In year 7 all students cover 3 weeks studying the European Union as part of PHSCE. From September 2010 most will then embark on the study of 2 modern foreign languages French and Spanish. These students will continue with the languages started in year 7 throughout KS3. Please note this is a change to our present system.

Current years 7 and 8 students study either French and Italian or German and Spanish. All languages have equal time allocation at KS3. In the current year 9 all students study French and most also study either German, Spanish or Italian as a second language.

In year 10 the majority of students continue with a modern language and a good number continue with 2 languages to GCSE level. There are well established courses at AS and A2 level.

There are changes in GCSE specifications from 2009 and the weighting allocation for each skill will be significantly altered. Speaking and writing will carry more marks than listening and reading skills. Writing assessments will be carried out in controlled conditions and the speaking element will be conducted and assessed by the teacher. Students are encouraged to choose a topic for discussion which relates to their interests. Grammatical progression will continue to underpin all teaching.

At AS level, students prepare for a modular examination containing 2 separate units – an oral test and a test of listening, reading and writing. There are 5 broad topic areas. Whereas AS is skills based, A2 deals more with the expression of ideas in greater depth and of increasing linguistic complexity.

There are two papers at A2 but writing is also tested in essay form. There is no longer a coursework option.

Currently, there are many visits on offer and trips change regularly. In French there is a year 8 visit to Le Touquet and a year 9/10 activity trip to Normandy. In Spanish there is a year 10 visit planned. In German there has been an exchange every other year to Hamburg for years 9 and 10 and a Rhineland tour for years 8 and 10. All students in the sixth form are encouraged to undertake work experience abroad if possible.

The years that take the subject
• KS3.From September 2010 students in year 7 will learn 2 languages French and Spanish. NB this is a change form our current offer.
• Students in the current year 7 and 8 have taken 2 languages from the start of year 7; either French & Italian or Spanish & German.
• KS4. The study of a Modern Foreign language is not compulsory but students are expected to continue with an MFL. Numbers are buoyant and approximately 65 students take either French or Spanish and 40 take German. In addition there are approximately 25 students who opt for 2 languages each year.
• KS5. Currently, there are good numbers studying French and Spanish at AS and at A2 French, Spanish and German are taught.

Description of subject by Head of Department

• STAGS is distinctive in offering 2 subjects from the start of year 7.
• Students do well at the end of KS3 so there is a healthy uptake at KS4.
• A significant number of students opt for 2 languages at KS4.
• There is a wide variety of visits abroad on offer.
• Public exam results are high.
The department is well resourced and VLE materials are being developed to encourage independent learning.

Description of subject by students

“We like Italian because it’s fun to learn and will help us in the future when looking for jobs”
Laura & Immy (year 8)

“French will really help us in the future as many employers are looking to expand their businesses. We would definitely recommend taking part in any of the trips organised. The exchange to Nevers helped us pick up the language much more quickly. We are looking forward to continuing with French in year 12”. Chips & Harriet (year 11)

“I really like Spanish as I like learning languages. I feel that since year 7 my Spanish has progressed and I’ve become more confident”. Jasmine

“I think that Spanish is a great language that I have found enjoyable to learn. We learn in a fun way- not just reading & writing but using real life examples and we talk about Spain a lot-their food, lifestyle etc”. Elspeth (year 9)

“The German exchange is a great opportunity”
“I enjoy doing lots of oral work in class. We have a variety of exercises such as role plays, grammar studies, listening and fun things too such as making magazines” Year 9

Career opportunities

Students often continue their languages at university in combination with other subjects such as Business or Law. Competence in languages may be considered an integral part of a job in travel and tourism whereas in areas such as Insurance or Engineering it would be a bonus, giving a competitive edge. The acquisition of skills such as communication and cultural awareness add value to any CV.

Currently, Britain still conducts 60% of its trade with its European partners, and there is an increasing need for Spanish in the South American market as well as Mandarin/Cantonese.

