“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” Nelson Mandela.
“Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own.” Goethe.
The Modern Foreign Languages Department at Sutton Grammar School will appeal to any student who is interested in communicating with as wide an audience as possible, whether that be abroad or in our own diverse and multi-lingual capital city.
In the Sixth Form, students revise and consolidate some of the structures already introduced at the higher tier of GCSE and perfect their understanding and use of grammar. A wide variety of topics are covered during the course which will broaden and deepen students’ knowledge and understanding of the societies where these languages are spoken. These topics will include current affairs, the media, advertising, tourism, leisure activities, the arts, social issues, youth concerns, historical events and the world of business and industry. Students will also study in depth one book and one film. Visits abroad are organised on a regular basis.
In French, German and Spanish courses, students will be exposed to authentic materials from an early stage and will be encouraged to communicate in the target language as much as possible since the majority of lessons are conducted in the foreign language.
There are also language assistants working within the department and students will be time-tabled to spend one lesson a fortnight practising role plays and presentations with them. The overriding objective of the department is to enable students to play an active role in a world that has become completely international and in particular to open their horizons. When they are at university they will have the opportunity to apply for funding to study abroad under the current ERASMUS scheme and we endeavour to provide the students from this school with the outlook and skills required to make the most of this unforgettable and life changing opportunity.
Transferrable skills are an important aspect of the course and looking at these in a foreign language will help students greatly in their own language. These include: reading, analysing and synthesising information from a variety of sources; making effective contributions to group discussions; listening to others for gist and for detail; making effective presentations; and being aware of and understanding cultural differences.
On leaving Sutton Grammar School, it is hoped that students will be able to pursue their interests in French, German or Spanish at university, either as specialists or in 29 conjunction with another subject. Employment and career opportunities are greatly enhanced for applicants who can demonstrate a higher level of linguistic competence. Students should also be aware of the possibilities offered by European Universities for first and post-graduate degree courses and the relative financial advantage compared to studying in the UK.
Exam Board: AQA
AQA French A Level Specification
AQA German A Level Specification
AQA Spanish A Level Specification