Richmond School
School Departments | French & German
Skills for business, skills for life
The Modern Foreign Language Department is fortunate in having seven specialist language teachers. Our language classrooms benefit from excellent audio and visual resources including interactive white boards.
One of our aims is to give students a feeling of enjoyment and success in using languages at any time. To do so we develop imaginative as well as creative talents through drama, rhymes and songs appealing to a variety of learners. Our students increase their cultural awareness by communicating with people who speak the language and by using materials from countries and communities where the language is spoken. We also aim to introduce students to other ways of life within Europe. Numerous oversubscribed French and German trips, exchanges and conferences are organised across the key stages.
The main languages of the curriculum are French and German. French is taught to all Year 7s and students pick up German in Year 8. Students then decide their options at the end of Year 8 and are given clear guidance about their language choices.
KS3
During KS3, all students begin to understand, speak, read and write at least one modern foreign language. They become familiar with the sounds, written form and grammar of the language and use this knowledge with increasing confidence and competence to express themselves.
In Year 8 students study both French and German giving them a good grounding in two main European and world languages.
During Years 7 and 8 students are assessed for their KS3 National Curriculum Level and they can opt to continue one or both languages to GCSE, gaining excellent exam results. Languages are not compulsory at Richmond School but we strongly advise all students to seriously consider continuing with at least one language as part of a balanced curriculum into KS4.
KS4
In year 10, students are put into new groups according to their options and start to work towards GCSE. At GCSE reading and listening are examined at either Foundation or Higher Tier (or any combination thereof).
The German and French departments follow the AQA syllabus (www.aqa.org.uk). The GCSE course splits into 4 themes:
• Leisure
• Home and Environment
• Lifestyle
• Work and Education
Speaking and writing are assessed by two controlled assessments. Reading and listening are assessed by external examination at the end of Year 11. Speaking and writing make up 60% of the final grade, with listening and reading making up the other 40%.
KS5
In the Sixth Form AS/A2 courses are available in French and German. They attract not only future students of languages in Higher Education, but, increasingly, those wanting a language to enhance their career prospects in other fields.
The French department follows the AQA syllabus. The students cover 6 modules over AS and A2 which are:
AS modules: Media; Popular Culture; Healthy Living/Lifestyle; Family/Relationships
A2 modules: Environment; The Multicultural Society; Contemporary Social Issues
A2 also sees students study a cultural topic, such as a period of 20th century history and a French author.
The German department follows the EDEXCEL syllabus (www.edexcel.org.uk). The AS and A2 topic areas are:
AS topics: Youth Culture and Concerns; Lifestyle;The World Around Us; Education and Employment
A2 topics: Customs, Traditions, Beliefs and Religions; National and International Events; Literature and the Arts
Practical communication skills are emphasised through a range of listening, speaking, reading and writing tasks. The language skills acquired are also ones that are directly transferable to other subject areas.
• How to learn facts, language skills, vocabulary
• How to use your own language to help you understand another language
• How structure and grammar make a language work
• How style can help you get your message over
The study of MFL helps to create more open-minded, flexible and tolerant young people, able to prosper in today's society in both a social and working context.
Contact Information
All staff can be contacted by 'phone on 01748 850111 or email admin@richmondschool.net:
Mrs C Norman - Head of French
Mr T Potter - Head of German
Miss F Dutton
Mrs A Garnett
Miss E Merckx
Miss L Bainbridge
Miss V Roberts