An engineering specialism within a grammar school
Modern Foreign Languages
“A different language is a different vision of life”
(Federico
Fellini)
Aims of the department
The languages we teach are French, German and Spanish. Our philosophy is to help students develop their use of these languages for practical purposes and to help them develop an appreciation of languages, other cultures and of language learning in general. We believe in an oral approach, with lessons conducted largely in the foreign language, supported by careful study and practice of grammar and vocabulary. We aim to develop the skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing through a wide range of activities including: class oral work, pair work, group work, acting out dialogues, vocabulary learning, oral and written grammar drills, listening to and watching recorded material, songs, playing language games, dictation, using interactive computer resources, memorising talks and writing compositions.
KS3
French is learned by all students. There are four lessons a week of 40 minutes in Y7, five in Y8 and 4 in Y9. Students have two pieces of homework a week in Y7 and Y8, with three a week in Y9.
The course followed in Y7 is Tricolore Total. Thereafter we use Encore Tricolore. We also use a wide range of other resources including interactive websites, our own worksheets, flashcards, the interactive board (e.g. Boardworks and Atantѻt). Students are invited to subscribe to a French magazine and we often exchange penfriend letters with our partner school in France.
Assessment takes the form of regular end of unit tests in listening, reading and writing, along with end of year examinations which also include an assessment of oral proficiency. Every pupil is given a teacher-assessed level at the end of Y9. About 30% of any year group reach level 7.
Classes work in their form group until the end of Y8 when they are put into sets, one top (alpha), one middle (beta) and two lower (gamma).
In Y9 all students begin German and Spanish and do each language for half the year. Progress is assessed using the Asset Languages scheme.
KS4
French is continued by all students to GCSE. German is an option with 4 periods per week. Spanish will become an option in 2009-10. Encore Tricolore (Nouvelle Edition) is the course used for French. The course used in German is currently Lernpunkt Deutsch. Assessment continues to be by end of unit test, regular vocabulary testing, along with two examinations in Y10 and a mock examination in Y11.
AQA is the examination board used. The large majority of students enter at Higher Tier in all the language skills (listening, reading, speaking and writing). Writing is assessed by coursework (three short essays).
Over half our students achieve A* or A grade at GCSE, with about 30% normally achieving A*.
Sixth Form
French and German are currently offered at AS and A2 level. Students have two teachers for French, one for German, plus one period with the foreign language assistant. Students enter for module exams in June of the Lower Sixth year and June of the Upper Sixth year. Students are advised to retake AS modules in January or June of the Upper Sixth year. We follow the AQA specification. We use the French for AQA and German for AQA course books along with our own resources. At Ripon Grammar School we attract an unusually large number of students at AS and A2 level and well over half normally achieve A and B grades.
Career opportunities
The outlook is very positive indeed for students who learn modern foreign languages. Employment rates after languages degrees are amongst the very highest. Employers particularly welcome graduates with good communication skills and who can offer one or more modern foreign languages.
Languages graduates may get involved in education or translating/interpreting, but it is much more likely that they would work in commerce or industry using languages as an ancillary skill.
Additional information
We offer a visit to Normandy every year for pupils in holiday time at the end of Y8 and we have a long-running exchange scheme, begun in 1988, for Y10 and A-level students with the Institution Saint Louis in Pont l’Abbé d’Arnoult in France. A-level German students currently take part in a work experience programme.
The department is housed in its own area and is equipped with two interactive whiteboards along with more traditional resources. Pupils make regular use of the school ICT rooms in MFL lessons. The school library is well-stocked with books, dictionaries and DVDs, whilst satellite television is also available to students.
Links
For a comprehensive set of links for French see www.frenchteacher.net/links.htm.
For both French and German we strongly recommend www.languagesonline.org.uk.
For examination specifications see www.aqa.org.uk.
