The Modern Foreign Languages Department consists of experienced teachers of both French and Spanish. Students who speak any other language are encouraged to take a GCSE examination in that language. WGS subscribes to various online MFL learning websites which help students to engage and also provide many useful resources, games and interactive lessons.
We have in the past organised school trips to France and Spain and hope to be able to offer this again in the future. We have also taken the Spanish GCSE group to an authentic Spanish restaurant where they had the opportunity to experience ordering food and drinks in Spanish and sample authentic Spanish food.
Key Stage 3
In Year 7, students will study French this year. Students not only learn the language but also about the culture. We use the digital textbook Dynamo 1 for French. They learn vocabulary for greetings, school, free time, family life and town. In Year 8 and 9 all students will be learning Spanish. Practicing the four skills of language learning, listening, speaking, reading and writing with a variety of resources, including the digital textbooks Viva 2 in year 8 and Viva 3 in year 9. Topics such as family, free time, going out, eating and drinking, trips and holidays and friends are covered in these units. At the end of Year 9 students will be encouraged to continue their language learning at GCSE.
Key Stage 4
There are currently four GCSE classes. Two in Year 10 and two in Year 11. Two studying French and two studying Spanish. The GCSE is a two year course using the AQA Exam Board. Kerboodle, an AQA learning resource, as well as a variety of other online resources are available to students to aid their learning. The GCSE syllabus for both French and Spanish cover the following three themes:
- Identity & Culture
- Local, national, international and global areas of interest
- Current and future study and employment