“They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves.” Acts 2: 4-6
The Department of International Languages is made up of a dedicated team of staff; a Head of Department supported by three specialist teachers of French and Spanish, who are highly committed to demonstrating their passion for languages, in order to promote students’ enjoyment and engagement with their learning. We strive to deliver high quality, challenging, interesting and appropriate learning experiences to all our students, both inside and outside of the classroom.
Please use the link below for the International Languages Department Curriculum Guide
The Department is dedicated to providing quality first teaching to our students. In International Languages we aim to:
– assist students in the development of their ability to understand and use language effectively
– provide a positive & stimulating learning experience which may then encourage
students to pursue further study of language learning
– develop greater awareness of the benefits of foreign language skills in the workplace, travel and socially
– develop students’ cultural awareness
– encourage tolerance and acceptance of others
– promote the acquisition of transferable language learning skills
– encourage language learning through the use of new technologies
A high standard of work is expected. Students’ progress is assessed through classwork, homework, oral contributions, assessment tasks and end of unit assessments. A variety of teaching and learning styles are used to encourage pupils to think deeply and participate fully in lessons. Students are encouraged to develop their independent learning skills and the ability to use knowledge of their own native language to make connections to French / Spanish which will allow fluent and comprehensive conversation and knowledge to be transferred and retained now and in the future.
Pupils are set 2 to 3 pieces of homework a fortnight, which may take the form of a learning task, a written task, a reading task, research or a creative task. We also use websites such as Seneca Learning to promote students’ independence and resilience.
Whilst the main language studied is Spanish, all students have the opportunity to study French as a second language in Years 7 & 8 so that they can; further develop their language skills, see how learning one language can lead to a second or third, strengthen their learning of English grammar and literacy, deepen their understanding of world culture, and support them when making a choice of which language they would like to continue with in Year 9.
Curriculum
Year 7
In Year 7 through the introductory unit, students cover the alphabet, numbers, colours and personal introductions. They then study a range of topics such as family and relationships, education and free-time. Students begin to develop their language skills through a range of written and oral activities and are given the opportunity to explore the cultural aspects of the language(s) they are studying.
Year 8
In Year 8, to further develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, there is a greater focus on grammatical structures and accuracy in students’ written and spoken work. Topics covered include where we live, holidays and lifestyle including health and wellbeing and new technology and students will acquire a more thorough cultural knowledge base.
Year 9
In Year 9, students deepen their knowledge and understanding of the language(s) and are encouraged to improve their listening and reading comprehension skills and their confidence in speaking tasks. An increased independence in writing assessments is expected. Students will further develop the key skills required for future success at GCSE, which include translation and transcription and the use of several tenses in their written and spoken work.
GCSE French & Spanish
Exam board: AQA
As of September 2024, there is a new GCSE course with first examinations in 2026. This new GCSE is made up of three Themes which build upon the foundations of Years 7-9:
Theme 1 – People and Lifestyle covers: identity, family, friends and relationships, healthy living and lifestyle, education and work.
Theme 2 – Popular Culture covers: free-time activities, customs, festivals, celebrations and traditions and celebrity culture.
Theme 3 – Communication & The World Around Us covers: travel and tourism, including places of interest, media and technology, the environment and where people live.
In Year 11, students are required to sit examinations in each of the four skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Each examination is worth 25% of the overall mark.
Extra-curricular Activities
Students at St. Joseph’s are offered a variety of enrichment activities for International Languages, including the opportunity to participate in projects with partner schools and go on school trips to France and/or Spain or other French-/Spanish-speaking countries.
Throughout the year, there are lots of internal and national activities and competitions in which to participate, including: Dia de los Muertos challenge, MFL Christmas Card competition and Poetry competitions, and we also work together with our local colleges and universities to give our students a taste of what to expect if they progress to further study.
Our first event of the year is European Day of Languages on 26th September, which is celebrated in schools all over Europe. This day promotes the rich linguistic and cultural diversity we have within our school community and across the world. Students and staff alike get involved in a variety of activities in lesson time, form time and at break and lunch time. Staff and students are invited to a Bake-Off in aid of Macmillan Cancer Charity, and prizes are awarded for the best decorated cakes.
Staffing
Mrs J Hopkins – Head of Department; Teacher of French and Spanish
Mrs A McDonnell – Assistant Headteacher Learning & Teaching / Teacher of French & Spanish
Mr P Smith – Teacher of French and Spanish
Mrs C Yates – Teacher of French and Spanish
Useful Documents
