Our Aims and Objectives
To engender an understanding and a positive appreciation of foreign cultures
To promote an understanding of how languages work, including their own, thus raising their awareness of literacy
To encourage communication between countries by use of spoken, written and technological means.
To ensure that our pupils understand the importance and relevance of doing a foreign language, as languages are a very useful tool in the 21st Century.
Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9)
There are four separate areas of skill: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Pupils practise all four areas in virtually every lesson. We wish to make pupils competent and effective learners of language. We will build upon pupils’ experience of Literacy Hour and any foreign language input that they have received at primary school: the study of foreign languages has a major part to play in assisting pupils in understanding their own language and how the rules they have learnt about the foreign language they are studying apply to English. They may have the opportunity of visiting France during the summer term.
Assessment is done following the Asset Languages ladder. Full details of this can be found at http://assetlanguages.org.uk/parents/default.aspx
Year 7
In year 7, all pupils study French for two lessons per week. Our course is loosely based around the topics within the Expo 1 textbook, although we ensure that all lessons are personalised and relevant. Topics include introducing and saying a little about yourself; leisure activities and fitness; local environment; food and drink. Pupils will learn to communicate with themselves and with others, as well as to understand what others are saying to them, as well as building upon and consolidating any prior learning.
Year 8
All pupils continue to study French, using Expo 2 as the basis for this course. The emphasis is on applying what they have learnt in Year 7, ensuring that they become good learners of language for the future.
Year 9
Year 9 is run along similar lines to Year 8, although topics are more cross-curricular; looking at Geography, healthy living, as well as introducing the language that is needed for survival in France.
Asset Languages - Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
We follow the Asset Languages route during KS4. The emphasis is on the ability to communicate and repair communication over any number of 'real world' situations. It is for this reason, along with the fact that students are given separate credit for their different skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) that so many companies like this qualification. Once again full details can be found by exploring the Asset Languages website at http://www.assetlanguages.org.uk http://www.assetlanguages.org.uk
HEAD OF MODERN LANGUAGES: Mr N Twelves
