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French

We teach French to all pupils in the Prep Department at Town Close.  Whilst aspiring to inculcate in our pupils a love of France, its language and its culture, we also aim to equip children with language-learning skills which will be vital to them in the future.  Pupils also have the opportunity to learn some German and Spanish as free-time activities.

Our youngest pupils are taught almost entirely using oral techniques, and communication in the target language is a key feature of lesson content throughout the age-range.  As they progress through the school, pupils develop not only speaking and listening skills, but also reading and writing skills.  As pupils revisit topics and vocabulary areas covered in previous years, they do so in greater depth.

The programme of study in Years 3 to 5 has been designed to fulfil the aims of the QCA Schemes of Work for French in Primary Schools.  In Years 6 to 8, pupils are working towards developing the linguistic skills and knowledge essential for the Common Entrance and Scholarship examinations in Year 8.

Perhaps the greatest change in language teaching recently has been brought about by the ongoing impact of I.C.T. on the curriculum.  Using the School’s Intranet, pupils are able to access a wealth of software and subject-based websites, as well as using their ever-broadening I.C.T. skills to produce projects, materials for display, and even PowerPoint presentations, to illustrate their learning.  Our older pupils are able to use a French keyboard layout.  All this technology is brought directly into the classroom via our mobile laptop trolley and our interactive whiteboards, which enable us to cater for visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning styles at the same time.  Authentic listening materials are delivered, on CD, via a sophisticated sound system.

Whilst the technology is a valuable aid to learning, nothing can replace language immersion.  We do that, too, with our annual Year 7 study and activity week in Normandy in the Autumn Term, which has been an integral part of the programme since 1998.