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Aims of the Modern Languages Department
“As with other areas of the curriculum, positive language learning experiences contribute to young people’s development as successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens. Through learning new languages young people can become successful learners with opportunities relating to working and travelling abroad; confident individuals able to communicate in more than one language; effective contributors to a changing world with an understanding of Scotland’s relationship to other countries; and responsible citizens with an awareness of cultures and languages in addition to their own.
” Language Learning in Scotland,
A 1+2 Approach, Scottish Government Languages Working Group, Report and Recommendations, 2012”
Our aims in the teaching of Modern Languages are:
- To enable pupils to enjoy success in their language studies and to achieve to their full potential.
- To enable all pupils to achieve oral proficiency by teaching them to converse confidently in foreign languages in a variety of situations.
- To enhance their learning capacity by developing Listening, Reading, Speaking, Writing, Reference skills and the Study skills of memorising, analysing, selecting, extracting and noting detail and reporting.
- To promote an interest in languages leading to enjoyment and appreciation of language in general.
- To develop an awareness and tolerance of different countries, cultures and backgrounds
- To enhance social and interpersonal skills in learning how to cope with everyday situations and to listen to and work with others.
- To provide pupils with the necessary skills to undertake National Qualifications at the appropriate level and to prepare them for adult life, employment, further education or training.
Role of Modern Languages
Modern Languages have always had a strong claim on the curriculum on educational grounds and this has been further strengthened on practical and vocational grounds in the light of greater mobility, within the European Community and beyond, and the international nature of trade and industry. It is increasingly necessary to make pupils aware that there are employment prospects abroad and that languages are an essential element of nearly all courses in Further Education.
Our Vision:
To ensure a fair and consistent language learning approach for all pupils, regardless of gender, background or ability.
Courses
S1 French:
Language is at the core of thinking. Learners reflect, communicate and develop ideas through language. The course provides learners with the opportunity to develop skills in listening and talking, reading and writing, which are essential for learning, work and life; to use different media effectively for learning and communication; and to develop understanding of how language works. S1 pupils will continue to develop on modern languages outcomes and experiences from Primary 7, gaining a deeper understanding of core vocabulary and key grammar points. The S1 course is designed to challenge and encourage pupils to be global citizens through enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of other cultures and their own through discussion, ICT, genuine resources and Moving Image Education. Pupils will be working at level 2 and level 3. Pupils will receive 2 periods of French in S1.
Course content:
| August – October Au Collège- At school |
November La poésie – Poetry |
| Classroom commands
School subjects Opinions & Reasons Colours & adjectival agreements Using a bilingual dictionary Grammar: – Masculine/feminine/plural Assessment: – Writing (school). I will be able to check the accuracy of their own work using knowledge about French, support materials and departmental correction code. I will be able to use the success criteria to measure my success. – Talking – I will learn to apply my knowledge about French and pronunciation to present a talk confidently in French. I will ensure that others can understand me when I read a short text allow by using appropriate pace and intonation. |
Translation skills
Assessment: – Translation skills – I will learn to select poetry texts for interest and enjoyment and work with others to translate them into English. – Writing (poem) – I will learn to write my own poem and check the accuracy of my writing using knowledge about French, support materials and departmental correction code. |
| December – January En ville- In town |
February – March |
| · Places in town
· Shops · Souvenirs · Directions · Prepositions · Transactional language/role plays · Grammar – Negatives – Giving commands – Adjectival agreements – Prepositions
Assessment – Listening – I will learn to listen to a variety of sources for information. I will be able to use the context to help me understand words that are unfamiliar. – Reading – I will learn to work on my own to understand a text. I will be able to use a bilingual dictionary to understand parts that are unfamiliar to me. |
· The history and origins of cinema/Lumière brothers
· Historical reference to first films made. · Links of film terminology to French e.g. mise en scene… · Expressing personal opinions and sentence building cinéma · Giving opinions and reasons · Translation skills Grammar – Adjectival agreements – Connectors Assessment – Writing (film review). I will be able to check the accuracy of their own work using knowledge about French, support materials and departmental correction code. I will be able to use model answers to know what makes a good film review and use the success criteria to measure my success. |
| April-May Ma vieRevision of name/greetingsNumbers 1-100Dates/ages/birthdays Countries/nationalities Family Grammar – Adjectival agreements |
S2 French:
S2 pupils will continue to develop on modern languages outcomes and experiences gaining a deeper understanding of core vocabulary and key grammar points. The S2 course is designed to challenge and encourage pupils to be global citizens through enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of other cultures and their own through discussion, ICT, genuine resources and Moving Image Education. Pupils will receive 2 periods of French in S2.
