Hahahahaaaagh Dave! I'm definitely the shape of a Wurst nowadays, hee hee!

I actually did come top in German too, but never liked the blooming thing. I hated wading through Goethe and other dreadful literature. Mr Stonelake just couldn't inspire us to save himself.
I needed 'A' Level German as the second language in order to fulfil the Attestation of Fitness to study at Edinburgh Faculty of Arts. And Latin 'O'Level as well.

Now my sis and both her daughters are mathematics/science buffs.

This brings me to a theory that a good way to learn is to follow one's interests and inclinations. A subject one finds fascinating is probably the best choice to study.
(Is there such a thing as a PhD in Crumpetology?)