YEAR 9
Year 9 French
In 2012-2013 pupils studying French will be following a new course using the text book Studio 3 which includes interactive teaching tools for the classroom. Pupils will be covering topics and grammar that will help prepare them to continue at GCSE level, if they wish to opt for it. The topics include:
Pupils will work on all four skill areas, listening, reading, writing and speaking and will be assessed in these areas throughout Year 9. These marks will be recorded as Learning Landmarks and graded in accordance with the GCSE criteria.
Year 9 Spanish
In 2012 pupils studying Spanish will be following a new course using the text book Mira 3 which includes interactive teaching tools for the classroom. Beginners in Spanish in year 9 will be covering topics and grammar that will help prepare them to continue at GCSE level, if they wish to do so. The topics include:
- Describing yourself and those around you in more detail
- Communication and entertainment including technology
- School
- Work and earning money
- Hispanoamerica
Pupils will work on all four skill areas, listening, reading, writing and speaking and will be assessed in these areas throughout Year 9. These marks will be recorded as Learning Landmarks and graded in accordance with the GCSE criteria.
Year 9 German
In 2012 pupils studying German will be following a new course using the text book Echo Express 2 which includes interactive teaching tools for the classroom. Beginners and those who have already studied German in Year 8 will be covering topics and grammar that will help prepare them to continue at GCSE level, if they wish to opt for it. The topics include:
- Free Time
- New Technology and Media
- Holidays
- Health
- Going out, shopping and clothes
Pupils will work on all four skill areas, listening, reading, writing and speaking and will be assessed in these areas throughout Year 9. These marks will be recorded as Learning Landmarks and graded in accordance with the GCSE criteria.
GCSE French, German and Spanish
For pupils wishing to take up a career in tourism, teaching, interpreting or translation a GCSE in French, German or Spanish is an obvious choice as the springboard for future study. However, the ability to communicate in a foreign language is an invaluable tool and a useful asset in many areas of British business with global links and one which employers look favorably upon. Not only this but many successful foreign companies also have offices in the UK and are looking for employees with linguistic skills.
At GCSE pupils can opt to continue with their first or second language and/or start a new language. We build on previous learning in Years 7-9 and the course prepares pupils for further study at A’ Level. Our aim is to help pupils develop their conversational and communicative skills in the foreign language. Grammar awareness and use is also important if pupils are to maximise their potential and achieve their target grade. The topics studied are as follows:
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LIFESTYLE |
LEISURE |
HOME AND ENVIRONMENT |
WORK AND EDUCATION |
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Health |
Free Time and the Media |
Home and Environment |
School/College and Future Plans |
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Healthy and unhealthy lifestyles and their
consequences
Relationships and Choices |
Free time activities |
Home and Local Area |
What school/college is like |
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Relationships with family and friends |
Shopping, money, fashion and trends |
Special occasions celebrated in the home |
Pressures and problems
Current and Future Jobs |
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Future plans regarding: marriage/partnership |
Advantages and disadvantages of new technology
Holidays |
Home, town, neighbourhood and region, where it
is and what it is like |
Looking for and getting a job |
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Social issues and equality |
Plans, preferences, experiences |
Current problems facing the planet |
Advantages and disadvantages of different jobs |
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What to see and getting around |
Being environmentally friendly within the home and local area
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Pupils can be entered at Foundation or Higher levels in Listening and Reading. These skills are externally assessed in Year 11. There are two speaking and writing exams which take place over the two years. The speaking test is marked by the teachers and moderated by the exam board and the writing task is marked by external examiners. The breakdown of the GCSE marks is as follows:
- Listening 20%
- Speaking 30%
- Reading 20%
- Writing 30%
Pupils should aim to participate fully in all lessons by contributing in speaking activities such pair work, group work and language games as this will raise their confidence. They should ask and answer questions regularly in lessons and be prepared to take responsibility for their learning by attending the weekly Homework Clinic when they need help with or reinforcement of homework or class work. Homework is set twice a week and pupils must ensure that they complete it to the best of their ability in order to ensure a continued high standard of work. They will regularly be asked to learn work by heart such as vocabulary and grammar rules, as well as, their speaking and writing assignments. Learning a language to any level takes a great deal of commitment, determination and hard work. However, the rewards are life long and life enriching.