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The Modern Foreign Languages Department has undergone some extensive developments over the past year. It is now housed exclusively within the School House building, boasting more integrated classroom accommodation together with an enlarged departmental resources and preparation room. Recently refurbished on the exterior, School House is one of the oldest buildings in the School and the site of the original Lord Weymouth School. The recent investment in equipping the department with the latest interactive whiteboards and plans for further expansion within School House, attest to the strong commitment to languages within the School.

With an ever increasing demand for languages, the department boasts an enthusiastic, versatile and vibrant teaching staff with a wide range of experience and knowledge. Sara Barns-Graham is Head of Department, teaching French and German throughout the School. She is also in charge of liaison between external tutors and pupils studying the literature of their native language under the Language A1 provision of the International Baccalaureate. Nico Lauber, a native German speaker teaches German in Years 8-11 and also to the native German speakers studying language A1 for the International Baccalaureate in the Sixth Form. A consummate linguist, he also takes the IB Italian ab intio class. Sally Pollard, who is bilingual French-English, teaches French to Year 7. Fran Rodriguez has just joined the Department from Boxhill School in Surrey and brings with her valued experience as an examiner with the International Baccalaureate, teaching both French and Spanish throughout the School. Nicola Rogers teaches French and Spanish throughout the School and is in charge of liaison between the Senior and Preparatory Schools. Sarah Shanks from the EFL Department teaches German in Year 8, having spent extensive time in Germany. Brano Sustek teaches Spanish from Year 8, presenting pupils for GCSE Spanish and taking the ab initio Spanish course in the Upper Sixth. Gaëlle Verdon, a native French speaker has joined the Department this year, teaching French from Year 7 to year 13. We are very fortunate to have such a broad range of linguistic talent together with a number of native speakers within the Department

Mrs S. Barns-Graham L.L.B. (Hons), B.A. (French/German) (HOD)

Mr N. Lauber (University of Freiburg) (German/French)

Ms S. Pollard (University of Warwick) (French)

Mrs F. Rodríguez, M.A. (Cantab) (French and Spanish)

Mrs N. Rogers B.A. Hons (Spanish and French)

Mrs S. Shanks B.A. (Hons) QTS, DELTA (German)

Mr B. Sustek Diploma in Spanish Language and Literature, University of Nitra (Spanish)

Miss G. Verdon LLCE Anglais (University of Nantes) (French)

A few years ago the importance of learning a modern foreign language was recognized when the Working Group for Modern Foreign Languages reported: “For the UK as a trading nation, competence in foreign languages will be of crucial importance in a rapidly changing and increasingly competitive world. The enlargement of the European Union is but one pointer to those changing circumstances. Our students will need to be prepared for a world where greater skills in modern foreign languages will be very much in demand. We need to be able to communicate with our trading partners in their own languages." This is of even greater importance today, given the increasing globalization.

It has also been established that language learning enhances a wide range of analytical, interpretive, and critical skills, which pupils require for a wide range of career choices in later life.

Accordingly, at Warminster School, we embrace fully the concept that, wherever possible, all pupils should have the opportunity to experience a modern foreign language.

First Foreign Language Provision: French

At beginners' level (as in Warminster Preparatory School) the basic aim of the French course is to follow the general linguistic aims, but all the while emphasising useful survival skills in French that are not based initially on grammatical structures. Stress is laid on the acquisition of oral and aural skills to deal with notional and functional situations likely to arise in a visit to a foreign country, or helping a foreign visitor here in this country e.g. asking/telling him/her the way. Grammar remains important but it will be implicit in meaningful situational French and not presented in arid, rote-learning form.

Onto this base, between Years 7 and 11, more emphasis is increasingly laid on the linguistic foundation necessary for advanced study. Accuracy of written structures and a deeper understanding of linguistic skills in preparation for public examinations come to the fore. Students follow the OCR GCSE syllabus leading to public examination at the end of Year 11.

Throughout this period, the least linguistically able pupils and those with special educational needs have fewer lessons than the mainstream and follow a European Studies course.

A specialist AS and A2 level course (OCR Syllabus) then ensues.

Language Provision: German and Spanish

At the end of Year 7, students can choose to study either German or Spanish as a second language. At the end of Year 9, there is a further choice for students as to which one (or two) of their languages they continue to GCSE level.

AS/A2 courses are available thereafter.

International Baccalaureate

Many students also continue the study of modern foreign languages as part of the IB curriculum. Since the inception of the IB programme in Warminster School in 2006, the Department has offered French and Spanish Language B at both Standard and Higher Levels and French, Spanish and Italian (ab initio). It also offers German Language A1.

GCSE French Revision Morning - Thursday 21st April Mrs Barns-Graham will be holding a GCSE Revision Morning to practise structures to include in the final speaking and writing assessments.

Please email Mrs Barns-Graham on sbarnsgraham@warminsterschool.org.uk if you wish to attend.

[ Download/View Easter_holiday_work_for_Mrs_Barns-Graham.pdf ]

[ Download/View Easter_work_for_Mrs_Rogers_classes.pdf ]

[ Download/View Easter_work_for_Miss_Verdon_s_classes.pdf ]

[ Download/View Easter_work_for_Mr_Lauber_s_classes.pdf ]

[ Download/View Easter_holiday_work_for_Mrs_Rodriguez__classes.pdf ]

[ Download/View Easter_holiday_work_for_Mr_Sustek_s_classes.pdf ]