Languages

In Year 7, all pupils study Latin. The emphasis is on learning how Latin has contributed to the development of English and how the culture has influenced our contemporary civilisation. This subject is an important “back-up” to the study of any language, particularly English and the Romance languages Italian, Spanish and French, as there are many connections between them all both in vocabulary and in grammatical structure.

It is a significant subject with respect to the study of European culture, too. So from an historical point of view it not only enriches but also informs students about their own culture. Year 7 introduces the language and covers such topics as The Roman Day, Food and Dinner Parties, Fashion and Beauty, Houses, The Roles of Women and Slaves, Religion, etc
Year 8 develops the language and concentrates on life in Pompeii.
Year 9 further develops the language and focuses on the Romans in Britain.
Overall the course deals with vocabulary and grammar, history and a little philosophy.

Extra-curricular activities

Each year, Years 8 and 9 visit an important Roman site in the South-East of England. Several have been considered, even tried, but the best, in terms of providing a varied day’s programme, not too far from Reigate (for those who need to be back in time for the coach trip home), are Fishbourne Roman Palace (Chichester) and Verulamium (St Albans). Fishbourne has spectacular mosaics, a garden, a museum and also offers excellent practical workshops. St Albans has a hypocaust, a Roman theatre and a very good museum.

Years 7, 8 and 9 French and Spanish

At KS3, we study a wide range of topics such as: classroom instructions, greetings, numbers, personal information, physical descriptions, telling the time, school, leisure activities, likes and dislikes, clothes, colours, family, pets, daily routine, the weather, countries and nationalities.

We also introduce the pupils to cultural aspects of the countries where the language is spoken.

The grammar is built into the studies and pupils learn common regular and irregular verbs and their conjugation in the past, present and future tenses as well as adjectival endings for example. By the end of Year 9, good foundations are in place for the GCSE course.

GCSE French, German or Spanish

At Dunottar all pupils study one language at GCSE and are encouraged to continue with two languages depending on their assessment results.

We currently use the AQA examining Board.

We also encourage pupils to start using more complex and sophisticated structures like subordinate clauses or relative clauses as well as idiomatic expressions.

We study a variety of topics, which include: Life Style, Leisure, Home and Environment and Work and Education. By the end of Year 11, our pupils have become more independent in their learning.

A Level

Competent linguists are encouraged to continue with at least one language at A Level. Some choose to do two.

The course is very challenging but also very exciting as we aim to give our students the “tools” which will enable them to discuss world issues like racial and sex discrimination, AIDS, war, science and technology, the media, the generation gap, the developing world etc.

We encourage our students to read newspapers and magazines in the target language as well as in English, in order to form an opinion on world issues so that they become young adults with ideas, who can express themselves in a foreign language.

The examinations, at both AS and A2 level, test their comprehension of complex written or recorded texts. It also tests their ability to manipulate the language, to analyse and draw conclusions in the essay writing and their ability to “think on their feet” in the oral discussions.

 

Rooms and Resources

The pupils are taught in three dedicated rooms and various others, equipped with television and video/ DVD players, data projector, tape/ cassette players and dictionaries.

They have easy access to the computer rooms and their Interactive Whiteboards for their own research and presentations as well as for access to specific language websites for grammar practice for example.

All pupils are issued with a textbook in September. In our library, they can find a section dedicated to languages and there is something for everyone: from easy readers and magazines to reference books, dictionaries, newspapers and works of literature.

We also strongly encourage all pupils to subscribe to foreign magazines for independent reading.

Educational Visits

We invite a Theatre Company, whose actors are all native speakers, to perform in the school Hall several times a year.

These plays always provide the pupils with a new outlook on the language and a lot of new vocabulary as well as a lot of fun.

We also aim to take a trip abroad every year to France, Germany or Spain.

The A Level students have the opportunity to attend conferences in London or to see a foreign play at a local theatre. They can also opt to do some work experience abroad too. Every week they attend an additional conversation class with a Foreign Language Assistant.

Extra-curricular Clubs

We run a European Culture Club one lunch time a week and we have a good selection of DVDs in the foreign languages which the pupils can borrow. KS4 pupils can come to see us any lunchtime for a“clinic”, where they can ask for help with any area where they may be experiencing difficulties.