Modern Foreign Languages

Department Aims

The Modern Languages Department aims to stimulate pupils’ interest and enjoyment in learning foreign languages. We look to enable pupils to communicate effectively in French and/or German and to become aware of and interested in other countries and cultures. Language learning takes place inside and outside the classroom, with a number of foreign visits offered to pupils.

Key Stage 3

Year 7

All pupils have 3 hours of French lessons per week. Topic areas currently include: basic introductions, self, family and friends, school, sports and hobbies, the weather and where we live. Grammar topics include the present tense, irregular verbs, adjectives, dictionary skills and writing extended sentences. Students also study the film ‘Au revoir, les enfants’ towards the end of the year.

Year 8

Sets 3 & 4 continue to have 3 hours of French per week. Sets 1 & 2 begin to learn German in Year 8. They therefore have 3 hours of French and 3 hours of German per fortnight.

In French, topic areas currently include: food and drink, Paris, transport, daily routine, illness and body parts. Grammar topics include reflexive verbs, the past tense, the simple future tense, negatives and quantities. Students also study the film ‘Les Choristes’ towards the end of the year.

In German, topic areas currently include: basic introductions, self, family and friends, school, and free time. Grammar topics include the present tense, irregular verbs, adjectives and writing extended sentences. Students also study the film ‘Das Wunder von Bern’ towards the end of the year.

Year 9

Sets 3 & 4 continue to have 3 hours of French per week. Sets 1 & 2 continue to have 3 hours of French and 3 hours of German per fortnight.

In French, topic areas currently include: family, house and town, healthy living, clothes, fashion and pocket money. Grammar topics include modal verbs, the conditional tense and forming questions. Students also study French Impressionism towards the end of the year.

Students who will not be continuing with a language to G.C.S.E. level will have the opportunity to be entered for the Entry Level Certificate in French.

In German, topic areas currently include: where we live, holidays, food and shopping. Grammar topics include word order, the past and future tenses and prepositions. Students also study the film ‘Sophie Scholl’ at the end of the year.

Key Stage 4

Year 10 and 11

All pupils may decide to continue with a foreign language up to GCSE level. Pupils who have studied German may opt to study German either instead of, or alongside, French.

Pupils have 3 hours per week of their chosen language(s). Pupils currently follow the WJEC exam syllabus and are assessed by controlled assessments (60%) and examinations (40%) in Years 10 and 11. Assessment is divided equally between the 4 skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Topic areas include: personal and social life, the local community, the world of work and the wider world.

GCSE syllabuses:

Key stage 5

Year 12 & 13

Students in the 6th form can study French and/or German to AS and A2 level. Students have 9 hours per fortnight of teaching in their chosen language, as well as a timetabled period with the native speaking language assistant. Students follow the WJEC exam syllabus. They are assessed at the end of Year 12 for AS and at the end of Year 13 at A2 level.

What course units will I take at AS?

Units 1 and 2 will cover:

Leisure and Lifestyles, including travel and tourism, sport, hobbies, entertainment, customs, traditions, healthy living – health and nutrition, diet and exercise and unhealthy living – drugs, aids, smoking, alcohol.
The Individual and Society, including relationships and responsibilities, gender issues, youth culture (values, peer groups, fashions and trends etc.), education, vocational training and future careers.

Unit 1 is worth 40% of your AS mark (20% of your total A-level mark) and will consist of a 12-15 minute oral examination.

Unit 2 is worth 60% of your total AS mark (30% of your total A-level mark) and will consist of a 2 ½-hour written examination paper. This paper consists of listening and reading comprehensions, grammar and translation questions and a discursive essay.

What course units will I take at A2?

Units 3 and 4 will cover:

Environmental Issues, including technology, pollution, global warming, transport, energy, nuclear energy, renewable energies, conservation, recycling and sustainability.
Social and Political Issues, including the role of the media, racism, immigration, social exclusion and integration, terrorism and world of work (employment, commerce and globalization).
Guided studies (currently ‘Manon des Sources’ and ‘Amélie’ for French and ‘Der Besuch der alten Dame’ and ‘Goodbye, Lenin!’ for German).

Unit 3 is worth 20% of your total A-level mark and will consist of a 15-20 minute oral examination.

Unit 4 is worth 40% of your total A-level mark and will consist of a 3-hour written examination paper. This paper consists of listening and reading comprehensions, an English to target language translation and a guided studies essay.

A-level syllabuses:

French: http://www.wjec.co.uk/uploads/publications/4183.pdf
German: http://www.wjec.co.uk/uploads/publications/1801.pdf

Extra-curricular activities

German exchange to Hilden

There are annual exchanges to Hilden in Germany for Year 10 students and Bergerac in France for Year 9 and 10 students.

There is also a Year 9 trip to Berlin and a Year 8 French trip to Hardelot.

Sixth formers have the opportunity to take part in the Language Leaders Award, allowing them to teach French and German in local primary schools.

We also provide information for sixth form students should they wish to arrange a work experience placement abroad during the holidays.

On the 26^th September each year, the school celebrate the European Day of Languages with events around school.

Links to useful websites

Department Staff

Head of Department:

Mr I Duffell –French and German

Departmental Team:

Mrs L Crammond – French
Mrs G Eden – French and German
Miss E Maxfield – French and German
Miss H Mounsey – French and German
Mrs K Neal – French and German
Mrs T Rawcliffe – French and German
Miss C Smith – French and German
Mrs G Speakman – French
Mrs M Williams – French

Student Quotes

“I decided to continue my study of foreign languages because it broadens my education and will open up career opportunities abroad”.

“French is really good because it opens up a lot of opportunities, like the work experience trip to Lille. Languages are really important as they allow us to communicate with people, and I am looking forward to studying languages after sixth form”.

“Studying languages is a great way to not only improve knowledge and understanding of another culture, but it builds self-confidence for communicating in your own language”.

“Since studying languages, I have gained a new set of skills. It’s a great way to make new friends in other countries and learn about other cultures. It is useful when on holiday in a foreign country”.