French is currently the key modern foreign language taught to all pupils in Years 3-8. The department is staffed by specialist teachers, who teach in two dedicated language classrooms. The girls receive 4 lessons and complete one 30 minute prep. per week. Pupils’ progress is regularly assessed, with formal examinations set at the end of the Christmas and Summer Terms.

In Years 3-5, the work is based on Clé Internationale’s Il était une fois une petite grenouille course, which maintains a fantasy, fiction approach appropriate to the age group, whilst providing the opportunity to acquire some of the formal structures and grammar of the language, as well as teaching the girls to listen carefully and to use correct pronunciation and intonation.

Most pupils are prepared for the Common Entrance examinations in Year 8 and work towards that goal from Year 6, using Equipe, Books 1,2 and 3. Exceptional pupils are encouraged to progress further, with the most able preparing for Scholarship examinations to a wide variety of schools.   All pupils may use the Linguascope website, which is an interactive topic based resource, which can be accessed, at school or at home, by typing a user name and password.
 

A week’s residential visit to France is undertaken with Year 8, usually at the end of the Spring Term or the start of the Summer Term. Destinations vary from year to year and have included Paris, Normandy and Burgundy.   Theatre visits are arranged whenever a suitable performance and venue is available.
 

Classes in Mandarin and Russian are currently provided on an individual basis. Provision of other languages is made available when or if required.
 

Whilst the primary emphasis of our language teaching is to develop the ability to use the target language effectively for the purposes of practical communication, it is also our aim:

  • to develop an awareness of the nature of language and language learning
  • to provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation
  • to promote learning skills of more general application
  • to offer insights into the culture and civilisation of other countries
  • to encourage positive attitudes and a sympathetic approach to other cultures.