Introduction

In St Bonaventure’s we celebrate languages and in KS3 and KS4 all pupils learn at least one language for 2 hours per week. We offer French, German and Spanish in all Key Stages and provide the opportunity for pupils to take examinations in home languages wherever possible. We are very proud of all our pupils who speak several languages and value their linguistic expertise.

Language lessons offer pupils the opportunity to develop listening, reading, speaking and writing skills in a creative environment in a range of ways including games, presentations, video clips, pair work, group work,  projects and on-line activities.  Pupils are encouraged to speak as much target language as possible in lessons and topics and materials are chosen to reflect the interests of the young people we teach.

The study of German is seen as an important part of our pupils’ education as languages are part of the cultural richness of our society and the world in which we live and work. Learning languages contributes to mutual understanding, a sense of global citizenship and personal fulfilment. Pupils learn to appreciate different countries, cultures, communities and people. The ability to understand and communicate in another language is a lifelong skill for education, employment and leisure in this country and throughout the world. In addition to this, it strengthens the understanding and command of the English language.

 Our German lessons offer pupils the opportunity to develop listening, reading, speaking and writing skills in a creative environment in a range of ways including games, presentations, video clips, pair work, group work, projects and on-line activities. We are proud of our well-established German Exchange and that every bi-lingual student is encouraged to accomplish a qualification in his native language. 

The department’s vision is to continually improve standards through an engaging and challenging curriculum which values the strengths of all and celebrates success. Competency in a foreign language unlocks the technological and vocational abilities which enhance the employability skills of our pupils. 

❝Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.❞
Rita Mae Brown

Curriculum

KS3

Topics covered include:

KS4

At GCSE we follow the AQA specification.

Topics covered include:

KS5

At A Level we follow the AQA specification.

Topics covered include:

Year 12

• The changing state of the family 
• The digital world 
• Youth culture: fashion and trends, music, television
• Festivals and traditions
• Art and architecture
• Cultural life in Berlin, past and present
• Film study: Almanya, Willkommen in Deutschland

Year 13

• Immigration
• Integration 
• Racism 
• Germany and the European Union
• Politics and youth
• German re-unification and its consequences
• Analysis of a written text

❝You can never understand one language until you understand at least two.❞
Geoffrey Willans

Grammar, skills and strategies

Across all Key Stages pupils will gain a variety of literacy strategies, practice skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing in the target language, and build on their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. Pupils will learn how to:

• understand and produce information on a variety of topics, both of personal interest as well as local and global interest, including opinions, justifications and arguments
• understanding and producing information in the past, present and future tenses
• use accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• understand and respond to a variety of spoken and written instructions in the target language
• understand and respond to spoken and written information in a variety of forms, including songs, stories, poems, letters, articles, advertisements, pictures, posters
• speak confidently in the target language with an understanding of the important of pronunciation, intonation and appropriate forms of address
• translate meaning to and from the target language