Staff
Mrs Nia Campbell Head of Department
Miss Sharyn Cameron
Mrs Jacqueline Johnston
Mrs Adele McSorley (Temporary)
The Modern Languages staff place the learning of foreign languages in a fun and engaging manner at the heart of the Department’s work. The Department offers a range of learning opportunities for pupils in Years 8-10, at Key Stage 4 and also Key Stage 5.
From September 2011, Year 8 pupils will study French. The topics of C’est parti, Famille et copains andMoi teach the pupils the importance of learning everyday vocabulary. ‘Moi’ is part of a collaborative cross-departmental project, ‘All aboutMe’.
In Year 9, learning is set in the context of the pupils’ own environment. The topics, Chez moi, On va en ville and Ma journée encourage pupils to learn the vocabulary related to their own lives. All Year 9 Modern Languages pupils participate in the ‘All About Europe’ collaborative cross-departmental project.
The Year 10 pupils in September 2011 are continuing with their study of Spanish. The topics En casa, Mi pueblo, Yo y mi famillia and Tiempo libre focus on the everyday lives of the pupils, their hobbies, relationships in families and where they live.
In Key Stage 4 pupils are either offered AQA GCSE Spanish or French dependant on the language studied at Key Stage 3. Both qualifications are based on a 60% controlled assessment and a 40% exam.
At Key Stage 5, Edexcel AS and A2 Spanish are currently offered. These qualifications are entirely exam based and, at AS level, is designed to give pupils a wider knowledge of the language studied by looking at themes such as Youth Culture and Concerns, Lifestyle, Health and Fitness, The World Around Us and Education and Employment. At A2 level, pupils will study a more advanced programme as well as focusing on an aspect of Spanish culture and Spanish literature, in depth.
The Modern Languages Department encourages the use of the School’s Virtual Learning Environment, www.virtualgms.org/moodle, and has created a user-friendly course featuring audio content to assist with the learning and pronunciation of essential vocabulary as well as examination technique information and revision guidelines for GCSE languages.