| May-June French: A Trip to Paris |
August-December Ma Vie (2) – music/fashion/sports/free time |
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| · History of Paris/Monuments
· Transport Grammar – Avoir – Perfect Tense · Assessment – Writing (postcard) – I will be able to check the accuracy of their own work using knowledge about French, support materials and departmental correction code. I will be able to use the success criteria to measure my success. |
Personality – adjectival agreements, describing myself, describing others
Music – types of music/playing instruments
Concert promoter task
Sports – jouer/faire; opinion + infinitive
Free time writing task
Clothes & Colours
Paris Fashion Week
Grammar
– Negatives – Être – Adjectival agreements – jouer/faire
Assessment – Listening – I will learn to listen to a variety of sources for information. I will be able to use the context to help me understand words that are unfamiliar. – Reading – I will learn to work on my own to understand a text. I will be able to use a bilingual dictionary to understand parts that are unfamiliar to me. |
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| January The World of Work· New Year’s Resolutions· Translation skills· Importance of language learning · Professions and language related jobs · Places of work · Future Plans Grammar – Aller – Near Future – On peut + infinitive Assessment – Importance of language learning poster |
February Time & Daily Routine Time Daily routine Grammar – Reflexive verbs Assessment – Writing (cartoon strip) – I will be able to check the accuracy of their own work using knowledge about French, support materials and departmental correction code. I will be able to use the success criteria to measure my success. |
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| March-May
Food/Film Unit
Food
French/Scottish school meals
In the market – transactional language, revision of numbers/money
Film Review (Ratatouille) – character study/giving opinions & reasons/personality adjectival agreement revision
Grammar
– Du/de la/de l’/des
Assessment – Writing (film review) – I will be able to check the accuracy of their own work using knowledge about French, support materials and departmental correction code. I will be able to use model answers to know what makes a good film review and use the success criteria to measure my success. – Talking (shopping for food role play) – I will learn to take part in a prepared conversation by using a variety of language. I will learn to ask for help or ask for things to be repeated if I don’t understand. I will be able to listen and take turns to speak at the appropriate time, use appropriate non-verbal techniques (eye contact, facial expressions and body language) and sustain the conversation accurately. |
S3 French:
Pupils have the opportunity to choose French, Spanish or both in S3. The S3 course is designed to challenge and encourage pupils to be global citizens through enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of other cultures and their own through discussion, ICT, genuine resources and Moving Image Education. The topics covered in S3 are designed to develop pupils at level 3 and level 4 and are designed to build on previous knowledge, as well as preparing pupils for National Level qualifications in S4.
| May-September Society/Culture |
October-December
Employability |
| Saying how you get on with family member/Arguments/ideal parents/different types of friends/ Peer pressure
· Rights and responsibilities |
· Jobs
· different types of careers/future plans · advantages of learning languages · Using the future tense |
| January – February
Society
· Talking about actors and films · Learning about French literature · Talking about books and reading · Talking about your life online (technology and social media) · Discussing role models/famous French people. |
March-April Citizenship HEALTHY LIFESTYLES· Talking about your town, village and district· Describing community projects · Discussing local area attractions · Talking about local transport · Making plans and the weather · The environment
The above units will be assessed as a combined listening and talking, reading and writing assessment.
