Welcome to languages! French and Spanish are popular and successful subjects at UCC. Studying a language allows you to explore new horizons and opens exciting possibilities for your future. Lots of students at UCC pursue languages at GCSE then A-Level. Many have gone on to do languages degrees at university with some even living and working abroad.
The department has eight specialist teachers who are all passionate about their subject. We are proud to hold the prestigious Princes Teaching Institute mark for excellence.
Key Stage 3
All students study French and Spanish on entry. The emphasis in lessons is on communication: you’ll do lots of speaking and learn to say everything you need to communicate in the classroom in French or Spanish. Throughout Key Stage 3 you will cover topics which allow you to talk about yourself, your family, your school. your town and your interests.
Key Stage 4
Languages at GCSE build on what you’ve studied in Years 7, 8 and 9. By now, you’ll be able to communicate confidently in the foreign language. You’ll build up your knowledge of grammar and begin to tackle topics which are of relevance to young people today such as future studies, environmental issues, where they live and holidays. You will be able to express yourself in these topics in the past, present and future tenses.
Key Stage 5
Languages at A-Level provide a real insight into French culture and what forms the identity of people in this country. You’ll discover and appreciate music, film and literature in a foreign language. Your communication skills will also take off and, by the end of the course, you should be on your way to being a fluent speaker.
Throughout each year language, grammar and vocabulary will be recycled and built on. You will learn vocabulary regularly and use your knowledge organisers throughout each stage to embed the use of vocabulary and grammar. Cultural ideas from across the Francophone and Hispanic world will be introduced to inspire and widen your knowledge of the world around us.
Staff
- Ms S Thurrell (Head of Department)
- Mr S Cooper
- Mrs A Couapel
- Ms H Toomey
- Ms R Bober
- Ms M Nunes
- Mr R Rowe
Intent & implementation
The aims of the languages programme of study are to enable students to become confident at speaking French and Spanish spontaneously, beginning in the classroom in an immersive learning environment. Students will also develop accuracy and fluency when writing French and Spanish, communicating ideas by writing for various purposes. They will understand a range of written and spoken texts including authentic texts and target-language media. The programme of study contains three strands; topic vocabulary and structures, explicit grammar patterns and rules and classroom language routines. The interleaving of teaching across these three strands aims to train students in their ability to transfer knowledge of patterns and structures across different areas of language and in different contexts. Its core aim is to maximise the potential for language production to become gradually automatic.
In language lessons students learn new vocabulary and grammatical structures usually following a recognisable lesson structure delivered in the target language with target-language classroom routines and context at its core. New language is presented firstly as “chunks” which contain patterns. These “chunks” allow phrases and structures to be easily manipulated and changed. Students are then given the opportunity to repeat, practise and consolidate new language through a wide variety of activities. Students work in pairs, groups and teams and are taught using familiar games, songs, and techniques which encourage a range of visual, auditory and kinaesthetic learning. Students also have the chance to focus on grammar and structures through translation and dictation and are given time to develop written fluency in a series of ever more complex extended writing tasks.
Curriculum Maps
To find out what we are learning about and why, please see the appropriate curriculum map:
Year 7 FrenchYear 7 SpanishYear 8 FrenchYear 8 SpanishYear 9 FrenchYear 9 SpanishYear 10 FrenchYear 10 SpanishYear 11 FrenchYear 12 FrenchYear 13 French
Developing Cultural Capital
Language learning cannot be separated from the cultural richness it brings. Language learning itself involves seeing the world through the eyes of another. By learning a language, students engage in an exploration of the history of Francophone and Hispanophone countries, their culture, politics and identity. They develop an appreciation of French and Spanish-language art, literature, media and current affairs. By doing this, students also learn to express a critical and evaluative view of target language culture in French, Spanish and English.
Extracurricular opportunities
There are lots of opportunities to apply what you’ve learnt in the class by travelling abroad and we run as many school trips as we can.
We also run a weekly Spanish club – Thursday 12.55 in C13.
Careers Education
In Key Stage 3 and 4 students complete units on education, careers and future plans. This involves learning about different paths in work and education and expressing intentions in the target language. Students in Key Stage 4 also learn about opportunities to continue their study of languages, and how they might combine their future plans with continued language learning. At Key Stage 5 we have close links with universities, and students have the opportunity to communicate directly with current languages graduates and undergraduates to see how they might continue their languages studies at university and beyond.
