Modern Languages

Head of Department:
Miss Laura McMaster

Phone:

French & Italian

“A different language is a different vision of life” said Federico Fellini. Here at Burnholme Community College we agree and languages are an important part of our curriculum. They offer students the opportunity to learn something of the wider world, as well as looking at their own lives, cultures and languages.

Key Stage 3

From September 2009, Year 7 pupils will study both French and Italian. They will choose one of these languages to continue into Year 8 and 9. Pupils follow the Avance! textbook for French and Tutti Insieme! for Italian. The aim of MFL lessons throughout KS3 is to introduce and develop language learning skills in different contexts so that pupils become confident and independent in communicating in a foreign language. This includes talking about family and friends, school and holidays as well as looking at food, fashion, a research project on a French/Italian speaking country and a study of a French/Italian language film in Year 9. Pupils benefit from a pen-pal link with a school in Belgium which allows them to see a real communicative purpose for their work and there are trips which allow pupils to put their language skills into practise and explore both France and Italy.

Key Stage 4

French and Italian GCSE’s are now offered to KS4. The French course is a continuation and development of the work done in KS3 and the ab initio Italian course aims to fast-track pupils using the language learning skills they have mastered.

Pupils make use of a wide range of resources in MFL lessons including watching DVD’s in the target language, using the interactive whiteboard to access authentic websites, newspapers and magazines, Internet software to create cartoon strips and movies as well as developing their research skills.