Modern Foreign Languages

Language learning promotes tolerance and understanding. The ability to understand and communicate in other languages is a basic skill for all European citizens.

Try life in another language!

At Churchmead School all students take French. With the use of interactive white boards, lessons are enriched and pupils have the opportunity to get involved and have fun. We have a three part lesson and make sure that everyone has a clear understanding of what they have learnt.

We use several web sites to enrich learning: linguascope, languages online and BBC websites are the most popular. Our Expo books are also used electronically with Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing skills equally included

Six Good reasons to learn a language

 

  • It’ll help get you a job
  • It’s exciting
  • It gets you places
  • You’ll meet loads of new people
  • You can enjoy new cultures
  • You’ll find out more about yourself

  • KS3

  • Pupils are put into mixed ability sets with regular assessments and feedback to make sure that progression is made each term. Pupils and teachers then write comments about the quality of work and how to progress further.

    At KS3 we use Expo 2 green and Expo 2 rouge books with differentiated tasks as well as Expo electro with modules:

    Y7: C’est party, Famille et copains, Chez moi, On va en ville, Ma journée et On s’amuse.

    Y8: Famille et domicile, Temps libre, Les sorties, Manger et boire, Voyage et vacances et Les copains.

    At KS3 we play a lot of games by using a website linguascope.com. Through games pupils memorize new vocabulary better and are encouraged to speak French as a part of learning a modern language.

    In Y7, we organize a vocabulary competition in December and prizes are given at the whole school assembly.

    In Y8, we organize a Christmas card competition and prizes are given at the whole school assembly.

    In February each year a BA language Centre representative comes to school to talk to Y8 pupils about the importance of languages in today’s world.

    We encourage independent work and try to make learning a language enjoyable and useful.

    KS4

  • Pupils follow the AQA syllabus.

    In Y9 we use Expo électro vert and rouge with modules: Ça t’intéresse? , L’avenir, En bonne santé, Les gens comme nous, On y va, Les droits et les jeunes.

    In Y10 and Y11 we use Métro vert and Métro rouge books to meet everyone’s needs. According to the performance throughout the course, students may be entered for Foundation tier (grades C-G) or Higher tier (grades A*-D).

    The exam consists of: Speaking (30%), Writing (30%), Listening (20%) and Reading (20%).

    AQA specification subject content:

    Lifestyle: Health and Relationships and Choices;

    Leisure: Free time and media and Holidays;

    Home and environment: Home and local area and Environment;

    Work and education: School/college and future plans, and current and future jobs

    Other languages

    Our school is offering pupils a chance to do GCSE in community languages.

    This has been such a success and we will continue to support everyone who would like to take the exam:

    In 2013, we achieved 97% A*-C.

    In 2014, we achieved 88% A*-C.

    We enter pupils for: Panjabi, Spanish, Urdu, Mandarin, Portuguese, Japanese, Arabic, Italian, Polish, German etc.

    Extracurricular activities

    To inspire pupils to take up languages in KS4 we organize many events each year.

    Each Year:

     

    • EU Languages Day is celebrated on 26 September.
    • BA representative comes to school to speak to Y8 pupils about the importance of languages.
    • Y9 pupils go to Café Rouge, Windsor, to practice speaking in everyday situations (ordering food and drinks in French
    • Y10 pupils go to BA language center as a preparation for a GCSE Speaking in French.
    • 4 day Paris trip or 1 day trip to Boulogne is being organized on a regular basis.
    • Writing articles for a school newsletter.
    • We are running a French Club every Friday at lunch time for KS3.
    • We are running extra French lessons every Tuesday after school for KS4.

    You can view short presentations prepared by pupils about their trip to Paris and Boulogne.