"Through the study of a foreign language, pupils understand and appreciate different countries, cultures, people and communities and as they do so, begin to think of themselves as citizens of the world. Pupils also learn about the basic structures of language. Their listening, reading, writing and speaking skills improve and become more accurate. The development of these skills, together with pupils knowledge and understanding of the structure of language, lay the foundations for future study of other languages."
The National Curriculum for England 1999
Havering Languages Centre (click on photo for more details)
We aim to develop the skills of communication and understanding and to equip young people with the tools to succeed in the increasingly international world of the 21st century. It is also vital that students carry away with them a concise and internationally recognised statement of competence in languages, and so our programme of study in French, German and Spanish follows the Common European Framework of Reference.
We are very proud of the language provision offered in the primary school. All children are given language input. In the Early Years this is done through the medium of song. In Years 1 and 2 there is a chance to get a taster of different languages, and from Year 3 there is provision for tuition in French and Spanish.
Trip to Lille (click on photo for more details)
Spanish is our first foreign language at Sherfield. From year 3 until the end of year 9 all pupils learn Spanish and develop their competence in Listening, speaking, reading and writing. Spanish is an important language for Britons to master.
In the Junior and senior schools we also learn French alongside Spanish. French has traditionally been the first foreign language offered by English schools and is spoken by a 265 million people across six continents.
At Sherfield we give children the choice of either French or German alongside Spanish from Year 7. Different languages suit different people, and the reliable grammar, consistent spelling and pronunciation, and familiar word formation of German does suit some learners very well. We are very glad to be able to accommodate different learning styles in this way and look forward to more and more students enjoying their languages more and more into the future.
We welcome visiting schools from abroad (click on photo for more details)
Latin is an important part of the curriculum in Key Stage 3 and we follow the WJEC syllabus for Key Stage 4. The course allows learners to build up a good knowledge of the language and also to appreciate the fascinating world of the Roman Empire. Latin forms the basis for many Western European languages, and a knowledge of Latin has been shown to help pupils develop their literacy skills in their native language.
Pupils have the option to pick Japanese in Year 10. Japanese is an exciting and stimulating language, and challenges many of our European preconceptions of how languages operate. Pupils learn the pronunciation and intonation of Japanese; the three writing systems- Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana; and gain an insight into the fascinating culture of Japan.
Assessment
Every student has the chance to gain an official qualification in World Languages. In year eleven pupils sit an IGCSE, or we offer the Asset Languages award - exams in speaking, listening, reading and writing for a national scheme which follows the Common European Framework for languages. Pupils can also gain official recognition for the tests they do in class, and receive a certificate in each skill at the appropriate level. For more information visit www.assetlanguages.org.uk
For the academic year 2011-2012 and beyond we are offering pupils the chance to gain an international diploma in French, German or Spanish. We are working together with the Goethe Institut, the Institut Français, and the Instituto Cervantes to allow our students to study for the Diploma de Español como Lengua Extranjera (DELE), the Diplome d’Etude en Langue Française (DELF), or the Zertifikat Deutsch für Jugendliche. These diplomas are internationally recognised and accepted, and they provide not only a superb preparation for further study of language at sixth form level and beyond, but they also provide a statement of ability which is underwritten by the Council of Europe, and which is eagerly sought by employers the world over.
Languages, whether the mother tongue or a foreign language, are central to the delivery of the Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate. The World Languages department, in collaboration with the department of English, straddles groups 1 and 2 of the Diploma.
German A1 - We study some of the core texts of German Literature, and we also consider the wider aspect of literary study - World literature.
French/Spanish B - For those who have enjoyed some success in Key Stage 4 we offer the opportunity to continue French or Spanish in the 6th form. All aspects of language are covered - creative, informal and formal text and speech, and at higher level we also study Francophone or Hispanic literature from four continents .
German/Japanese ab initio - For those who fancy a fresh challenge or who desire a change from their previous language learning, and who do not wish to study languages at university, there is the chance to pick up a completely new language from scratch. The aim is to get to an independent level of competence within the two years of study, and to be in a position to build on this in later life.
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