Welcome to the Modern Foreign Languages Department
Bienvenu…….Wilkommen……Benvenuto!!!
Modern Foreign Languages Department
Head of Faculty and Italian
Mr Knox (French and Italian)
Department
Mrs Knox (Head of French and Year 11)
Mrs Hardy (Head of German)
Mrs Hewson ( Primary Liaison, French and Italian)
Miss Crook (French)
Mr Ferris (German and French and Head of Year 9)
Mr Hutchinson (French and Head of Year 7)
Mr Khachikian (French and Italian)
Mr Thompson (French and Italian)
SMT link
Mr Murphy Headteacher
Support
Ms Nodari Italian Consulate Manchester
Mission Statement
In Modern Languages our aim is:
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To create an atmosphere where pupils can learn in a secure environment in which mutual trust prevails between individuals and staff.
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To treat all pupils equally and to engender respect for and interest in other cultures.
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To offer every pupil the chance to study a foreign language
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To promote independent learning, an appreciation of language and how it works
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To help every pupil achieve his potential at all key stages
To raise awareness of career opportunities involving Foreign Languages
Teaching and Assessment Strategies
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Our fundamental aim is to vary our teaching methodology so as to combine the best of traditional trusted methods with the best of the new. Our language teaching rooms are equipped with interactive white boards and PCs and we await the delivery of laptops with wireless capability. All rooms have audio capability.
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Emphasis is placed on the main skill areas of Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking.
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Teaching is done in the target language as much as is practically possible.
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It is departmental policy that all students do a weekly homework.
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Assessment is continuous at KS3, 4 and 5. Pupils also sit internal exams twice a year according to the school calendar.
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We encourage the pupils to assess their own work based on National Curriculum levels and public examination mark schemes and therefore to be aware of how to progress through the levels.
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At KS4 and 5 we emphasise the importance of revision and exam technique.
KS2 Primary Partnership
We have established close links with eight of our Feeder Primaries.
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To provide upskilling sessions to help primary staff to deliver the KS2 MFL entitlement which becomes statutory in 2010.
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We provide weekly staff support in one of our feeders per half term.
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Years 12 and 13 support the initiative as part of their Enrichment Programme.
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French and Italian KS2 days held at SCHS in July
KS3
In KS3 pupils are streamed according to their general ability and are taught in their tutor groups. All boys study French as their first language. The number of lessons per fortnight varies according to ability:
|
A-D |
E-F |
SEN |
Year 7 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
Year 8 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
Year 9 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
French KS3
Programme of study
Year 7
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Introducing yourself
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Describing where you live
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Talking about home and family
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Describing pets
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Talking about birthdays
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The weather
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Describing places in the town
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Talking about school
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Discussing food
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Talking about leisure activities
Year 8
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Shopping
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Travel
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School life in France
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Staying With a French family
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Ordering food in a restaurant
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Organising a journey
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Buying clothes
Year 9
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Paris
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Young people
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Describing the past
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Youth travel
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The future
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Free time
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Cycling and directions in town
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Organising a holiday
German and Italian KS3
In year 9 A-D pupils have the opportunity to study a second language: Italian or German for four lessons a fortnight.
In 9 E-G pupils continue with French.
Programme of study
German
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Introducing yourself
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Describing your family
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Describing your town
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Describing your house and your bedroom
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Clothes
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Hobbies and leisure activities
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Last weekend
Italian
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Introducing yourself
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School life in Italy
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Hobbies and leisure activities
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Talking about your family
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Describing your house
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Discussing food
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Keeping fit
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A weekend in Milan
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Holiday plans
0ptions at KS4
In Year 9 A-D pupils must study a foreign language at GCSE. This can be French, German or Italian, depending on their Year 9 choices. Some pupils choose two languages. Year 9 E-G can either study an NVQ or a full GCSE in French.
At KS4 GCSE students follow the AQA specification and receive 5 lessons per fortnight.
Examination web sites:
http:/www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gcse/french
http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gcse/italian
http://www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gcse/german
NVQ students follow the Edexcel specification and receive 5 lessons a fortnight.
This qualification is suitable for anyone using language skills in the workplace or anyone in full or part time training. Pupils build up a portfolio over 2 years.
Examination web sites:
www.edexcelstudents.org.uk/club/quals/nvq/
Options at KS5
French, German and Italian can be studied to A level.
Examination web sites:
www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as_alevelgce/french
www.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/german_new.php
www.edexcel.com/quals/gce/gce08/lang/italian
Extra-curricular activities
The Faculty has a thriving programme of visits to France, Germany and Italy.
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Year 8 – Northern France in late September
Years 10 and 12 France, Germany and Italy for one week during the last two weeks of term.
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Year 13 Bergamo, Italy in late January
The aim of each visit is to combine language work and tourism which are appropriate for each year group.
We have recently established a link with a grammar school in Wolfenbüttel, Germany.
Take a virtual tour of the school www.thgwf.de/index.php?page=rundgang
School web page - www.thgwf.de
We received our first visit from a group of pupils from the school in May 2008, and in July 2008 made our first visit to Wolfenbüttel. We hope to develop this link in the future together with similar links with schools in France and Italy.
Photos – clockwise
1. Y13 interviewing the stadium manager of Atalanta FC,Bergamo
2. Y13 work experience in the “Caffé della Funicolare”,Bergamo Alta
3. Y10 doing a survey at the market in Montreuil-sur-Mer
4. Y10 enjoying moules à la marinière,Nord-pas-de Calais
Link with Hull University, National Centre for Excellence in MFL for Gifted and Talented pupils.
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Our pupils attend workshops at the university and participate in the Merlin on line programme.
Link with Opera North
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We are regularly involved in workshops followed by attendance at performances, sung in the original language with subtitles.
As a host venue for
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Gli Amici – An Italiophile group which meets regularly to promote Italian Language and Culture.
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Guest Speakers from the world of work who demonstrate the importance of MFL in their work.
Why study a modern language?
It is now accepted that employees who can offer a Modern Foreign Language can earn between 8 and 20% more than their peers. Employers value the transferable skills which linguists develop: the ability to spot patterns, the ability to adapt ideas and concepts and most important of all perhaps, the skill to communicate with their foreign clients. The study of a language at AS / A2 will develop these skills in addition to broadening your knowledge of a country and its culture, so that should you choose to study for example French at university say with Chemistry or Computer Science, you would have the confidence to spend a year at the Pasteur Institute in Paris as part of your work placement. Such is the demand from employers for employees with language skills that a language can be combined with over 1000 subjects at Universities. Studied alongside the Arts, Sciences or the Humanities it makes you a very desirable commodity in the workplace.
Departmental Calendar
Year |
Assessment |
Course work |
Visits |
Other |
7 |
Jan/June |
|
|
European Day of Languages |
8 |
Jan/June |
|
September |
|
9 |
Jan/June |
|
July |
|
10 |
Jan/June |
|
July |
|
11 |
Nov/May |
September November March |
|
|
12 |
Jan/May |
|
July |
Support for KS2 Primary Initiative |
13 |
Jan/June |
|
January |
Useful Links
