Modern Languages KS3
French
French is taught to all pupils who enter the school in Year 7. Our coursebook is Encore Tricolore, nouvelle édition. Our aim is to foster a love for the language and an enthusiasm for learning it. We are committed to providing a full and thorough introduction and recognize the importance of a firm grammatical foundation if significant progress is to be made later.
The wider issues involved in language-learning are also considered and time is spent concentrating on the French people, their country and culture and their position within Europe. Insights into life in France and other French-speaking countries are provided through the use of authentic material and input from the French assistant. In the summer term 2007 and 2008 year 8 have been on trips to France.
German and Spanish
We hold 'taster sessions' towards the end of Year 8 to introduce pupils to German and Spanish in order to give them a basis for choice of a second language at the beginning of Year 9. The textbooks used are Lernpunkt Deutsch and Espanol Mundial respectively. At the end of year 9, the better linguists are encouraged to take their second language through to GCSE along with French which they have studied since year 7.
Recent government legislation has meant that many pupils in the UK do not continue with their foreign language to GCSE level. This is not the case at Blundell’s where all pupils continue to learn at least one foreign language to GCSE level. We believe that this is vitally important to ensure that Blundellians equip themselves for a role in our multi-lingual world. Many university courses offer modules in a foreign language alongside other subjects and nowadays all students have the opportunity to study abroad for a year through the Erasmus scheme. Some may take up other languages such as Mandarin and Arabic at a later date if they have had a positive experience of learning languages at school.
Introduction of “Michel Thomas for Schools” in German
This is based on the highly successful Michel Thomas language courses for independent learners. We have tested these courses out in several languages during “Try a new language” activity sessions, and one keen member of the school used the Japanese course to achieve an A* in GCSE after 6 months of study.
The version for schools is based on the same principles of learning, but includes reading, listening and writing material, as well as a range of games and other activities designed to help pupils to remember everything they have learnt. Pupils opting for German in year 9 will be trained in this method from September 2011. It replaces “Lernpunkt Deutsch”, which is now out of print. More information can be found at the author’s site, www.phoward.net.