Is it worth taking a second lanuage?

[=Lizzy]

I was asked by my teachers to take it for my GCSE.


But is it worth it?

[dbgtz]

It shows a good ability to learn different ways but I wouldn't say it's vital, especially if you're not going to university. It's just one of those things it looks good to have even if it's just a C.

Trust me, I know. My school made us do a 2nd language and this was the main reason, well that and to become language specialists (which failed).

[Gibs960]

I don't think it should be learnt as much as it is, maybe once every 2 weeks, unless you're going to visit a french speaking language often, why learn french? That's just my personal opinion, it looks better on a job application I suppose, but that's about it :)

[dogboy123]

Ours school is a language college, and we have to do 2 languages. I do spanish as 1st, french 2nd. I think that the extra french lesson a week helps my spanish 9that I actually want to do well in), and it's really useful.

[Jordy]

Possibly, I always regret not taking foreign languages more seriously. Although surprisingly, the French & German I did learn in Year 7-9, I pretty much remember it all. Hopefully I'll become fluent in a second language later in life.

The myth that you need them to get into Universities winds me up though, they don't care for your GCSEs and it doesn't matter if you have one in languages or not.

[HotelUser]

There's a mandatory 6 years where you have to take French here. I sort of forgot most of it, as French isn't really important for me to know.

Having said that I'm assuming with smaller country sizes there's a lot more language diversity!

[Jordy]

There's a mandatory 6 years where you have to take French here. I sort of forgot most of it, as French isn't really important for me to know.

Having said that I'm assuming with smaller country sizes there's a lot more language diversity!In the UK there is no language diversity. It is purely English, they speak Welsh in parts of Wales, however all Welsh speakers can also speak English so meh.

[HotelUser]

In the UK there is no language diversity. It is purely English, they speak Welsh in parts of Wales, however all Welsh speakers can also speak English so meh.

Oh, ok. Nevermind then!!

[Jordy]

Oh, ok. Nevermind then!!Do all French speakers in Canada also speak English?

[HotelUser]

Do all French speakers in Canada also speak English?

No, not all of them. A great deal do, though.

[Special]

BACK ON TOPIC... *COUGH* lol :P

Unless you're REALLY good at remembering, then i would recommend a language

it's also REALLY hard to get a C grade in a language, in fact, harder than any other subject in school

It depends what you want to do later on in life, if you want to do something like art & design in college for example, i strongly recommend you don't take a language, as you will have no need for it.

To sum up; dont take if you find it hard to remember & memorize things
dont take it if you think you wont enjoy it
don't take it if you dont need it later on

[MrGazet]

I suppose it's not really a must but knowing different languages are a big advantage :P

I'd love to know french though :D

[Kieran]

I really, really, really wished I'd taken a langage and learnt it properly. It amazes me when people can fluently speak in multiple languages and it makes me jealous. I do intend at some point in my life to teach myself other languages. I just wished I'd paid more attention in school and learnt them properly.

[MrGazet]

I really, really, really wished I'd taken a langage and learnt it properly. It amazes me when people can fluently speak in multiple languages and it makes me jealous. I do intend at some point in my life to teach myself other languages. I just wished I'd paid more attention in school and learnt them properly.

haha true :)
i learnt arabic for 4 years but never paid too much attention to it.So yeah,4 years and I can barely come up with a proper sentence -shrugs-

[MissAlice]

If you was asked it's because they think you are capable of doing well at it. I applied to take Spanish at GCSE level, a language not available to anyone until yr 10, as only French and German was taught. But because of my other option choices, I was unable to do so, and was very disappointed.

The ability to speak/write fluently in a foreign language may well be a skill that helps you along your career path, and could hold the key to some golden opportunties.

[Rozi]

Personally, I am not really a 'language person' but I'm doing Spanish for GCSE and I think it's definitely worth it. The thing with a language is you have to put in a steady effort, it's not something you can cram just before your exam. You need to put in effort all through the 2 years, and really commit to memory a few tense patterns and useful verbs. If your teacher's good then these should come quite easily, but otherwise you'll need to put in a fair bit of effort at home. I remember hating Spanish before I started to make a bit of effort, but now I really enjoy it and it's so satisfying when you can think of a sentence in English and perfectly translate it into Spanish without having to pause or look anything up. As other people have said, languages are a very useful thing to have, even if you have only a bit of knowledge of them.

[leah]

if you're good at it then yeah, it's a good qualification to have!

[=Lizzy]

Thanks for the Advice guys. I want to be a teacher so i think ill do it,

[GommeInc]

It's a good idea if you need it or find it interesting, but it's not about "remembering" it as such, it's putting it to practical use as well.

[iAdam]

I've never regretted not taking spanish.

It's not essential but does look good.

[Firehorse]

I'm A* German, if languages is something you're good at then go for it because its an extra GCSE and something that if you do in A Level can get you jobs very easily.

[Wig44.]

No, because you are taught to pass the GCSE, not learn the language. This is my own experience.

[Firehorse]

No, because you are taught to pass the GCSE, not learn the language. This is my own experience.

maybe in your school, but that is entirely down to the teacher. Plus, passing the GCSE opens further options later on.

[Recursion]

I took French at GCSE, and although I got a D I guess at least it shows I had a go and know something.. lol

[JackBuddy]

it should be compulsary, there's a shortage of people within business that have 2 langauges. With regards to being taught the GCSE and not learning it, I disagree. I did French at GCSE 3 years ago, I can still remember a fair bit of it and it came in really useful when I did go to France.