Languages

Head of Department:

Our department is conveniently situated in a characteristic part of the school, which used to be the Boarding House. All modern language teaching takes place in our suite of dedicated language rooms and we are well equipped with the latest presentational technology, including interactive whiteboards and data projectors. A Language Lab further enhances our facilities and pupils throughout the school benefit from the valuable chance to improve their spoken language with our three foreign language assistants, one each from France, Germany and Spain.

Pupils can further their linguistic and cultural knowledge by keeping abreast of current affairs in our departmental satellite television room or reading from a range of contemporary magazines and newspapers, which are available in both the departmental area and the Library.

Our department offers French, German, Italian and Spanish with Russian as an extra-curricular option. Our teaching combines the best of modern methodology, which has a communicative and practical focus evidenced by teacher and pupil use of the target language, with the rigour of tradition, which ensures that pupils understand the grammar of the languages they are learning. All members of the department are highly qualified specialists and the department enjoys an excellent reputation as a regional training institution.

Outside the classroom pupils have the opportunity to choose from a variety of language-related lunchtime clubs, undertake work experience in Europe and make a new friend through our international school email links.

The ability to speak a foreign language is an increasingly rare and desirable skill. Here at Arnold we aim to ensure that pupils not only have the linguistic knowledge to meet the demands of our future society, but also that they enjoy their learning and find personal reward in rising to the fulfilling challenge that communicating fluently in another language presents.

International Links & Visits: The department is linked with the Collège St. André in Colmar, France, with whom we conduct an annual exchange. Pupils also have email partners with the Gymnasium in Wittlich, Germany and with Los Salesianos in Moron de la Frontera, Sevilla. The department runs an annual Trip – in 2005 we took 40 Lower School pupils to Paris and in 2006 we are planning to visit and tour the Sorrento area of Italy. Furthermore, we have helped several GCSE and A-level pupils in recent years set up a Work Experience Placement abroad or attend a Summer Language Course.

CLUBS & EXTRA-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES

ACTIVITY - TIME - PLACE - PUPILS - STAFF

European Film club Tue C&A L3 KS5 DJP

European Literature Society TBA L17 KS5 CWJ

Satellite club TBA LISA KS5 Assts

MFL Conversation club TBA L3 KS3/4 Assts

Independent reading - - KS3/4/5 KAW

European work experience - - KS4/5 DJP

Trip to Paris - - KS5 DAJ

Trip to Germany - - KS3/4 DJP

Theatre trips - - - Dept

Fylde French Circle Mon 7pm VI Lge KS5 CWJ/DJP/DAJ

Independent Reading: The department benefits from a dedicated section in the School Library, offering a good choice of reading material, from nursery rhymes to Harry Potter! We purchase new books every year and the latest foreign language magazines are always available, for all ages. Pupils throughout the school can also subscribe individually to appropriate foreign language magazines with articles on current affairs, music and film stars as well as quizzes and puzzles.