Welcome to the Modern Languages Department

Modern Languages Department Staff

• Ms G Miller - Principal Teacher
• Ms D Connaghan
• Ms N Fearn
• Ms R Gormley

French

Standard Grade French is offered as a core subject at Credit, General and Foundation levels to almost all pupils in S3. The most important elements are speaking and reading which are both double weighted when awarding the final grade.

Over the two years pupils cover a number of topics including holidays, leisure and home and family. A variety of resources are used such as course books, internet, ICT etc to help reinforce learning in reading, speaking, listening and writing.

Assessment

Continuous assessment is the pattern from the beginning of S3 for speaking, reading, listening and writing. Speaking tests carried out in S3 and S4 make up the final speaking award. In May of S4, pupils sit the Standard Grade examination in reading and listening. Writing is assessed by means of a folio containing three pieces of work produced under exam conditions in class tests during S3 and S4.

Spanish

In S2 most pupils spend 2 weeks studying Spanish to allow them the opportunity to learn some of the language before making S3 course choices.

In S3 pupils have the option to study French or Spanish at Standard Grade or study both languages if they are achieving level E in at least one element in S2. Pupils use a variety of resources such as the new Listos course book and other authentic teaching materials, including internet subscriptions.

S3 pupils also have the opportunity to study Intermediate 1 Spanish which covers areas such as personal identification, daily routine and leisure. The course also covers transactional activities including buying tickets, shopping, booking accommodation etc. This course is appropriate for those pupils who are working at Foundation level and are interested in learning Spanish.

Assessment

Assessment for Standard Grade Spanish is continuous throughout S3/4 in the same way as the French course.

The emphasis of Intermediate 1 is on communicating in the foreign language and consists of 4 internal assessments based on speaking, reading, listening and writing. There is also an external exam at the end of the course.

What can languages be used for?

Scottish businesses are crying out for people who can communicate in a foreign language. In the past it was mainly French that they wanted, as after English speaking countries, France was and still is very near to the top of the list of countries to which Britain exports. Today, however, more and more companies are doing business with Spain and Latin America , and Spanish is emerging a strong contender being the third most spoken language in the world.

Having a language is also useful when combined with other skills. More and more we find science and management courses which involve a language component. Having knowledge of languages is a definite asset in all walks of life and will stand our young people in good stead for their future.