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S1 Spanish
Language is at the core of thinking. Learners reflect, communicate and develop ideas through language. The course provides learners with the opportunity to develop skills in listening and talking, reading and writing, which are essential for learning, work and life; to use different media effectively for learning and communication; and to develop understanding of how language works. S1 pupils will continue to develop on modern languages outcomes and experiences from Primary 7, gaining a deeper understanding of core vocabulary and key grammar points. The S1 course is designed to challenge and encourage pupils to be global citizens through enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of other cultures and their own through discussion, ICT, genuine resources and Moving Image Education. Pupils will be working at level 2 and level 3. Pupils will 1 period of Spanish in S1.
Course content:
| August-November Mi Vida |
December-February
Mi familia |
| Name/Greetings
Countries/Nationalities Number/age/birthday Days of the week/months of the year Grammar – Ser – Tener Assessment – Talking (myself) – I will learn to share information about myself confidently. I will be able to use my knowledge of pronunciation to be understood, ask for things to be repeated if I don’t understand and know when to listen and when to contribute. – Listening (dates) – I will learn to listen to a variety of sources for information. I will be able to use the context to help me understand words that are unfamiliar. – Reading – I will learn to work on my own to understand a text. I will be able to use a bilingual dictionary to understand parts that are unfamiliar to me. |
· Members of the family
· Descriptions – myself & my family/adjectival agreements · Pets & colours Grammar – Masculine/feminine/plural – Adjectival agreements – Ser – Tener · Assessment – Wanted Poster- I will be able to check the accuracy of their own work using knowledge about Spanish, support materials and departmental correction code. I will be able to use model answers to know what makes a good film review and use the success criteria to measure my success. |
| March Spanish-speaking country project · Assessment · Talking – Pupils will carry out research on a Spanish-speaking country of their choice. With the help of cue cards and ICT, they will present their findings in Spanish. |
April Un viaje a Barcelona WeatherDirectionsTransactional language Gaudi & Barcelona monuments
Grammar – Giving commands |
S2 Spanish:
S2 pupils will continue to develop on modern languages outcomes and experiences gaining a deeper understanding of core vocabulary and key grammar points. The S2 course is designed to challenge and encourage pupils to be global citizens through enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of other cultures and their own through discussion, ICT, genuine resources and Moving Image Education. Pupils will receive 1 period of Spanish in S2.
| May-June Day of the Dead/Film Unit |
August – September Mi instituto |
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| · Day of the Dead
· Mexican food/customs · Coco/El Libro de la Vida · Grammar – adjectival agreements – ser – tener – gustar Assessment – Writing (character study) – I will be able to check the accuracy of their own work using knowledge about Spanish, support materials and departmental correction code. I will be able to use model answers to know what makes a good film review and use the success criteria to measure my success. – Spanish festival – group poster activity |
Classroom commands
School subjects Opinions & Reasons Colours & adjectival agreements Using a bilingual dictionary Grammar: – Masculine/feminine/plural – Ser – Adjectival agreements Assessment: – Writing (school). I will be able to check the accuracy of their own work using knowledge about Spanish, support materials and departmental correction code. I will be able to use the success criteria to measure my success. – Talking – I will learn to apply my knowledge about Spanish and pronunciation to present a talk confidently in Spanish. I will ensure that others can understand me when I read a short text allow by using appropriate pace and intonation. |
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| October-December Mi Zona Describing where you liveDescribing your home Rooms of the house Daily routine Time · Grammar – Reflexive verbs – Conditional tense – tendría/sería – Ser & estar Assessment – Listening – I will learn to listen to a variety of sources for information. I will be able to use the context to help me understand words that are unfamiliar. – Reading – I will learn to work on my own to understand a text. I will be able to use a bilingual dictionary to understand parts that are unfamiliar to me. |
December
El Gordo
Spanish Christmas traditions Revision of numbers 1-100 Charitable organisations in Spain |
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| January
El mundo laboral
· New Year’s Resolutions · Translation skills · Importance of language learning · Professions and language related jobs · Places of work · Future Plans Grammar – Ir – Near Future – Puede
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February – April
En mi tiempo libre
Sports
Free time activities
Time phrases
Grammar
– Jugar/hacer – Suelo + infinitive – Regular present tense |
S3 Spanish:
Pupils have the opportunity to choose French, Spanish or both in S3. The S3 course is designed to challenge and encourage pupils to be global citizens through enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of other cultures and their own through discussion, ICT, genuine resources and Moving Image Education. The topics covered in S3 are designed to develop pupils at level 3 and level 4 and are designed to build on previous knowledge, as well as preparing pupils for National Level qualifications in S4.
