Do forum members think 13 is too young an age to pick options at school?
My grandaughter is 13 and she has to pick her GCSE options.As I have said before she wants to be a pilot but she thinks she will be laughed at when she goes to the careers show.She is taking her GCSE maths in January,her strong subjects are maths and science which she will need.She wants to learn Spanish,thats not on the list only German.My husband thinks Urdu or Chinese might be a good option for a language.Do any forum members have an opinion on whether 13 is too young to decide?
Yes, it's too young to decide, but the decision has to be made at that stage. It's very difficult, because the only alternative is to take the decision out of the pupil's hands altogether, and that's not acceptable either.
What I really object to is the limitations imposed. Why should she not be able to learn Spanish? Why only German. This ties in with my post on another thread about the education system failing children since comprehensive education was introduced: I can remember a time when one could take any number of O Levels, as they were then. Why the restrictions now? Probably because we're producing teachers who can't teach beyond such limits .... I know that won't be a popular view, but I've seen the results of this educational "system" in University, and it is distressing beyond words.
Yes, it's too young to decide, but the decision has to be made at that stage. It's very difficult, because the only alternative is to take the decision out of the pupil's hands altogether, and that's not acceptable either.
What I really object to is the limitations imposed. Why should she not be able to learn Spanish? Why only German. This ties in with my post on another thread about the education system failing children since comprehensive education was introduced: I can remember a time when one could take any number of O Levels, as they were then. Why the restrictions now? Probably because we're producing teachers who can't teach beyond such limits .... I know that won't be a popular view, but I've seen the results of this educational "system" in University, and it is distressing beyond words.
My husband thinks its something to do with the shortage of Spanish language teachers.She was getting quite good at Spanish after spending her holidays with us,but my daughter tells me she cannot go to evening classes because at 13 she is classed as a child,you have to be 16 then come under the adult banner.One of the options she could have was Citizenship studies,I did'nt know what that was until my daughter explained it.You seem to get the option of either French or German,so other language at all.
My grandaughter is 13 and she has to pick her GCSE options.As I have said before she wants to be a pilot but she thinks she will be laughed at when she goes to the careers show.She is taking her GCSE maths in January,her strong subjects are maths and science which she will need.She wants to learn Spanish,thats not on the list only German.My husband thinks Urdu or Chinese might be a good option for a language.Do any forum members have an opinion on whether 13 is too young to decide?
I think it is quite young but the again your grandaughter knows what she wants to do and shes only that age so maybe its opk.
As for people laughing at her....well that shouldnt put her off (easier said than done I imagine), she should definately go for it and when she is flying about when shes older she can stop and think about the people who laughed at her and imagine them struggling on the dole!
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I think it is quite young but the again your grandaughter knows what she wants to do and shes only that age so maybe its opk.
As for people laughing at her....well that shouldnt put her off (easier said than done I imagine), she should definately go for it and when she is flying about when shes older she can stop and think about the people who laughed at her and imagine them struggling on the dole!
My thoughts exactly,but I still think the system is failing children,I know this is not a popular idea but the rot set in when grammar schools went to the wall.Perhaps children should be streamed not taught in mixed abilities [am I going off topic]or is this too elitist.I think this might come under another thread,put me right please Janet.
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I can't understand why Spanish isn't the first option given to kids for a language. It's one of the most universal ones on the planet, bar English.
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I can't understand why Spanish isn't the first option given to kids for a language. It's one of the most universal ones on the planet, bar English.
It depends on the reasons for learning. Academically, a language is rated largely according to the literature produced. If you want immersion in European culture, French and German are a high priority. If you want to live in a Spanish-speaking country, maybe Spanish is more useful.
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I would want my child to have a language that would be the most useful once they left school... and also want them taught it from the age of 3, not 11 - when they are beginning to lose the ability to learn a language as easily.
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I would want my child to have a language that would be the most useful once they left school... and also want them taught it from the age of 3, not 11 - when they are beginning to lose the ability to learn a language as easily.
Actually at a nursery school near to me where my 2 year old grandaughter is going after Christmas they teach them French there.What about my husbands suggestion Chinese or Urdu,the latter we may all need to speak in a few years.
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