Modern  Languages

Head  of  Department:   Mrs  H  Whitten  (French)
                                   Miss  E  Crawford  (French)
                                   Mrs  L  Inns  (French  and  Spanish)

Why  study  a  Modern  Foreign  Language?

There are three things that you should always remember about languages:

1. It’s a multilingual world – not everyone speaks English.

94% of the world does not speak English as their first language.
75% of the world does not speak English at all.

2. Languages improve the quality of your life and your understanding of how other people live and think.

You can travel more and meet new people.
You could earn more in your job one day!

3. You do not have to be fluent in a language – a little language can make a lot of difference.

Even the basic phrases make a real difference.
Jobs from receptionist to top level management need language skills.

Modern  Languages  play  a  big  part  in  the  curriculum  at  TJHS.  All  pupils  study  French  and  some  will  also  take  up  Spanish  in  Year  9.

Many  pupils  will  come  to  TJHS  after  studying  French  in  their  Primary  School,  while  others  have  no  experience  of  French  -  we  cater  for  all  abilities.

There  are  four  attainment  targets  in  Modern  Languages:

1.  Listening  

2.  Speaking

3.  Reading

4.  Writing

Topics  covered  include:

Year  8  -  Meeting  and  greeting  a  French  person,  Saying  how  you  are  and  asking  someone  else,  giving  and  asking  for  your  age,  classroom  objects,  where  you  and  others  live,  La  Rochelle,  Your  family  and  pets,  Your  likes  and  dislikes,  Important  dates  in  the  French  calendar,  Birthdays  and  Presents,  Clothing

Year  9  -  Weather,  Temperature,  Seasons,  Sports/Leisure  Activities,  Places  in  town,  Asking  for  and  giving  directions,  At  the  tourist  office,  Time,  Your  typical  day

Year  10  -  Food  and  drinks,  Meals,  Eating  out  or  with  a  French  family,  Leisure,  sport  and  music,  Helping  around  the  house,  Shops,  Quantities  and  Money,  Shopping  for  food.

French/Spanish  Assistants

Each  year  we  employ  native  speakers  who  take  Year  10  pupils  in  small  groups  to  improve  their  spoken  language  and  to  work  towards  the  oral  exam  which  is  worth  25%  of  the  final  transfer  exam  mark.
Pupils  can  interview  Loic

European  Day  of  Languages  -  26th  September

Each  year  for  a  week  in  September  we  have  a  whole  school  focus  on  European  Studies.  Many  departments  study  a  European  dimension  of  their  subject  area  eg  European  Scientists,  WW1  in  History,  European  dishes  in  Home  Economics,  European  Artists,  etc.

During  the  week,  the  canteen  staff  produce  delicious  European  dishes  for  break  and  lunch.

Pupils  can  earn  500  House  Points  for  their  house  by  entering  the  EDL  quiz  or  designing  a  poster.

The  week  culminates  with  a  special  assembly  which  includes  prayers,  bible  readings,  poems,  songs  and  dance  from  a  variety  of  European  countries.
I  have  Pictures  of  this  year’s  EDL  Assembly

French  Film  Performance

As  part  of  the  EDL  celebrations  we  booked  the  Onatti  Theatre  Company  to  perform  the  play  “Les  Garçons”  for  all  Year  9  and  10  pupils  on  Tuesday  25  September  2007.  
The  play  was  :
• performed by native speaking actors.
• completely in the foreign language.
• relevant for modern teenagers.
• involved  audience  participation

What topics are included?
The play is written to tie in vocabulary and topics covered in KS3 and GCSE French.
Some topics included in this play are:
•  Rooms
•  Positions
•  Furniture
•  Describing someone
•  Clothing
•  Colours
•  Past time activities
•  Describing yourself
•  Food
•  Drink

ICT

Communication  and  research  using  ICT  are  important  in  ML.  Activities  include  word  processing,  research,  presentations,  brochures,  leaflets,  posters  etc

In  the  future  we  hope  to  set  up  an  email  facility  with  an  exchange  school.

Linguascope

We  make  an  annual  subscription to  the  Linguascope  website  so  all  pupils  have  access  both  in  school  and  at  home.  Modern  Languages

teachers  will  give  pupils  the  username  and  password  for  our  school.

This  website  enables  pupils  to  consolidate  and  reinforce  both  French  and  Spanish  topics  studied  in  class.  The  site  includes  presentations  with  sound,  games  and  consolidation  activities.

This link will take you to the site

www.linguascope.com

TRIP TO FRANCE 2008

DATE:  TUESDAY 9TH OCTOBER – FRIDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2008

COST:  £395 (BASED ON 47 PLACES FOR TRIP TO GO AHEAD -    

FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS)

DEPOSIT: £100 (NON-RETURNABLE - UNLESS TRIP DOES NOT    HAPPEN)

TRAVEL: AER LINGUS FLIGHT & EXECUTIVE COACH

ACCOMMODATION : FIAP JEAN MONNET HOTEL

(HALF BOARD - FULL BREAKFAST &
      3-COURSE EVENING MEAL) 

PRICE INCLUDES :     EURO DISNEY – FULL DAY
  

EIFFEL TOWER – TOP/THIRD LEVEL
  

ARC DE TRIOMPHE – TOP & MUSEUM
  

CHAMPS D’ÉLYSÉES SHOPPING
  

BOAT TRIP – SEINE RIVER/PARIS SIGHTS
  

COACH TOUR OF PARIS - WITH PRIVATE   GUIDE
  

FOOD & ACCOMMODATION IN FRANCE
        

FRENCH FIAP DISCO
        

 INSURANCE TO AND FROM SCHOOL
        

COLLECTIVE PASSPORT
      

ALL FLIGHT TAXES & SECURITY LEVIES