| May – June
Culture |
August – September Society/Culture |
| MUSIC FESTIVALS IN SPAIN
Music festivals in Spain
Revision of weather
Transport
Map of Spain
Clothes
Ordering food at snack bar
Transactional language
Money
Grammar
– Cuando – Debería – Adjectival agreements
Assessment
– Writing (survival guide) – I will learn to use my reference materials, class notes and ICT to help my writing on a variety of topics. I will be able to use a bilingual dictionary and digital technology to check the accuracy of my work, use connectors and intensifiers to make my writing more interesting and give reasons for my opinions.
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LA FAMILIA Y LOS AMIGOS
Family members
Saying how you get on with family
Arguments
Ideal parents
Pocket money & household chores
Different types of friends
Peer pressure
Grammar
– Ser – Tener – Conditional tense – Tengo que + infinitive
Assessment – Writing (family) – I will learn to use my reference materials, class notes and ICT to help my writing on a variety of topics. I will be able to use a bilingual dictionary and digital technology to check the accuracy of my work, use connectors and intensifiers to make my writing more interesting and give reasons for my opinions. |
| October – November Society/Culture |
December
Society |
| LAS PELÍCULAS/LA TELEVISIÓN
Types of TV shows Describing TV shows Types of films Comparing different films Computers Social media Time phrases Valentín Grammar – Me gusta(n)/me encanta(n) – Adjectival agreements – Comparisons – Near future Assessment – Writing (film review) – I will learn to use my reference materials, class notes and ICT to help my writing on a variety of topics. I will be able to use a bilingual dictionary and digital technology to check the accuracy of my work, use connectors and intensifiers to make my writing more interesting and give reasons for my opinions. I will be able to use the success criteria to measure my success. |
LA VIDA SANA
Sports
Giving advice on how to be healthy
Body parts
Illnesses
Transactional language
Grammar
– Debería/no debería – Se debe/no se debe – Me duele(n)
Assessment – Healthy living group poster – Talking (presentation about self + follow up questions in role play for doctor surgery/pharmacy) – I will learn to listen and respond to others in extended conversations that are less predictable. I will be able to share detailed information about myself on a range of experience, feelings and opinions. I will be able to use non-verbal techniques (eye contact, body language, facial expressions) and plan and deliver a presentation using clear pronunciation. |
| January Employability EL MUNDO LABORALImportance of language learning in the world of work
Jobs
Places of work
Qualities that make you right for a job
Grammar
– Regular present tense – Ser – Puede + infinitive – Tener que + infinitive
Assessment – Reading – I will learn to read a more detailed text independently, using a bilingual dictionary to help me with unfamiliar language and tenses. I will learn to use my knowledge about Spanish and other strategies to help me understand the text. – Listening – I will learn to listen and show understanding of language from a variety of sources and with some unpredictable or unfamiliar language. |
February – March Society
LOS PASATIEMPOS
Sports
Free time activities
Time phrases
Grammar
– Suelo + infinitive – Regular present tense revision – Jugar and hacer
Assessment – Writing (free time) – I will learn to use my reference materials, class notes and ICT to help my writing on a variety of topics. I will be able to use a bilingual dictionary and digital technology to check the accuracy of my work, use connectors and intensifiers to make my writing more interesting and give reasons for my opinions. I will be able to use the success criteria to measure my success. |
| March – April
CITIZENSHIP |
April – May
REVISION |
|
EL MEDIOAMBIENTE
Environmental problems
Solutions to environmental problems – globally and locally
Giving advice in Spanish
Describing local area
Comparing town and city
Grammar
– Deberíamos/no deberíamos – Hay – Comparisons |
S3 EXAM PREPARATION |
S3 Elective Option:
The Modern Languages for Life and Work Award (SCQF level 3/4) provides learners with the opportunity to develop language skills in combination with employability while also being able to follow their own interests in a cultural context. Learners will develop language skills in one or two modern languages that they can apply in life and work, developing their roles as active citizens. Learners will gain a greater understanding of their own and other cultures by comparing aspects of life in different countries and will play a fuller part as global citizens.
