The Languages Department 

 The department

The languages department currently comprises three full time staff, and two part time staff of whom three are native speakers. We are a friendly, approachable and supportive team. Our objective is to enable students of all abilities to develop their language skills to their full potential, equipping them with the knowledge to communicate in a variety of contexts with confidence.

Students are encouraged to participate fully in lessons, regardless of their abilities in languages. Careful planning ensures that we build on students existing skills, which ensures that they have a positive learning experience in our lessons. There are four dedicated language classrooms, all equipped with interactive whiteboards. One also has computers for individual student use, allowing learning in an excellent environment.

 

Key Stage 3
All students receive a solid grounding in grammar, vocabulary knowledge and we focus on skill development, allowing them to become more independent in their language learning. The students are also assessed on a regular basis in all four skill areas throughout the Key Stage, these assessments are carefully designed to mirror the style of assessments used in Key Stage 4.  Each language is supplemented with a textbook, workbook and online resources, as well as carefully selected materials from relevant further resources and websites.    

Year 7:

• French (6 hours a fortnight)
  Core resources:  Allez 1 and Kerboodle online

Key topic areas covered:

Greetings, alphabet, personal information, physical appearance, favourite objects.

Personality, family, school subjects, friends.

School, home and leisure activities.

Animals and colours.

Food.

Local area.

 

Year 8:

• French (6 hours a fortnight)
  Core resources:  Allez 1 and 2 and Kerboodle online

Holidays

Celebrations

Leisure interests

The wider world.

Comparing different lifestyles

 

Year 9:

• French (4 hours a fortnight)
  Core resources:  AQA GCSE Studio and Activelearn (online)
• Spanish or German (4 hours a fortnight)
  Core resources:   Zoom español and ¡Viva! (Foundation); Zoom Deutsch and Stimmt (Foundation) Activelearn (online)

In Year 9 French we start the GCSE course and build on learning from Year 7 and 8 to enable pupils to express themselves more fully on key topic areas. In Year 9 German and Spanish we develop key language skills in the first term and quickly move to GCSE style work in the following two terms of the year.

 

Key Stage 4

French, German and Spanish are offered at Key Stage 4. Students have the opportunity to opt for one or two languages. All students follow the AQA GCSE course, using textbooks and resources supplemented by up-to-date materials that we select from relevant resources and websites.     

All GCSE courses are linear and tiered (higher and foundation), meaning your child will be assessed externally in all four skills (reading, listening, writing and speaking) of equal weighing at the end of the Key Stage.

Year 10:

• French, German and Spanish (5 hours a fortnight)
  Core resources: AQA GCSE Studio, AQA GCSE Stimmt and AQA GCSE¡Viva! (Foundation and Higher)
                       Activelearn (online) for all three languages

Year 11:

• French, German and Spanish (5 hours a fortnight)

Core resources: AQA GCSE Studio, AQA GCSE Stimmt and AQA GCSE¡Viva! (Foundation and Higher)
                     Activelearn (online) for all three languages

 

Trips

In Year 7 we offer a very popular trip to The Opal Coast in Northern France. Pupils find it very rewarding to practise their French in real situations such as in a French market. They are also exposed to the many cultural differences between France and England through visiting Boulogne-sur-Mer, a real French Boulangerie, a snail farm, a sea life centre and a Chocolate factory.

Year 7 Opal Coast

In Years 9 and 10 for German we offer a long standing popular trip to the German Christmas markets. As well as being a cultural visit, it gives the children the invaluable opportunity to practise their spoken German and incorporate an out of class learning experience into their lessons and exams. It also allows them to enhance their knowledge of the language and have fun too! During the trip we visit Deutsches Eck, Marksburg castle, the fortress at Ehrenbreitstein, St Hildegard Abbey, we go on a cable car, we go ice skating ride and of course we take part in various Christmas markets.

In October for Years 9 and 10 we run a Paris trip for French, during which visit the many sights and cultural experiences in Paris. We amongst others visit Notre Dame, the Pantheon, the Latin Quarter, Cité des Sciences, Champs Elysées, the Louvre art museum, Trocadero, Eiffel Tower, and we also go on a boat trip on the Seine.

Year 9 and 10 Paris Trip

Year 9 and 10 German Christmas Market Trip