Relevant lunchtime/after school activities within school

MFL club takes place on Mondays and Tuesdays in room 17 from 12.25-12.55, allowing students to catch up with missed work or improve their performance under supervision.
KS3 Spanish club Friday lunchtime is run by sixth form students.

Exam boards/modules

GCSE EDEXCEL.
Each skill has equal weighting and currently written coursework is undertaken. From September 2009 when the new specification is introduced, speaking and writing will account for more marks than listening and reading. Students will have more say in choosing their topics and will have opportunities to take assessments at different times over the 2 years of study.

AS/A2 OCR. There are 2 modules at each level-a speaking test and a mixed skills paper. In year 13 there is an additional written task in the form of an essay. There is no longer any written coursework element. 1/3 of the total marks are awarded for the speaking assessment. Students choose their own topic for discussion.

The topic areas for the AS specification are

Aspects of daily life
Leisure and entertainment
Communication and media
Education and training.

The topics for A2 are

Society - integration and exclusion, law and order, unemployment.
The Environment - conservation, pollution, energy management.
Science and Technology – medical progress, scientific advances, technological developments.

Culture – literature and the arts, political issues, heritage and history

Learning methods

Lessons are conducted predominantly in the target language and grammar is taught both in context and as a discrete item. Students are encouraged to work independently, developing research and dictionary skills, as well as in pairs or groups. There are weekly conversation lessons with the foreign language assistant in French and Spanish and students are encouraged to use the language of persuasion and argument and to give confident presentations. Software packages and VLE podcasts enable students to items on current events in order to develop listening skills. Students are also encouraged to undertake either work experience abroad with or a language course with a reputable company such as Halsbury Travel.

Career implications

Languages are a useful adjunct to almost any career, whether in business, science or the arts. With globalisation, the need for people who communicate well and can adapt readily to other cultures means that language graduates or those who have studied languages beyond GCSE are very much in demand.

Examples of student work

Year 7 took part in a highly successful cross curricular activity with food technology in December, making marzipan fruits and gift boxes.

Links to revision sites

www.zut.org.uk all years
www.linguascope.org.uk -all years
www.languagesonline.org.uk all years
www.bbcbitesize GCSE
www.authentik.org.uk KS5
www.wordreference.com (A useful online dictionary)

Useful Spanish websites

www.asisehace.net/
www.colby.edu/~bknelson
www.prospanish.co.uk

Year 8 - 2008 French
3 day visit to Le Touquet - March

Years 9 & 10 - 2008 French
Activity week in Normandy - July

Year 8 - 2008 German
Rhineland visit in May

Year 10 - 2008 German
Exchange students visit - September

Year 8 - 2009 French
3 day visit to Le Touquet - March

Years 9 & 10 - 2009 French
Activity week in Normandy - July

Years 12 & 13 - German 2009
Work experience in Stuttgart - February
Year 10 exchange visit to Hamburg - July

Year 10 - 2009 Spanish
Activity trip to Cantabria - March

Visits in 2010
Year 8 trip to Le Touquet March 12-14
Year 10 trip to Cantabria April 15-20
Year 8 trip to the Rhineland May 24-28
Years 9 & 10 activity week in Normandy June 26-July 1

Achievements within the department
2007 Instituto del año’ – named Joint Spanish School of the year by Spanish Embassy

Performance results

2008 - Three students among top ten in the country to achieve the highest overall marks in GCSE Spanish
2008 French A2 - All students achieved either grade A or B.
2008 - Two sets, one in French and one in Spanish took GCSE a year early and a significant number of students achieved an A* grade in both subjects.

Additional Information

We are in the process of developing materials which can easily be access on the VLE site. We currently have a number of podcasts for GCSE listening and reading tests in French which KS4 students are encouraged to use. At KS5 there are listening podcasts for Spanish and further material will soon be available in French.

At sixth form level we hope to have available in September resources in Spanish and French for year 12, which will give students the opportunity for further independent study of the their topics.