The main purpose of this Award is to study one or two languages in practical and relevant contexts for life and work, and identify, develop and demonstrate employability skills.
In particular, this Award aims to enable learners, with support, to:
- develop reading, listening and talking skills in one or two modern languages in the contexts of life and work,
- develop basic knowledge of one or two modern languages in the contexts of life and work develop employability skills.
S4:
National 4 & National 5 French & Spanish
S4-S6 pupils will continue to develop a deeper understanding of core vocabulary and key grammar points. The course is designed to challenge and encourage pupils to be global citizens through enhancing their understanding and enjoyment of other cultures and their own through discussion, ICT and realistic and genuine resources. The topics covered are designed to prepare pupils for outcome units at National 3 or National 4, as well as preparing pupils for their final National 5 Performance or Reading, Listening, Writing exams.
| August – October | October – December |
| EDUCATION AND LEARNING ♦ Talking about school likes and dislikes – subjects/teachers/facilities ♦ Describing your school and talking about your teachers ♦ Peer pressures ♦ Comparing education systems ♦ Improving own education system ♦ Learner responsibilities ♦ Future plans |
EMPLOYABILITY: PART TIME JOBS: Jobs ,Work and CVs ♦ Jobs and different places of work♦ Skills that make you right for a job♦ Planning, reporting back on work experience ♦ Reviewing achievements/ambitions♦ Part-time jobs/house hold chores ♦ Money and spending
January: FINLAY FOLIO DEADLINE (12.5% of overall award)
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| January – March
♦ Family/relationships ♦ Health – benefits of a healthy lifestyle, dangers of drugs/alcohol ♦ Environment – recycling, environmental problems, solutions locally and nationally ♦ Sport/Hobbies ♦ Technology – film/TV/computers/social media ♦ Importance of travel and learning a foreign language
Preparing for N5 Speaking Exam. |
April- May
EXAM PREPARATION |
S5/6:
National 5-Higher-Advanced Higher
In an age of global-minded commerce, foreign language skills are becoming crucial for job-seekers. The ability to speak another language makes you stand out from the crowd, and employers recognise that the skills you have developed make it easier for you to learn other languages. Many universities and colleges offer modern language modules alongside other degree courses, while careers in teaching, journalism, business, and the media, among many others, value modern language qualifications. You may choose to use your languages to travel, or to live and work abroad. The world is your oyster!
Higher French & Spanish (CfE)
The Higher qualification in French/Spanish gives learners the opportunity to reach a stage where the language is used independently in confident and flexible ways. The course develops communicative competence to a level of some sophistication in a range of situations. Learners focus on developing their confidence in using French/Spanish in the contexts of Society, Learning, Employability and Culture. They may also focus on extended reading, and possibly viewing, or on the productive, interactive or mediating uses of French/Spanish which may be required in work-related contexts. The course offers a wider understanding of how French/Spanish works.
