Introduction to Languages
In the Languages Department at Plashet School we are passionate about our communicative and interactive approach to language learning. We teach French, Spanish and Urdu and our aim is to enable for every student to develop their confidence, fluency and enjoyment of foreign languages and cultures to the highest level.
We believe that all students benefit from learning a language, whether for pleasure, work or further study. The experience helps students expand their horizons as well as equipping them with language qualifications which are increasingly seen as essential by many employers.
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, it goes to his heart.” – Nelson Mandela.
Lessons are conducted almost entirely in the target language and from the beginning students are encouraged to use the foreign language for real purposes to express themselves.
To enhance our students’ learning experience, we offer a variety of extra-curricular visits and cross curricular activities including visits to France, the cinema, and local museums. French students also have the opportunity to take part in penfriend schemes with our link schools in France.
Curriculum Content
KS3
In KS3 students focus on learning to use the target language as the language of communication in the classroom, whilst developing grammatical competence. They will develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students learn to express their needs and opinions, likes and dislikes and to describe past, present and future events. They also develop their cultural understanding with the study of poems and film clips.
KS4
In KS4, your daughter will follow the GCSE course. This involves developing the ability to communicate confidently with native speakers with increasing accuracy. Students will widen their vocabulary and increase their independent use and understanding of extended language. They will also further develop their grammatical understanding and translation skills. Resources such as film clips, literary and authentic texts and suitable websites will be used to enhance class and home learning.
Studying French at Plashet allows students to become confident in understanding the spoken language and taking part in the sort of conversations you might have when you go to a French speaking country or meet a French speaker in this country.
French is an official language in 29 different countries and throughout the course, students will find out more about the culture and countries of French speaking people, through music, film and literature.
Within the different topics studied, students will focus on developing their listening, speaking, writing and reading skills. They will become confident in giving and justifying their own opinions whilst developing an understanding of grammar and key structures.
Useful links:
Exam Board and Specification: AQA (8652)
AQA | Languages | GCSE | French
Exam Board and Outgoing Specification (Current Year 10): AQA French (8658)
AQA | Languages | GCSE | French
The topics taught at KS3 and KS4 are based on ‘Myself and the world around me’. Students will learn how to talk about themselves, their family, their interests, school life and future plans etc. as well as wider issues affecting young people such as the environment and other problems society faces. Through these topics, students will acquire a wide vocabulary and develop a solid understanding of French grammar.
Students will be expected to participate actively in lessons, whether working as a whole class, in pairs, groups or by themselves. They will be encouraged to deepen their own learning using a range of reference materials and online resources.
Our KS3 course aims to provide a strong foundation for students to build on at KS4. Throughout both key stages, students continually develop and practise the key skills. Regular internal assessments reflect actual GCSE questions and feedback from teachers guides students in how to make further progress.
How students are assessed at the end of the course
The French GCSE consists of 4 exams (Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing) taken at the end of Year 11. Each exam is worth 25%.
Home study
Home study is set each week to consolidate students’ knowledge and understanding of what has been covered in class. Home study includes vocabulary learning, grammar and writing practice and preparation for speaking tasks. Students can also access additional support and practice questions in the French area of Google Classroom.
Enrichment opportunities
There are opportunities to visit France. Students also have the chance to take part in our pen-friend scheme with our partner school in France. Cinema visits and language projects with an international French company also take place.
Learning essentials
A French/English bilingual dictionary is useful for students.
Learning a language helps develop both parts of the brain including analytical, logical, emotional and social skills. Studying Spanish at Plashet allows students to become confident in understanding the spoken language and taking part in the sort of conversations you might have when you go to a Spanish speaking country or meet a Spanish speaker in this country.
Spanish is the 2nd most spoken language in the world. It is an official language in 21 different countries with around 534 millions speakers across the globe.
Exam Board and Syllabus: AQA GCSE Spanish (8698)
The topics taught at KS3 and KS4 are based on ‘Myself and the world around me’. Students will have opportunities to communicate in Spanish with their peers, do oral presentations about ancient civilisations and research projects on how to protect the planet.
Our KS3 course aims to provide a strong foundation for students to build on at KS4. Throughout both keys stages, students continually develop and practise the key skills. Regular internal assessments reflect actual GCSE questions and feedback from teachers guides students in how to make further progress.
Useful links:
AQA | GCSE | Spanish | Specification at a glance
How students are assessed at the end of the course:
The Spanish GCSE consists of 4 exams (worth 25% each) taken at the end of Year 11: speaking,reading, listening and writing.
Home study
Home study is set each week to consolidate students’ knowledge and understanding of what has been covered in class. Home study includes vocabulary learning, grammar and writing practice and preparation for speaking tasks. Students can also access additional support and practice questions in the Spanish area of Google Classroom.
Enrichment opportunities
Students are given opportunities to participate in extracurricular events which enable students to practice their Spanish skills. In the past this has included watching drama performances with Spanish actors, and pen pal projects.
Learning essentials
A Spanish/English bilingual dictionary is useful for students.
Studying Urdu at Plashet allows students to become confident in understanding the spoken language and taking part in the sort of conversations you might have when you go to an Urdu speaking country or meet an Urdu speaker in this country.
After the creation of Pakistan in 1947, Urdu was chosen to be the national language of the new country. Today Urdu is spoken in many countries around the world, including Britain, Canada, the USA, the Middle East and India. In fact, there are more Urdu speakers in India than there are in Pakistan. Throughout the course, students will find out more about the culture and countries of Urdu speaking people, through music, film and literature.
Within the different topics studied, students will focus on developing their listening, speaking, writing and reading skills. They will become confident in giving and justifying their own opinions whilst developing an understanding of grammar and key structures.
Exam Board and Syllabus: Edexcel Urdu (1UR0)
The topics taught at KS3 and KS4 are personal information, school, my hobbies, weather, shopping, festivals, health and fitness. Students will learn how to talk about themselves, their family, their interests, school life and future plans etc. as well as wider issues affecting young people such as the environment and other problems society faces. Through these topics, students will acquire a wide vocabulary and develop a solid understanding of Urdu grammar.
The topics studied at KS4 will be identity and culture, local area, holiday and travel, school, future aspirations, study and work, international and global dimension.
Students will be expected to participate actively in lessons, whether working as a whole class, in pairs, groups or by themselves. They will be encouraged to deepen their own learning using a range of reference materials and on line resources.
Our KS3 course aims to provide a strong foundation for students to build on at KS4. Throughout both key stages, students continually develop and practise the key skills. Regular internal assessments reflect actual GCSE questions and feedback from teachers’ guides students on how to make further progress.
How the students are assessed at the end of the course
The Urdu GCSE consists of 4 exams taken at the end of Year 11:
- Listening (25%)
- Speaking (25%)
- Reading (25%)
- Writing (25%)
Home study
Home study is set each week to consolidate students’ knowledge and understanding of what has been covered in class. Home study includes vocabulary learning, grammar and writing practice and preparation for speaking tasks. Students can also access additional support and practice questions on Google Classroom.
Enrichment opportunities
Typical enrichment activities include Cinema visits, clubs to promote Urdu and combine creative skills.
Learning essentials
An Urdu/English bilingual dictionary is useful for students.