Curriculum Team Leader for French:

Mrs Marie-Claire Butterworth (m.butterworth@tgs.starmat.uk)

Curriculum Team Leader German:

Ms Barbara Jackson (b.Jackson@tgs.starmat.uk)

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Introduction

The Modern Foreign Languages Department strives to inspire in students a curiosity and fascination about the German and French speaking worlds and their language, culture and people that will remain with them for the rest of their lives.

We equip students with language knowledge and communication skills to enable them to listen, read, write and speak German and French and we seek to enthuse students to take their study of the subject further and into their wider lives and to inspire them to develop a long lasting curiosity for other cultures and languages.

The teaching staff speak many languages between them and have a wealth of international experience which is passed on to our learners to ensure they see language as beneficial to their life chances.

Key Stage 3

Students in Year 7 study both French and German for three periods each per fortnight and are taught in mixed ability groups. Students will also study these two languages as they move into Year 8 and 9.

Key Stage 4

Students opting to take a Modern Foreign Language in Key Stage 4 have the choice of studying French or German or both French and German.  Students must have previous knowledge of French and German to be able to study those courses. Students in Year 11 are currently following the AQA exam board specification, and Year 10 students are studying the Pearson/Edexcel exam board specification. Students are required to complete final examinations at the end of Year 11 in the four skill areas of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing, with each examination being equally weighted at 25% for both Foundation and Higher tier. Both languages are taught for four periods over two weeks in Year 10 and  five periods over two weeks in Year 11.

Key Stage 5

In Key Stage 5 students may study either French or German and once again the specification followed is that of the AQA exam board. Lessons focus again on the four skills of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing, with students being given a dedicated timetabled session to practise and enhance their speaking skills.

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