West Hill Park School

The aim of the French Department throughout the school is to foster the enjoyment of language with learning starting from an early age in the Pre-Prep Department (Year 1 and 2). We aim to encourage pride in successful learning achievement in all four skills of that particular language (Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing).

We are also keen to promote the understanding and appreciation of the cultures and ways of life of a different country and hope to encourage a more positive attitude to the learning of a foreign language by making lessons as fun and interesting as possible.

The French Department also encourages visits abroad in order to practise and perfect language as well as social skills. We currently run a trip in the autumn term to the Chateau de la Baudonnière in Normandy with Year 8.

The children are introduced to French in Year 1 and 2 with a native speaker for sessions of approximately 20 minutes. In Years 3 and 4 there are respectively 1 and 2 40-minute lessons per week. At this stage we use the programme ‘La Jolie Ronde' which is fun, exciting and very interactive and geared towards the introduction of French through songs, dancing, pictures and games.

From Year 5 to 8 the children benefit from 5 lessons a week with language specialists/native speakers who aim to make the lessons as lively and authentic as possible. We use the textbook ‘Encore Tricolore 1 and 2' which have very relevant and up to date information on France and French speaking countries. It covers all the important topics required for any exam they are taking in their final year at the school. The use of Interactive whiteboards, the Internet, the IT suite as well as French videos and various other resources help provide the children with a varied and pertinent knowledge of the language.

Spanish

Pupils from Year 7 have one lesson of Spanish per week. This adds to the breadth and diversity of the curriculum and will prepare pupils for the move to their next school, where many of them will study a second foreign language. Pupils will not take CE in Spanish; the emphasis is on enjoying the language and making full use of the resources available.