Modern Foreign Languages
The Department is committed to developing our pupils’ linguistic skills along with their confidence, through a well-designed and imaginative programme.
At The Oratory, pupils are required to do at least one language, whether Modern or Classical, and may do two or even three. The Modern Languages available are French and Spanish as our main options. Other languages are also available upon request including Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese and Russian.
A language GCSE and a certain competence in a given language are considered by many employers to be a highly attractive skill for future employment.
Languages A Level
By the end of the course, pupils will be able to express their views on a wide range of current issues, research topics, and develop presentation and essay-writing skills. Pupils will also find they have learnt much more than a language. Ideally, pupils should be good linguists, with a desire to improve their fluency, and a willingness to learn about different cultures and to communicate.
About
Bonjour. Buenos días. Buongiorno. 你好. こんにちは. Привет.
Learning another language will enable you to stand out from the crowd when applying for competitive university courses or job opportunities. By learning a foreign language, you will improve your communication, memory, multi-tasking and
problem-solving skills. You will also enhance your knowledge of foreign cultures. These are very marketable skills for your future life and career, especially in combination with other subjects such as Maths and Science.
At The Oratory, pupils are required to study at least one language, whether Modern or Classical, and may do two or even three. The Modern Languages available are French and Spanish as our main options. Other languages are also available upon request including Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese and Russian.
Mr Mike Naish – Head of Modern Foreign Languages
Curriculum
French KS3
Pupils from 1st - 3rd Form follow the Dynamo syllabus (Dynamo 1-3), which will enable them to learn expressions, vocabulary and grammar that they will need later at GCSE. These include the use of justified opinions with reasons, learning a range of different tenses and a wide range of vocabulary based upon the GCSE themes. All four skills are covered (listening, speaking, reading and writing), and are reinforced with a wide range of interactive activities including online games and applications. Pupils are encouraged to add more detail to their work and to use French outside the classroom using apps such as Duolingo, watching YouTube videos and films in French.
Spanish KS3
Pupils from 1st - 3rd Form follow the ¡Claro! and ¡Viva! (¡Claro! 1 & 2, then ¡Viva! 3). They learn the expressions, vocabulary and grammar that they will need later at GCSE. These include the use of justified opinions with reasons, learning a range of different tenses and a wide range of vocabulary based upon the GCSE themes. All four skills are covered (listening, speaking, reading and writing), and are reinforced with a wide range of interactive activities including online games and applications. Pupils are encouraged to add more detail to their work and to use Spanish outside the classroom by learning using apps such as Duolingo, watching YouTube videos and films in Spanish.
IGCSE
Pupils at The Oratory must choose a language GCSE at the end of the 3rd Form. Success at GCSE in Modern Languages comes with proper preparation; a detailed knowledge of the syllabus content and exam technique; using a wide variety of relevant topic-specific vocabulary and manipulating a range of different tenses. We follow the two-year Edexcel IGCSE course for French and Spanish. The course is divided equally in terms of marks between listening, speaking, reading and writing assessments.
Find out more about our Modern Languages IGCSE options here: GCSE Subject Options Brochure.
A Level
Modern Languages at A Level is a rigorous and highly respected academic subject. As a facilitating subject, it will equip pupils with a range of very useful skills including debating, presentation, listening, research, translation and essay writing skills. Pupils are required to study a range of cultural topics including a literary and film option. They must also conduct research on a cultural topic of their own choice as part of the speaking exam. We follow the AQA A Level course for French and Spanish.
Find out more about our Modern Languages A Level courses here: 6th Form Options Booklet.
Co-Curricular
There is a Modern Foreign Languages clinic every Tuesday activity time: 5.00pm - 6.00pm, with French sessions one week, followed by Spanish sessions the week after.
The first 30 minutes is for IGCSE pupils and the final 30 minutes is for A Level students. We highly recommend that pupils attend these sessions throughout the year as they provide opportunities for 1:1 support, building confidence in answering exam-style questions and further practice with past papers. The current focus of these sessions is on preparing for the speaking exams.
