Modern Languages KS3 2021-2022

KS3 Modern Languages Brief Overview At BRGS, every student takes a Modern Language through to GCSE level as an integral part of our rich and diverse curriculum. In Year 7, we aim to build on the language skills developed in Key Stage 2 and students’ ability to both speak and write in the target language will develop at a faster pace with considerably more depth. They will enjoy the active learning and the added level of challenge! All our students will start with German and French or Spanish and continue with both languages through to the end of Year 8. At this point, they will be able to decide which language they would like to take through to GCSE or whether they would like to continue with both. We encourage stronger linguists to pursue both language choices at GCSE, not only to boost their intellectual challenge and enjoyment but also give their later university applications that little extra something which makes them stand out from the crowd.

The course itself The course is based on typical topics such as Personal Information, Family, House and Home, School and Holidays but we do try to maintain a healthy balance between effective communication skills and grammatical understanding in order to speak and write accurately and in some depth.

We strongly believe that quality language teaching provides our students with: • enhanced communication skills in a competitive job or university market.

• liberation from insularity.

• an insight into other cultures and traditions • intellectual stimulation and academic challenge quite unlike any other subjects.

In our development of students’ language skills, we enable our students to: • understand and respond appropriately to a variety of forms of spoken language.

• speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity.

• develop the determination to communicate what they want to say via discussion, asking questions and giving/justifying opinions.

• continue to improve pronunciation and intonation.

• understand and respond in speech and writing to a variety of authentic, target language texts.

• transcribe words /short sentences with increasing accuracy.

• write prose using an increasingly wide range of grammar/vocabulary.

• write creatively expressing ideas and justifying opinions.

• Translate short texts with increasing accuracy from/into the target language.

Trips We run an annual exchange with our partner school in Bad Homburg near Frankfurt where our youngsters stay with German families for a week, experience life in a German school and take trips around the Frankfurt area.

This is not only a very enjoyable trip socially and culturally but is an enormous help in developing both receptive and productive language skills.

There will also be some information about Key Stage 3 trips to our target language countries in the new year.

Equipment Traditionally, we have advised students to have a pocket dictionary to enable them to access vocabulary independently. However, students will also need access to a smartphone as we make use of internet learning platforms for independent and for interactive learning. Good online dictionaries are Word Reference and DictLeo and Linguee, whilst students will also have accounts with Seneca, Quizlet and Kerboodle to promote independent learning and revision. There are also numerous (free!) apps that will support your child’s learning, details of which will be given to students in class.

How parents can help Even if parents’ own skills are rusty, there is plenty that you can do to support your child’s learning. Keeping an eye on homework completion is important, encouraging students to make use of materials used in class, and helping you child to learn vocabulary are all easy steps parents can take. A great way of learning is teaching: ask your child to teach you the vocabulary or grammar point from a lesson, this can be good fun!