Modern Languages

Introduction

“The ability to speak more than one language is critical to succeed in business in Europe, Asia/Pacific and Latin America.”

“It will be “more important than today” for executives to be at least bilingual.”

“Although English remains the dominant language of international business, multilingual executives clearly have a competitive advantage. This will only increase with the continued globalization of commerce and the growing power and presence of emerging nations.”

Korn/Ferry International. (Recruiting company)

Thanks to new technology and improved travel and communications, the world has become a much smaller place. In the Modern Languages Department we feel that it is crucial that we all learn to speak and understand each other. Employers are often asking for candidates with language skills and a qualification in a language places our pupils in a strong position for interesting employment with plenty of career opportunities. Examples of employment where language skill are particularly valued include journalism and the media, law, engineering, business and marketing, ICT, travel and tourism, customer service, Civil Service and teaching in the UK and abroad.

Facilities

Pupils will be taught using a variety of methods in order to maximise success in all the language skills. This will include interesting listening and reading material, and the opportunity to speak with a Foreign Language Assistant, alternating each year between a French and German speaker. Great emphasis is placed on speaking and writing and pupils are encouraged to express themselves independently in the language so that they gain confidence early on and achieve the fluency and sophistication vital for success. We use the School’s impressive ICT equipment whenever possible and the Internet is obviously a great source of material for linguists.

Curriculum

All pupils in Y7 and Y8 learn French and German and are timetabled for two I hour lessons per week for each language in the twenty-five period week. In Y9 pupils can opt to take either French or German and continue to study their chosen language up to GCSE. The Board used by the Department is AQA.

In the 6th Form pupils may carry on to study their language at AS/A2 where we use the OCR Board. Pupils will study the language and culture of the respective country in greater depth and must supplement their class-work with private reading and listening work, which can be retrieved from the computer or borrowed from the Department.

There is also the opportunity for pupils to study for the OCR CBLC Business Language Exam in either French or German. This can be taken at different levels to suit the pupil and has proved to be both successful and popular and is an appropriate qualification for a Business and Enterprise College.

General

Foreign trips, exchanges and penfriend links are actively encouraged by the Department. There is an annual exchange trip to Alford’s twin town, Conlie, and Sixth Form Business Studies pupils are able to participate in a work placement in the same area. We are currently in the planning stage of a new exchange to Germany and we take advantage of any local opportunities. This year a party of Y11 and Y12 went to a Languages Day organised by the University of Lincoln and were able to converse with native speakers in French or German, try out the University’s on-line tuition and even have a taster session in Spanish, very much enjoyed by those who took part. There are varying activities at lunch-times. We have held a language club, presided over by pupils teaching their native language and by other colleagues who have language skills. Examples include Arabic, Dutch, Malay, Welsh Italian, Spanish, Danish and Chinese. There is the opportunity to learn to communicate in other languages at lunch-time clubs and 6th Form pupils offer help to younger pupils.

Staff