Handsworth Grammar School

Modern Foreign Languages

Aims

Learning a new language teaches pupils how people live in other cultures and countries and gives insights into our own multi-cultural society. As new technology brings people closer together across the globe, studying languages becomes ever more important in preparing pupils for living and working in the 21st century.

Through our syllabuses and schemes of work we provide material and a learning environment, which prepares all pupils for a future world and adult life in a multi-racial, interdependent world.

We aim to:

  • Develop the ability to understand and use the chosen foreign language effectively for the purposes of practical communication.
  • Develop the ability to use the chosen language both imaginatively and creatively and to understand the language used both imaginatively and creatively.
  • Develop an understanding of the grammar of the chosen language.
  • Offer insights into the culture and civilisation of the countries and communities that speak the chosen language.
  • Encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning and to speakers of foreign languages and a positive approach to other cultures and civilisations.
  • Develop students' understanding of themselves and their own culture.
  • Provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation.
  • Form a sound base of skills, language and attitude required for further study, work and leisure.
  • Promote skills, which have a wider application such as information technology, and learning skills (e.g. analysis, memorising, drawing inference).

Key Stage 3

  • All Year 7 pupils study French (6 lessons per fortnight)
  • In Year 8 pupils continue their study of French (5 lessons perfortnight) and also study German (6 lessons per fortnight)
  • In Year 9 all students continue to study both French and German (5 lessons of each per fortnight)
  • The coursebooks used are Métro (for French) and Logo (for German)

Key Stage 4

  • Students are given the choice of studying either French or German or both. The study of at least one foreign language is, therefore, undertaken by all pupils, and all pupils are entered for the AQA GCSE examination in at least one language. We believe this to be an essential part of our students' curriculum and it is our policy not to disapply students.
  • The coursebooks used are Métro (for French) and Logo (for German)

Key Stage 5

  • At 16+ the school offers AS and A2 examinations provided by AQA in French and German. Some students may decide not to continue with the language into Year 13, but obviously we would hope to encourage them to carry on and do the A2 examination.