Modern Languages

The department has its own suite of rooms, with four language classrooms, two conversation rooms and a language office/resources’ area. Interactive whiteboards and data projectors are available in all of the rooms. Each room is equipped with a viewing screen, and networked computer.

There are four full time members of staff and three language assistants:

• Richard Taylor, Head of Languages, teacher of French and German to A2 level
• Paul Irvine, Head of Spanish, teacher of Spanish and French to A2 Level
• Carol Campbell, Teacher of French and Spanish to A2 level
• Christina Oliver, Teacher of German to A2 level and French to Key Stage 3
• Catherine Morin is our resident French language assistant.

What is Taught

The Modern Languages department teaches three foreign languages: French from Year 7, German and Spanish from Year 8. All pupils study French and German or Spanish until the end of year 9, at which point they can choose between the two subjects or take both.

Everybody studies one foreign language to the age of sixteen, unless a pupil has specific learning difficulties, in which case the obligation to study is removed. In the sixth form, French, German and Spanish are studied to “AS” and “A2” Level.

All language pupils in the Sixth form and in Year 11 have a weekly oral lesson with the language assistants. The conversation classes for Year 11 take place in the activity hour between 4.30 and 5.30, whereas sixth formers have their lesson during the school day.

Why Study Languages?

Apart from providing an intellectual challenge, a gateway to the understanding of another culture and the opportunity to communicate with people of other nationalities, languages are useful in the world of work. The importance of understanding and speaking a language cannot be denied or neglected in a flexible European and world market, where workers must be adaptable and maintain a wide range of skills.

Study Tours

There is an annual study tour for Year 8 pupils to Le Touquet, a French exchange for pupils in years 9 and 10 with a school in Carcassonne and a study tour to Spain for pupils in years 9 and 10. Sixth form pupils are able to participate in the study tours to Berlin and Paris. In the sixth form, we encourage pupils to go on individual exchanges or take up work experience abroad.

The department has consistently achieved good results at GCSE, “AS” and “A2” level. We are fortunate to have a dedicated and hardworking team of linguists.

Aims of Modern Language teaching at Bootham

• To encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning.
• To encourage positive attitudes to speakers of foreign languages and a sympathetic approach to other cultures and civilisations.
• To provide a high level of success and a sense of achievement through reasonable and structured challenge.
• To awaken an interest in educational and other visits abroad and a desire to communicate with people of other tongues.
• To promote the learning of skills of more general application - analysis, memorising, drawing of inferences.
• To train in oral and written communication with relevance, purpose and authenticity.
• To form a sound basis from which pupils may aspire to use their language skills in the world of work, for pleasure and further academic study.
• To give pupils a sound grammatical understanding of the language.
• To nurture of a love of languages and foreign cultures beyond the purely functional and transactional.
• To promote listening and reading skills appropriate to the level of study.

Every two or three years we put on a Languages’ Evening when pupils are encouraged to participate in sketches and sing songs.

The Curriculum:

Years 7-9

In each year of study, the four skills of listening, reading, speaking and
writing are developed. In this period of study, the fundamentals are taught. Grammar is integral to the course.

Year 10 - 11

GCSE Course: French Specification A: Code: 2650
Examination Board: AQA
GCSE course: Spanish Specification A: Code: 2695
Examination Board: AQA
GCSE course: German Specification A: Code: 2660
Examination Board: AQA

The specification requires the study of contexts and purposes:

• Lifestyle: Health, Relationships and choices
• Leisure: Free time and the media, Holidays
• Home and Environment: Home and local area, Environment
• Work and Education: School/college and future plans, Current and future jobs

The four language skills are weighted differently:

• Unit 1 Listening 20%
• Unit 2 Reading 20%
• Unit 3 Speaking 30%
• Unit 4 Writing 30%

The four skills are examined separately. Candidates can be entered for higher or foundation tier in listening and reading. With speaking and writing, the differentiation is by outcome. The speaking and writing elements are to be produced under controlled conditions in school.

For guidance on vocabulary learning please click here.

Course Content

For more precise detail of the topics covered, please click here

AS and A2 Modern Languages: Spanish/German/French

Aims of the courses:

• To encourage students to develop the knowledge and skills acquired at GCSE level to a higher level and in different contexts.
• To gain a useful insight into another culture and reflect on various aspects of contemporary society.
• To enhance employment prospects, facilitate foreign travel and experience the enjoyment and motivation of improving linguistic skills.

AS College 1

The course has been designed to take into account the linguistic knowledge of students who have just completed GCSE. The following topics are covered;

Media:

TV, advertising and communication technology

Popular Culture:

Cinema, music and fashion/trends

Healthy Living/Lifestyle:

Sport/exercise, health and well-being and holidays

Family/Relationships:

Relationships within the family, friendships and marriage/partnerships