My 11 year old is pretty much bilingual (questionable definition but hey ho) English-Spanish. Definitely totally fluent in Spanish. He now faces the choice of third language between French and German to start in September. Taking all things into consideration: Economics, job prospects, wide spread of English/Spanish, ease of assimilation of either language for a native English speaker, ease of learning of either for a fluent Spanish speaker, which would you suggest? Bizarrely the school has given us three days to decide. OK yes we knew about this long ago by word of mouth, but THREE DAYS for such a decision? Anyway, I'm asking left right and centre to see what views come back!

Mandarin

Not an option other than as a paid-for add-on. I'm inclined to agree with the sentiment, though

Yup, deffo chinese is the language of the future. However, failing that and with the limited choices you're given it's got to be german. Even though I know that french is the traditional "foreign" language taught in Spain.

Out of those two it's a no brainer. Who would want to learn French - and why?

Agreed.

Choose the language your son shows an interest in doing, and so will stand a better chance of actually doing well at it.
In the small chance that he becomes a talent at the language, he will then have options (teaching, translation etc.) regardless.
If he doesn't have a preference, then fair enough choose German. But it is a harder language to learn.

My old school now teaches it as a compulsory subject from age 3.

While agreeing, I've heard the view expressed that for someone familiar with a romance language such as Spanish, French should be easier to learn - and that already being fluent in two of the four most widely used languages in the world, the third (given the limited choice, admittedly) should maybe be one that doesn't affect the main two. But that's just someone's view. Others point out that in theory German is easier to learn for someone with native English .........

Agreed. Once you know Spanish, French is much easier - but to what end? Just to add another language to a CV?


Once one knows German, then many other languages become easier. But again, so what?


It really is a question of why do something. It could be enjoyment, it could be self satisfaction or it could be to increase possibility/probability of a job .

French would be the easiest as the grammar construction and words are very similar. German would probably be more useful.

Despite what the majority on this forum say, I'd go for French.
It's an awful decision to have to make at the age of your child, but having been through it all in my youth, & German was my main language at college, I'd still go for French. Why?
*It's more widely spoken throughout the world, especially in the Middle East.
*Germans on the whole are good at English anyway.
*It's a more natural follow-on to Spanish.
*Other than Germany, Austria & parts of Switzerland, nowhere else really needs German.

Not so sure about the rush to learn Mandarin. It'd be an interesting challenge, but what for? Business Chinese learn English anyway.

Leave it with you!
Good luck.

I think so many business people the world over speak English that's an argument against many languages, not just Mandarin.........but as someone (else) said to me, it's not the speaking it's the understanding what people are saying around you. You stand a better chance of not being duped, or sidelined. As to our decision, one other factor occurs to me. The majority, if not all, his classmates seem to be going to opt for (had decided for them) German. If this is true for the other class in his year, I think this makes a good case for doing French on the basis of a likely considerably smaller class size!

Chinese,

I realise what a travesty it was to have the option of French and/or German at school. I chose both. Fair does, the Latin roots help you with other European languages but what a waste.

I have yet to meet a German who doesn't speak impeccable English. Not many countries speak French. My Friend's son has just married a Chinese girl and lives and works in Shanghai. I never saw that coming 20 years ago.

Chinese. Not an option. Take it(Mandarin) at night school.

I'm asking about my 11 year old son's non-negotiable French-German option.