With whom can you practice Latin ...?)
In Wales, of course, you can (have to in many places) study Welsh.... the only statutory language in the country ....

Anyway, that said, I think learning any foreign language is a good thing- if only for the deeper understanding is gives of one's own language.
There are a wealth of fascinating and beautiful languages which have no practical value outside the country where they are native. Like Welsh (ok, it's also spoken in Patagonia ...), Hungarian, Finnish, Japanese, Chichewa, Pashtu... it goes on. Any of them could be of value. Pick one (or two, or three..) and have fun!


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