Mandarin vs. Other MFLs: Why It Matters

Comparison of Mandarin vs. French, Spanish, and German in UK Schools

Curriculum Status

Mandarin: Growing but still limited to select schools. Stronger presence in MEP (Mandarin Excellence Programme) partner schools.

French: Traditional “first choice” MFL in many schools. Long-standing presence in curriculum.

Spanish: Rapidly growing in popularity; now second most popular MFL after French.

German: Historically common, but declining in popularity over past decade.

Number of Schools Offering

Mandarin: Fewer schools overall, mainly through special funding (MEP, Confucius).

Most widely taught MFL in UK schools, though decreasing slightly.

Rapidly expanding — now surpassing German in many schools.

Significant decline in number of schools offering German.

GCSE & A-level Availability

Mandarin: Offered by AQA, Edexcel — but only in some schools. Still a niche choice at A-level.

French: Widely available. Standard GCSE and A-level options.

Spanish:Widely available. Popular for GCSE and A-level.

German: Available but less popular and reducing in exam numbers.

Difficulty for English-speaking learners

Mandarin: Considered one of the hardest (due to tones, characters, syntax). Steep learning curve.

French: Moderate — alphabetic script, cognates, some shared vocabulary.

Spanish: Moderate to easier — phonetic language, fewer grammar complexities than French/German.

German: Moderate to difficult — complex grammar (e.g., cases), but uses alphabetic script.

Script and Literacy Challenges

Mandarin: Logographic characters — require visual memory, no phonetic link to pronunciation.

French: Uses Roman alphabet — familiar to English speakers.

Spanish: Uses Roman alphabet — familiar and phonetic.

German: Uses Roman alphabet — familiar, but with added grammatical complexity.

Pronunciation Challenges

Mandarin: Tonal language — pitch changes meaning. Sounds not found in English (e.g., ü, zh, q, x).

French: Challenging due to nasal vowels, silent letters, and spelling-pronunciation mismatches.

Spanish: Some unfamiliar sounds (nasal vowels), but closer to English than Mandarin.

Phonetic and easier pronunciation. Relatively transparent pronunciation rules.

German: Some tricky sounds (e.g., “ch”, “ü”) but no tones.

Cultural Engagement

Mandarin: Rich cultural content, growing interest in China’s economy and culture, but less integrated into mainstream UK education.

French: Deep-rooted in British education due to historical ties with France. Familiar cultural content.

Spanish: Increasingly popular due to Spain and Latin America as holiday destinations. Pop culture, music, and food resonate with students.

German: Less visible in UK pop culture but important for business and history.

Teacher Supply and Training

Mandarin: Severe shortage of qualified Mandarin teachers. PGCE programs limited in number and places.

French: Good supply of trained teachers, but recent declines in MFL uptake pose future challenges.

Spanish: Growing demand and supply of teachers — rising popularity increases demand.

German: Declining teacher numbers as fewer schools offer German.

Resources and Textbooks

Mandarin: Limited, but growing. Often reliant on MEP and Confucius resources. Still fewer SEND/adapted materials.

French: Abundant resources, established textbooks, online platforms.

Spanish: Abundant, modern, and engaging resources.

German: Good resources available but less updated compared to French/Spanish.

Inclusion of SEND/Neurodiverse Learners

Mandarin: Very limited adapted materials, though growing attention. Tones, characters pose extra challenges.

French: More SEND-friendly resources available. Teaching methods well-established for differentiation.

Spanish: Growing range of inclusive materials. Easier to adapt to different learner needs.

German: Reasonable resources but less focus on neurodivergence compared to French/Spanish.

Perception by Students/Schools

Mandarin: Perceived as hard but “exotic” and prestigious. Often reserved for “high ability” groups.

French: Seen as “traditional”, sometimes “boring”, but widely recognized as useful.

Spanish: Seen as accessible and relevant, often chosen as “easier” option.

German: Seen as challenging and less useful compared to French/Spanish — leading to decline.

Government and National Initiatives

Mandarin: Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP), Confucius Institutes, British Council support.

French: Historically supported; now part of general MFL strategy but without targeted investment like Mandarin.

Spanish: No dedicated national programme but supported under MFL strategy.

German: No current major initiatives supporting German in schools.

Summary of Key Differences and Unique Aspects of Mandarin Teaching

1. Accessibility and Perceived Difficulty

• Mandarin is perceived as significantly harder than French, Spanish, or German due to tones, characters, and unique grammar.

• Learners need longer-term, sustained study to achieve proficiency — challenging for schools with limited curriculum time.

2. Teacher Training and Supply

• Severe shortage of trained Mandarin teachers makes expansion difficult.

• Need for specialist PGCE Mandarin pathways and ongoing CPD.

3. Resources and Inclusivity

• Lack of SEND/adapted resources for Mandarin — unlike more established MFLs (French, Spanish).

• Neurodivergent learners (e.g., dyslexia, ADHD) face unique barriers in Mandarin without specialized support materials.

4. Government Support and Policy

• MEP is a major advantage, creating pathways for high-achieving students — but limited reach beyond participating schools.

• Other MFLs benefit from longer history in UK schools, wider teacher networks, and broader parental/student acceptance.

Opportunities for Teacher Education (Your Role and Vision)

What Mandarin Teacher Educators Can Focus On:

• Preparing teachers to differentiate Mandarin lessons for mixed-ability and neurodiverse learners — an area underdeveloped in Mandarin teaching compared to French/Spanish.

• Training in inclusive pedagogies and culturally responsive teaching.

• Developing motivational strategies specific to Mandarin (addressing perceptions of difficulty).

• Helping teachers incorporate technology and AI tools to support individual learner needs — catching up with well-resourced MFL practices.

• Promoting cultural understanding and real-life relevance to engage students beyond exams.

• Supporting teacher well-being and retention, as Mandarin teachers often face isolated roles in their schools.