French and Spanish, both important international languages, are taught at Bethany. All students learn French from Year 7 (unless they receive full time dyslexia support) and Spanish is introduced to all students in Year 9. Students are encouraged to continue with a language at GCSE and may opt to study both French and Spanish or choose one.
Resources
We aim to ensure that the library, as well as the classroom, are well stocked with study guides, current articles, magazines, newspapers as well as foreign films. French and Spanish TV is available in all three language classrooms and the internet is regularly used for updates on current affairs and presentations.
Trips
As a Department we believe in the benefit of language trips and aim to offer a variety of trips to both France and Spain across the year groups.
All Year 7 students have the chance to go on a day trip to Boulogne while students in Years 8 and 9 enjoy a trip to Futuroscope. From September 2008 Year 9 students will have the option to take part in either a French or Spanish residential trip and these will alternate. These trips will include language tuition as well as cultural visits. GCSE and A level students of French are encouraged to take part in long weekends to Lille, with the possibility of staying with French families, while A level students of Spanish enjoy a family based trip to Asturias, in northern Spain, attending lessons every morning in a local language school.
French
|
Students are set throughout Key Stage 3 and follow the lively Expo course. Grammar is introduced slowly, the emphasis being on developing understanding and enjoyment of the language. By the end of Year 9 students have been introduced to three time frames, opinions, conjunctions and can write to GCSE standard.
At GCSE we follow the AQA linear course. Students will be examined at the end of their two years of study in two skills, Reading and Listening. Additionally they will write two short pieces of coursework under exam conditions in Year 11. All pupils must participate in two general conversations on a broad range of familiar topics and experiences. The Speaking and Writing Modules represent 30% each and the Reading and Listening Units represent 20% each.
At A level pupils follow the AQA course. This course aims to develop pupils' awareness of various aspects of French speaking societies, to develop a high level of communication skills and to extend pupils intellectually. Further details about the A level course can be found in the Sixth Form curriculum area of this website.
Spanish
|
Students are introduced to Spanish in Year 9 and many choose it as a GCSE option in Year 10 and we follow the Caminos course in Years 9 to 11. Spanish is a very popular language at Bethany and is available to all students, including those who receive full-time dyslexia support. Spanish is principally taught by Señorita Romero, Head of Languages.
The GCSE course extends pupils' studies in Year 9, leading to the AQA linear GCSE. The primary aim of the course is to give students the opportunity to communicate in Spanish using the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The details of the course are the same as those for French above.
Spanish is a popular A level choice and the AQA course is followed. The course aims to develop awareness of of various aspects of the societies where Spanish is spoken, to develop a high level of communication skills and competence in the Spanish language. Again, further details can be found in the Sixth Form curriculum area of this website.