Welcome to Beaumont School Modern Foreign Languages Department!

As a Specialist Language College, Beaumont is exceptionally well placed to provide the languages education and experience that will enable our students to take their place as world citizens in a global community. At various points throughout their school career at Beaumont students can study French, German, Spanish and Italian. Additional opportunities may also exist to take up Chinese, Japanese, or Russian in the Sixth form BeauSandVer consortium.

Aims

The aims of the MFL Department are to enable and encourage pupils

• to listen and read with understanding,
• to speak and write in at least one foreign language and
• to develop an interest in the contemporary life and culture of the country.

Curriculum

During Years 7-9 students are introduced to two modern foreign languages, and students are encouraged to take one, and preferably two languages up to GCSE level.

Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)

In Year 7 four classes of students are allocated French and four classes are allocated German as their first foreign language.  There will be one Fast Track set in each language who will take their GCSE early (in Year 9) and three parallel mixed ability groups. 

In Years 8 and 9 pupils will also take up a second language, chosen from French, German and Spanish.  We will try to accommodate preferences for the choice of second language but will have to do so within timetabling constraints. 

For a summary of the curriculum in a particular KS3 school year you can download the relevant Year Course Booklet by clicking on these links:
Year 7 course booklet
Year 8 course booklet
Year 9 course booklet

Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)

In Years 10 and 11 pupils will continue to have the opportunity to study two languages from French, German, Spanish or Italian. The emphasis in all four subjects is on developing language skills for practical communication in real-life situations.  Learning focuses on the targets of listening, reading, speaking and writing. Students can be entered at either Foundation or Higher level. Those students who were fast-tracked in their first language and took either French or German AS in Year 9 can continue with this language to AS level in Year 11.

For details of the GCSE syllabus for students who began their GCSE course in September 2008 click on this link:
GCSE 2008-2010 syllabus

For details of the GCSE syllabus for students who begin their GCSE course in 2009 click on this link:
GCSE 2009-2011 syllabus

You can also obtain details of the course and coursework deadlines etc from the relevant Year Course Booklet by clicking on these links:
Year 10 course booklet
Year 11 course booklet

Years 12 and 13 (Sixth Form)

Students can take their interest in modern foreign languages further by studying at AS, A level, and IB level. For details of all courses on offer at Key Stage 5 go to the BeauSandVer consortium website.

Assessment

Individual classroom assessments are integrated into everyday teaching with records based on pupils' classwork and homework.  Tests across the whole year group are carried out on a regular basis.

At GCSE level, students are assessed for listening and responding, speaking, reading and responding, and writing. Units are subject to either external or controlled assessment (for details follow the KS4 Curriculum links above).

Resources

Beaumont Language Department is extremely well resourced. Designation as a Specialist Language College enabled Beaumont to build a new purpose-built Modern Languages Block. Language classrooms have a full range of audio-visual and ICT equipment.  Our most recent acquisition is a new language laboratory in our computer room. Satellite television is available in four rooms.  The Library has a range of Modern Language books, reference materials and magazines. 

Modern Foreign Languages was the subject of an Ofsted Inspection in March 2008 and was judged as ‘outstanding’. Click here to see a copy of the Inspector’s report. The Modern Languages Department is a member of C.I.L.T. (Centre for Information on Language Teaching) and A.L.L. (Association for Language Learning). 

Visits and Extra Curricular Activities

The opportunities for students to experience foreign culture and language during their time at Beaumont are second to none, and have been particularly praised by Ofsted. Opportunities include:

French:

• Year 7 students participate in a week’s residential stay during the summer term.
• A French Exchange is offered to pupils in Years 9/10.
• Year 12 students are offered a French Work Experience week.

German :

• Year 7 students participate in a week’s residential stay during the summer term.
• Year 8 pupils participate in a five day visit to Germany.
• A German Exchange is offered to pupils in Years 9, 10 and 12.
• Nominated Year 13 students may participate in a German parliamentary experience visit of a week’s duration in Berlin.

Spanish: 

• Year 8 students participate in a five-day visit to Spain.
• A study visit to Rosas is offered to students in Year 10 during the summer term.

Visits to conferences, films and plays are made available and encouraged whenever possible. 

The Languages Team