Modern Foreign Languages
The Modern Languages Department seeks to develop the potential of all of its pupils with reference to the following:
- From a practical perspective, to develop the ability to use one or more modern foreign languages effectively for the purposes of communication.
- From a cultural perspective, to develop an appreciation of the foreign language and its associated culture(s) and tradition(s).
- From an intellectual perspective, to enable pupils to gain not only awareness of language but wider skills such as language learning skills, analysis and memory.
- From a motivational perspective, to employ methods and resources which enable pupils both to enjoy and value what they are learning.
In terms of curricular provision, a diversification programme with the introduction of Spanish initially into S2 as a half-year course alongside German (which started in September 1998) has now been fully implemented with three languages, French, German and Spanish taught to AS and A2 level. This diversification has led to increased opportunities for pupils both in terms of their studies and in terms of visits abroad.
In the context of a national decline in the take-up of languages, the department is keen to encourage the number of dual-linguists at G.C.S.E. and to make the sixth form courses as attractive as possible for example by widening the possibilities for visits abroad and work experience. An increasing number of sixth-formers are continuing with their study of languages in higher education, not only in language degrees but in combination with law, economics and business to name but a few.
Whilst it is inevitable that different languages attract a differing number of pupils each year, the department has been careful to promote all languages equally. Since the overall aim is to increase the number of pupils studying two or more languages, then the individual languages are not seen to be in direct competition with each other. Moreover, the number of dual, and in some cases triple linguists amongst the staff ensures the cohesiveness of the department. A weekly lunchtime Advanced Languages club, open to S5 and Sixth form and rotating between different languages, is now in its third year and attracts a small but committed group of pupils.
Recently the department has begun to offer taster courses in Italian and Chinese at lunch times. Pupils who take up both opportunities will therefore have tasted five languages by the end of S5, and have a formal qualification in at least one.
