Modern Foreign Languages
Aims and methods of teaching languages at MPS
Languages are taught through a mixture of communicative and more traditional styles, with emphasis on the four key skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. From Year 3 to Year 6 greater emphasis is placed on speaking and listening activities through everyday topics, keeping the writing of French to a minimum in order to ensure that the course is essentially a communicative one in which exposure with pupils to spoken French is emphasised and pupils gain increasing confidence in using the language. Pupils in the Junior Department use a workbook to write in to give them an exciting record of their work. From Year 6 onwards languages are taught in sets based on ability and experience of the language.
The Modern Languages Department aims to:
- Promote pupils’ oral confidence through a communicative teaching approach
- Give pupils a ‘database’ of useful phrases in the target language
- Give pupils a thorough grasp of the grammar and conventions of the target language so as to enable them to form their own sentences
- Cultivate good pronunciation through consistent, careful guidance
- Create a stimulating teaching environment with engaging displays
- Promote knowledge and understanding of the geography and culture of the countries where the target languages are spoken
Language lessons include:
- Listening activities involving native speakers, cassettes, videos and CD Roms
- Speaking activities in groups, pairs or individually, monitored by the teacher
- Written work guided by text books and ‘realia’
- Reading practice through text books, magazines, books, comics and realia.
- Slides, flashcards, OHP, mime, role play and acting, board and card games.
Timetabling of Languages
In the Pre-Prep, pupils have one 20 minute French lesson per week. In Year 3 pupils have one French lesson per week, which becomes between one and two lessons of French per week in Years 4 and 5, depending upon grouping. In Year 6 pupils have up to three lessons of French per week, with the top group additionally studying two lessons of Latin per week. In Years 7 and 8, pupils in the Single Language Band have five lessons per week of either French or Spanish. Pupils in the Double Language Band have four lessons per week in two languages, chosen from French, Spanish and Latin. Pupils receiving full-time Extra English will have the opportunity to study one lesson per week of Spanish as part of our Language for All Policy. The Foreign Languages Department believes in an inclusive education for all and so every pupil in the school has an opportunity to study a foreign language as part of our Language for All Policy. This is a joint initiative between the Foreign Languages Department and the Language Development Centre. Our pupils have shown that within a stimulating and non-threatening educational environment, a foreign language is readily accessible to them.
An interesting range of subjects and opportunities
Topics covered in lessons include: The language of the classroom; House, home and daily routine and chores; Life and work at school; Time, dates, numbers and prices; Personal description; Family friends and pets; Meeting people; Free-time activities; Describing holiday activities; Visiting a café or restaurant; Simple health problems; Description of a town or region; Finding the way and using transport; Understanding tourist information; Shopping; Weather
Pupils benefit from being taught by a specialist team of linguists, many of whom are native speakers. Their cultural input enriches the pupils’ overall language learning experience. Pupils are given opportunities to visit France and/or Spain as part of our foreign trips programme, which is considered to be a vital part of the course. Pupils as early as in Year 6 have the opportunity to visit France taking in Paris and its many attractions. Years 7 and 8 pupils have the opportunity to take part in study trips to Italy and Spain to experience the culture and life first hand.
Pupils are also able to gain valuable experience of other languages including Italian, German, Greek, Russian, Japanese and Mandarin as part of an extensive extra-curricular programme.
