The Modern Languages Department promotes an active, communicative approach to language learning with maximum use of the target language and use of relevant, differentiated materials. Students experience a range of skills, activities and learning styles aimed at developing a sense of confidence, achievement and enjoyment.
French and German are taught at KS3, KS4 and KS5 and Spanish has been introduced at KS3 and KS4.
Staff
Ms Fleming: Head of Modern Languages – French and German
Mrs Elliott: German co-ordinator – Head of Whittle
Miss Boothroyd: French and Spanish
Miss Atkinson: German and French
Mrs Clark: KS3 and ICT co-ordinator – Teaches French and German.
Mr Johnson: Spanish and French
Miss Mulligan: German Spanish and French
In addition to teaching staff the department benefits each year from a Foreign language assistant.
The facilities
The department has 5 main teaching rooms. One of them is equipped with 15 PCs with access to the school's ICT Network and the Internet. As well as an interactive white board used for presentation and class practice, students also enjoy working on PCs independently with headphones to develop language skills. All classrooms have WE-Learn teacher toolkits (projectors/pc/tablet pc).
A variety of resources are used in language lessons to deliver the Department Schemes of Work: flashcards, OHTs, worksheets, Assessment for Learning sheets, cassettes, CDs, videos, language magazines and ICT resources with use of languages software and websites as well as textbooks.
Key Stage 3
Students practise all four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in the areas of experience outlined in the National Curriculum. These are: everyday activities, personal and social life and the world around us.
Throughout the teaching of languages students make progress in: acquiring knowledge and understanding of the target language, developing language skills, developing language-learning skills and developing cultural awareness.
Key Stage 4
In Years 10 and 11 students may choose to study French or German or may opt to continue with both languages. Students follow the AQA Specification A in French and German. There are practical tasks in the four skills throughout the course as well as end of course examination in listening, speaking, writing and reading skills.
The course builds upon existing skills and understanding of the language. The topics and situations relate to everyday life at home and in the foreign country. These include:
self, family and personal relationships; free time and social activities; home life and college; food, health and fitness; home town and local area; careers and employment; tourism at home and abroad.
Key Stage 5
Features of both the AS and A level courses include: use of up to date authentic texts from a variety of sources - magazines, newspaper and internet articles, adverts etc; listening to real French in conversations, interviews, news item etc on cassette (with headphones) and video; gradual development of grammatical structures; discussion of stimulating topics such as the environment, advertising and sport; opportunities for personal interests; research of topics, working independently on coursework; individual help, support and encouragement throughout the course.
A wide range of thought provoking topics is explored. These include:
AS - media; advertising; the arts; food and drink; sport and pastimes; travel, transport and holidays
A2 - social issues; the environment; law and order; technological advances; education; human interest news items