| Guide to course content | |||
| August – December | January – February | February – March | April – May |
| SOCIETY: Family (including relationships and conflicts), Friendship, The Role of the Individual in Society Home Area (including advantages and disadvantages of town/ country), Leisure and Healthy Living including exercise, healthy eating, smoking, drugs, alcohol and their effects, Television/Media, Global Citizenship and importance of Language Learning. |
LEARNING & EMPLOYABILTIY: School (subject choice, rules, what makes a good/bad school), Teachers (what makes a good/bad teacher), School Uniform (advantages and disadvantages), The Importance of Studying a Foreign Language, Plans and Aspirations for the Future (gap year, university, career)Writing Assignment deadline (12.5%) |
CULTURE: Holidays (advantages/disadvantages of holidays with parents/friends), Ideal Holidays, Tourism (Glasgow/Scotland as a tourist destination), Environmental Issues, Planning a trip (gap year/studying abroad)Celebrating a Special Event, Life in another countryTalking performance (25%) |
Revision and Exam Preparation. |
Advanced Higher French & Spanish
Advanced Higher takes the development of intellectual maturity, critical awareness and sound knowledge and use of language a stage further from Higher. The course is intended to be a general release of curiosity allied to a sharpening of mental and critical focus, combined with an appropriate progression in understanding, experience and use of language. The Language unit allows students to investigate and debate contemporary issues of relevance to them, and to see how their lives compare with their French/ German/ Spanish peers. The Specialist Study introduces them to an in-depth study of literature in the target language. Given the limited number of teacher periods and the nature of the Advanced Higher course, very many demands are made on the students’ time outside the classroom and at home. Ongoing work on the preparation of the Specialist Study, the learning of vocabulary and structures, and the regular and thorough revision of class work is expected, alongside the submission of one or more pieces of written work per week.
Progression
From Advanced Higher, the student will be in a position to pursue foreign language study or to use a foreign language in a variety of ways, which might include:
- specialising in the study of language, literature or culture in further or higher education
- interacting at an appropriate level with native speakers within an employment context
- drawing on knowledge about language to learn a different foreign language
- using acquired language skills to access media in the foreign language, including TV programmes, films and magazine articles, for personal enjoyment.
Many universities and colleges offer modern language modules alongside other degree courses, while careers in teaching, journalism, business, and the media, among many others, value modern language qualifications. You may choose to use your languages to travel, or to live and work abroad. The world is your oyster!
Resources
Resource List
Aims of the Modern Languages Department
National 5 Frenc and Spansih Study Check List
National 5 Writing Final Preparations
Active Learn – Viva/Studio
Language Nut – ask your teacher for your username and password
Modern Languages Experiences and Outcomes and Benchmarks – https://education.gov.scot/improvement/Documents/ModernLanguagesBenchmarksPDF.pdf
Homework
We use Show My Homework and Google Classroom to issue homework tasks.
The following document details homework requirements from S1 to S6:
Supported Study
| Subject | Level | Room/Teacher | DAY/TIME |
| Spanish/French | BGE S1-S3 | Mr Norrie (F033) | Monday & Tuesday 8.15-8.45 |
| Spanish | National 5 | Mr Norrie (F033) | Wednesday after school |
| Spanish | Higher | Mr Norrie (F033) | Thursday after school |
News
International Day of Languages
- 2017 presentation
- 2018 presentation
Developing the Young Workforce
Transition
Modern Languages Pathway
AND/
OR
Staff
Ms Baran (Faculty Head Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri)
Mr Greenberg (Faculty Head Wed)
Ms Browning
Mr Norrie
Ms McLaughlin
Pupil Work
For a slideshow of slogan entries for International Languages Day, click the following link:
International Languages Day slideshow
Useful Links
Useful languages links
Follow us on Twitter – @StrathavenML
http://www.linguascope.com/ – ask teacher for username and password
https://www.languagenut.com/en-gb/ – ask teacher for username and password
http://www.zut.org.uk/index.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/mafrance/#
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/talk/
http://www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/
http://www.saltedinburgh.co.uk/free_resources_spanish_courses_edinburgh/
News Links:
Radio Links:
Online Dictionaries
https://www.wordreference.com/
Exam:
http://scholar.hw.ac.uk/ – your teacher should provide you with personal login details