Name of Head of Department
Mrs V Lethbridge, BA, PGCE
Statement of Intent
Foreign languages are an important part of cultural and vocational education in Europe and around the world. In the Languages department at DHSG, we aim to provide our students with the skills to communicate effectively in a variety of languages (French, Spanish, German, Mandarin Chinese, Latin) and with a sympathetic attitude to and deeper understanding of the relevant cultures in the language of study. In the teaching of specific languages, we endeavour to foster a language awareness and an improved understanding of English and to develop language learning skills which will serve as a valuable basis for the acquisition of skills in other foreign languages which students may wish to learn later in their careers.
Language lessons focus on developing students’ ability to engage in spontaneous talk and practise transferable thinking skills. Above all, as committed and enthusiastic language learners ourselves, we wish to pass on a love of languages and encourage students to embrace language learning as a vital life skill.
“He who knows no foreign language, knows nothing of his own” Goethe
“ If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head; if you talk to a man in his own language, that goes to his heart.” Nelson Mandela.
Aims of the department:
- to produce enthusiastic, competent linguists who are confident of their ability, willing to take risks in less familiar situations;
- to develop the students’ ability to engage in spontaneous talk, uninhibited by a strive for perfection;
- to provide a sense of challenge in the language learning activities and overcome the fear of failure;
- to encourage students to become adaptable and open to new opportunities;
- to help students to develop transferable thinking skills;
- to embrace language learning and the ability to use other languages as a life skill;
- to encourage a sense of belonging to a global community;
- to develop a cultural awareness of other nationalities.
Curriculum Programmes of Study French
Year |
Cycle | Content |
---|---|---|
Year 7 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: La rentrée |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Mon temps libre |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: En ville |
|
Year 8
|
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Vive les vacances |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: J’adore les fêtes |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Le monde est petit |
|
Year 9 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Theme 1- Family + relationships Overview: Describing Family + Friends and discussing relationships |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Theme 3 – My studies + school life |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Theme 1 – Technology + social media |
|
Year 10 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Theme 2 - Travel + tourism, Holidays |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Theme 2 Social Issues: Healthy Living |
|
Cycle 3
|
Term 5: Theme 2 – Global issues: homelessness / poverty |
|
Year 11
|
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Theme 1 – Family / Friends /Free time Technology benefits and dangers |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Theme 2 - Social Issues: Charity / Voluntary Work |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Revision / Exam Practice / Study Leave |
Curriculum Programmes of Study Chinese
Year |
Cycle | Content |
---|---|---|
Year 7 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 3: My Family |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: school life |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Food and drink Overview: vegetables and fruits, three meals a day, drinks, Cultural understanding: Dragon Boat festival Grammar: |
|
Year 8
|
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: My House Overview: rooms in a house, furniture, |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Holiday |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: My Friends Overview: Describing a friend’s physical appearance & personality, sickness |
|
Year 9 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Theme 1- Family + relationships |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Theme 1 Free-time: Music / TV / Cinema / Sport Overview: Hobbies and Free-time |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Theme 2 – Home town + local area Overview: Describing House, Household tasks and Local Area. |
|
Year 10 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Theme 2 - Travel + tourism, Holidays Overview: Describing holidays and plans, Pros and Cons of Holiday types. |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Theme 2 Social Issues: Healthy Living Overview: Food and Nutrition, how to keep fit and healthy |
|
Cycle 3
|
Term 5: Theme 2 – Global issues: homelessness / poverty Overview: Daily Routine, Comparisons of lifestyles Grammar: 不但,而且, Vocabulary: homelessness , poverty, how to help Term 5 Assessment: Writing 150 words Term 6: Theme 2 – Global issues: Environment Overview: Environmental problems + solutions Grammar: 如果不...,那么.... 首先,其次,最后 Vocabulary: Environmental Problems, modal verbs, Term 6 Assessment: Yr 10 Exams L/S/R/W |
|
Year 11
|
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Theme 1 – Family / Friends /Free time Technology benefits and dangers |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Theme 2 - Social Issues: Charity / Voluntary Work |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Revision / Exam Practice / Study Leave |
Curriculum Programmes of Study for German
Year |
Cycle | Content |
---|---|---|
Year 7 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Meine Welt und ich Grammar: haben + sein |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Freizeit |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Gute Reise |
|
Year 8
|
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Ich liebe Ferien |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Bist du Mediafan? |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Klassenreisen machen Spass |
|
Year 9 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Theme 1 Family / Friends / Relationships |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Theme 1 Free-time: Music / TV / Cinema /Food/Eating out / Sport |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Theme 3 My Studies: School Life and Subjects |
|
Year 10 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Theme 2 Tourism and Holidays - Revision, Global Issues: Environment |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Theme 2 Home and Local Area - Revision |
|
Cycle 3
|
Term 5: Revision / Exam Practice |
|
Year 11
|
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Theme 2 Travel + Tourism, Holidays |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Theme 2 Social Issues: Healthy Living |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Theme 2 Global Issues: Homelessness / Poverty |
Curriculum Programmes of Study for Spanish
Year |
Cycle | Content |
---|---|---|
Year 7 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: El Español |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Mi Familia Overview: Describing family members |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Mi Insti Overview: School life |
|
Year 8
|
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Mis Vacaciones |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: İA Comer! |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Operación Verano Overview: Holiday homes and further holiday activities |
|
Year 9 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Relationship with Family & Friends |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Social Media & Technology |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Free Time: Sport |
|
Year 10 |
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Holidays |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: School Life |
|
Cycle 3
|
Term 5: Global Issues: Environment |
|
Year 11
|
Cycle 1 |
Term 1: Social Issues: Healthy Living & Illness |
Cycle 2 |
Term 3: Region |
|
Cycle 3 |
Term 5: Revision / Exam Practice |
Lower Years Assessment Framework
To view the Lower Years Assessment Framework for Chinese, please click here
Middle Years Exam and Specification Information
In years 10 and 11, students are entered for the AQA GCSE and schemes of work cover the GCSE topics. Students will be assessed by final examination in year 11. They will be expected to understand and provide information and opinions about these themes relating to their own experiences and those of other people, including people in the countries / communities where the language is spoken.
Students will be assessed by final examination in year 11 and are entered for the Eduqas (WJEC) GCSE.
Please see below for indiviual subject specifications
In recent years extra-curricular visits and activities have included
- Year 8 Languages and Careers Enrichment Day
- Euroscola Visit to the European Parliament in Strasbourg for sixth formers
- Year 7/8 International Carol Concert
- Year 8 Normandy Experience – Immersion / Activity based visit
- Year 8 Visit to Spain
- Year 9/10 Visit to Berlin
- Year 9/10 Summer camp in China
- Year 11 Exchange / Residential visits to France and Spain
- Year 10 Residential / Immersion / Activity based visit to Normandy
- Year 8 Discover Germany
- Making Languages our Business
- Passport to Export (Dragons’ Den style competition with visit to Berlin for winners)
- French Drama competition
- Languages pop video competition
- National Speaking Competitions