Introduction to Languages

In the Languages Department at Plashet School we are passionate about our communicative and interactive approach to language learning. We teach French, Spanish and Urdu and our aim is to enable for every student to develop their confidence, fluency and enjoyment of foreign languages and cultures to the highest level.

We believe that all students benefit from learning a language, whether for pleasure, work or further study. The experience helps students expand their horizons as well as equipping them with language qualifications which are increasingly seen as essential by many employers.

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, it goes to his heart.” – Nelson Mandela.

Lessons are conducted almost entirely in the target language and from the beginning students are encouraged to use the foreign language for real purposes to express themselves.

To enhance our students’ learning experience, we offer a variety of extra-curricular visits and cross curricular activities including visits to France, the cinema, and local museums. French students also have the opportunity to take part in penfriend schemes with our link schools in France.

Curriculum Content

KS3

In KS3 students focus on learning to use the target language as the language of communication in the classroom, whilst developing grammatical competence. They will develop listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. Students learn to express their needs and opinions, likes and dislikes and to describe past, present and future events. They also develop their cultural understanding with the study of poems and film clips.

KS4

In KS4, your daughter will follow the GCSE course. This involves developing the ability to communicate confidently with native speakers with increasing accuracy. Students will widen their vocabulary and increase their independent use and understanding of extended language. They will also further develop their grammatical understanding and translation skills. Resources such as film clips, literary and authentic texts and suitable websites will be used to enhance class and home learning.

Plashet School