Modern Foreign Languages

What do you call someone who can speak three languages?  Trilingual.

What do you call someone who can speak two languages?  Bilingual.

What do you call someone who can speak only one language?  English!

Modern Language acquisition has long been accepted as an important skill. It is rightly believed at Abbotsholme that confidence and competence in a foreign language is a valuable asset as well as proving the above joke to be false. Languages are taught throughout the school from the junior school to A-level standard.

As a department we aim to:

• develop the ability to use language effectively for purposes of practical communication.
• form a sound base of the skills, language and attitudes required for further study, work and leisure.
• offer insight into the culture and civilisation of the countries where the language is spoken.
• develop an awareness of the nature of language and language learning.
• provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation.
• encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning and to speakers of foreign languages and a sympathetic approach to other cultures and civilizations.

Key Stage 3

In year 7, 8 and 9 French is offered to all pupils and the groups are set by ability. Pupils follow the National Curriculum and the text books Métro and Clic are employed. Both courses are fully differentiated, allowing access and a sense of achievement to all learners.

In years 8 and 9 pupils have the opportunity to study Spanish and again are set by ability. They study Listos 1 and 2, which offer other fully differentiated courses.

Teaching is carried out in an interesting, yet meaningful way and where practicable, it is communicative in its approach. Teachers use a wide variety of resources to make the subject interesting, accessible and enjoyable.

Key Stage 4

French and Spanish are offered for GCSE and pupils follow the AQA GCSE courses. They have access to a huge range of extra internet support materials via the website Kerboodle. In certain circumstances it is possible for the department to offer German to GCSE. Other languages are available for examination when a pupil is a native speaker of another language. Recently pupils have taken examinations in Dutch, Korean, Chinese and Russian.

Post 16

In the Sixth Form the school offers French and Spanish for A-level. In addition it is possible for native speakers of German to take the A level examination. In the Sixth Form pupils are strongly encouraged to spend some time in the target language country.