Departments: Languages
At Finham Park School, we believe that the study of a foreign language not only provides our pupils with useful skills which are fast becoming essential in a modern and highly competitive world, but it also gives them a liberating and life-enhancing experience, which adds breadth to their cultural, social and linguistic knowledge and skills.
The languages department is made up of eight members of staff with most staff able to teach two foreign languages. The Department has a commitment to extending learning beyond the formal curriculum. An annual exchange with a school in Provins is well established and each year around 30 pupils from Years 9 & 10 spend ten days with families in and around Provins. Later in the same year our pupils and staff act as hosts for the return visit to Coventry by the pupils and staff from Provins. We also have an annual long weekend visit to a German Christmas market for year 8 pupils. Year 10 pupils have a visit to Berlin scheduled for the summer term. We also have a link with a school in Dresden. Groups from Dresden have visited Finham Park School and we hope to develop this link further. All colleagues are encouraged to run or become involved in visits abroad for our pupils, and there is scope for trips to France for younger pupils and an exchange link with Germany.
In Year 7, half of our pupils learn French, whilst the other half learn Spanish. French is taught throughout Key Stage 3 & 4 using the highly acclaimed Expo course. Spanish in Year 7 is taught using the new Mira course. Echo has been introduced for Key Stage 3 German and in Key stage 4 'Logo' is used. At GCSE, the Department prepares candidates for the AQA, specification A.
 Pupils are currently taught in mixed ability groups in Year 7, two tier setting in Year 8 and multi-tier setting in Years 9-11. Substantial use is made of the target language in the classroom, and there is a strong emphasis on quality of relationships and on confidence building. It is expected that members of the Department will inspire pupils' confidence by their linguistic competence and lively style of teaching, but at the same time they are expected to be approachable, supportive and aware of the learning needs of pupils across the full range of ability. The aim is that pupils should quickly apply new lexical and structural content to their own lives, acquiring the skills both to interpret their particular experience in the foreign language and to be open to the experiences and culture of the foreign language community. With this in mind lessons should be lively, carefully structured, businesslike and satisfying.
AS and A2 French is taught using the AQA specification for French anchored to the Tont Terrain course, but making extensive use of the internet and other resources for exploration of the specified topics. The examination board for German is subject to agreement with our partner secondary schools. In year 13 students take part in the city wide exchange with St. Etienne. They stay with French families and undertake work placements in primary schools. They then host their French partners here in Coventry. The French students are then placed with local primary schools.
Teaching in Years 12 & 13 involves half-day sessions and the school works to the Sixth Form timetable which is common across all Coventry schools. Sixth Form French is taught entirely by Finham Park staff, but for German the school works in consortia with other schools. This means that in some years teaching will be entirely at other schools while in others it will involve our staff sharing teaching with another school. As part of the IB (International Baccalaureate) we also offer the B series in French and German and ab initio Spanish and French.
The commitment to professional development within the Department is firm and colleagues are actively involved in developing their collective teaching skills. LEA and other local INSET opportunities are strongly supported and are discussed afterwards with colleagues. There is a determination to be open to new developments in language learning and teaching, and to be keenly aware of what is happening both in Europe generally and particularly in the countries whose languages we teach. The aim is to anticipate necessary developments in good time and to plan and implement these carefully where appropriate.
Below are some links to websites relating to the languages courses:
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MFL Resources
