Waingels College | Modern Languages Department | ||
| Mrs K Lee | ||
| Mrs K Brandist | ||
| Miss G Enjolras | ||
| Mrs C Gorman | ||
| Mr R Jewitt | ||
| Mr B Jouhannaud | ||
| Mrs K Jouhannaud | ||
| Mrs L Verhoog | ||
The Modern Languages Department currently consists of 7 full-time members of staff. We also share two Language Assistants with local schools.
We are a recently formed team in our third busy and successful year - with many plans for the future of the department. We are ‘in the running’ to be chosen to put forward a bid for the college’s second specialism. The Senior Leadership Team, the MFL LA representative, members of staff, pupils and parents have all been very complimentary about our achievements so far. GCSE results and take-up at GCSE and VI Form level have risen.
The emphasis in our language lessons is on building skills for communication. We are currently rolling out a program of ‘immersion teaching’ across all classes. Pupils are immersed entirely in the foreign language and are taught the skills to cope and communicate in this situation.
This is proving very successful and we are planning to fast-track our top sets through GCSE in Year 10 in 2008, opening up further possibilities for language study in KS4. In addition we have embarked on our first term of CLIL (content and language integrated learning) teaching this year with Year 7.
In Year 7 pupils study their first foreign language, either French or German. Pupils will study this language for three lessons per week until the end of Year 9, when they can choose to continue it into Year 10 and/or take up another language. Course books are Métro and Logo.
GCSE options are currently French, German and Spanish. In addition to the standard GCSE, we offer an Applied French for Business GCSE. It is possible to study two languages at GCSE. All exams are with Edexel. Course books are Métro and Logo.
In the VI Form, students can take languages for two years within the International Baccalaureate program or as separate AS and A2 Level (OCR) modules. French, German and Spanish are currently taught. Spanish is also taught to VI Formers at beginner level. Course books are Tout Droit/Droit au But and Brennpunkt.
We offer an extensive program of trips and exchanges to enrich and extend language learning. There is a trip to France or Germany for Year 7, a fast-track exchange to France or Germany in Year 8, an exchange with France and Germany for Year 9/10 and an opportunity to do work experience in France and Germany in Year 12.
The department is accommodated in a suite of 6 specialist classrooms. All but two have interactive whiteboards with integrated speakers and DVD players. The department also has a mobile DVD player and two mobile video-players. One classroom has a suite of 6 newly updated computers. ICT suites are available to book and the department owns class sets of microphones and headphones for use with our selection of interactive software (Metro and Logo Electro, Boardworks, Photostory, Moviemaker etc).
Traditional supplementary resources (alternative text books; reading schemes, photocopiable resources; videos and VI Form resources) are very good and we are rapidly building a user-friendly bank of electronic resources to go with our schemes of work.
The department operates a very clear system of rewards and sanctions. The Head of Department liaises closely with teachers, parents and pastoral staff to ensure an undisturbed learning and teaching environment for all.
We believe that learning languages is an essential part of a well-rounded education. It doesn’t really matter which languages are learnt. The skills demonstrated by learning any language to a communicative level are highly and increasingly sought after by today’s employers. Learning a language gives the confidence, strength in articulation and flexibility so important in today’s world.
