Modern Languages

TEACHING STAFF

Ms Gerry Reville (Principal Teacher)
Mr David Keegan
Miss Debbie MacKenzie
Mrs Debbie Taylor (0.6 FTE)

VISION AND VALUES

Learning the languages of other countries enables children and young people to gain a unique insight into the culture of the people who live there. This can play an important role in helping young people make connections with different people and cultures and to play a fuller part as global citizens.

Learning through the medium of foreign languages enables young people to :

• develop their ability to communicate their ideas and feelings
• develop a high level of skills in listening, reading, writing and speaking
• develop a sound understanding of how language works
• exercise their intellectual curiosity, creativity and critical thinking
• enhance their understanding of their own and other cultures

The study of a modern language has a special contribution to make in the development of cultural awareness and personal development. It provides young people with a means of communicating directly with people from different cultures, gaining insights into other views of the world and developing a better understanding of citizenship.
Within the Curriculum for Excellence the experiences and outcomes for modern languages are described at various levels. Within these levels the experiences and outcomes are organised within the same structure which comprises :

• listening and talking
• reading
• writing

These are the four principal skill areas which encompass all language learning.

COURSES 2010-11

S1
In S1 all pupils follow a topic-based common course covering a wide range of personal information and linguistic knowledge.
Coverage of the required Experiences and Outcomes is set within the skills structure of listening, talking, reading and writing in the foreign language.
Within this learning framework pupils further develop their literacy skills to a large degree, as well as their numeracy abilities in the foreign language. Topic work in S1 will also include an element of IT to support learning and teaching during the year.

S2
In S2 all pupils continue their study of French from S1. Additional topic areas are covered, set within the skills framework mentioned above.
Classes are now set according to the school's House structure which allows for a mixture of top sets along with mixed-ability sets. The top sets are timetabled so that they have access to taster courses in German, Italian and Spanish between August and December.

S3-4
All pupils in S3 are offered the option of continuing with French and/or any one of the additional languages offered by the department. Depending on which language is chosen classes in S3-4 are presented for Standard Grade, Intermediate 1 or Intermediate 2.
Presentation of candidates in S3-4 is made through the current SQA qualifications structure which will continue in its present form until 2014.

S5-6
All pupils can select from a range of four languages - French, German, Italian and Spanish- either at Intermediate 2 or Higher level.
Currently the only Advanced Higher course being offered is in French.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Trips Abroad

The department currently offers a week-long visit to Paris for pupils in S2.
For pupils in S3-4 there is also the opportunity to take part in the exchange programme with our partner school in Hendaye, France.