Curriculum - Modern Foreign Languages
 

After an extremely early start on the 13th June, 27 pupils and 3 teachers set off from Swanmore College of Technology filled with both excitement and some nerves to Ajaccio on the West coast of Corsica! 

This was the first ever trip that we hope to be the beginning of a long exchange relationship. 

The trip was a huge success and many great friendships were formed.  The pupils enjoyed boiling temperatures, different foods, speaking French, activities such as orienteering, high tree climbing, treasure hunts, language quizzes and a huge party to finish the week! 

The pupils threw themselves into the experience, talking French and were not only a credit to the college, but a real pleasure to accompany for a week.

To view a slideshow of photos from the trip, visit the VLE!


 

We aim to show that learning a foreign language is fun!

All our language classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards.  We use authentic resources and the latest multi-media technology and make full use of ICT in our lessons.  We encourage our pupils to be independent, active and reflective learners, who enjoy communicating with others.

Pupils entering Swanmore College of Technology in Year 7 all study French, a language that many of our pupils will have begun in their primary schools.  In Year 8, all pupils will take on a second language; we offer Spanish, Italian and German.  Some pupils identified as very able language learners, are invited to take their GCSE entry early.  At the end of Year 9 foreign language study becomes optional, but we encourage pupils wherever possible to continue with their language study into Years 10 and 11 to gain either a GCSE or NVQ qualification in their chosen language(s).

To enhance the learning experience further we offer various visits abroad throughout the year and we recently started virtual exchanges with a partner school in Corsica.  We hope to develop this exchange further and intend to begin exchange visits to the school.  Each year we receive a Foreign Language Assistant to enable pupils to practise their skills with a native speaker.  To use a foreign language ‘for real’ gives an entirely new experience of the subject.  Our extended learning tasks and links to useful websites are clearly noted on the VLE, which all pupils learn to use in their first language lessons.

Being able to speak and communicate in a foreign language is a great skill and one much-valued and sought after by colleges, universities and employers.

Have pride in communication – it’s good to talk!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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