Modern Languages Departmental Handbook - heckgrammar.co.uk ...

Modern Languages Departmental Handbook Contents Section A: Aims
1. General aims of Modern Language Teaching
2. (i) Specific aims of the teaching of MFL
ii) Detailed language learning objectives and the general aims
of the
School Section B: Courses, Staffing and teaching groups
1. Outline of courses provided
2. Teaching groups
3. Staff
4. Who teaches what to whom
5. Roles and responsibilities Section C: Departmental policies and guidelines
1. Differentiation
2. Use of Target Language
3. Assessing, record keeping and reporting
4. Target setting
5. Homework
6. Marking
7. The Foreign Language Assistant
8. Students with special needs and the Gifted and Talented
9. ICT
10. Day-to-day administration (accommodation and resources)
11. Inset
12. Visits, excursions and foreign links
13. MFL discipline policy
14. Key skills
Section D: Modern Foreign Languages Gifted and Talented Policy
Section E: Departmental Development Plans 1. Departmental Review notes
2. Detailed copy of departmental development plan Section A: Aims
1. General aims of Modern Language Teaching and Learning As a department we fully support the whole school 'Education For all'
policy. We will therefore endeavour to offer equal opportunities to all of
our pupils by: * Providing appropriately and satisfyingly for all pupils of all ages
and abilities, eliminating discrimination on grounds of race, sex or
physical disability
* Ensuring that pupils have a right to equality of access to what is
best in educational provision
* Ensuring that there is no restricted access given to some pupils
because of stereotyped views of ability
* Promoting mutual respect and good relationships between persons of
different racial groups
* Opposing racism, condemning al racist remarks and behaviour
* Developing the skills for inter-group and cross-curricular
relationships
A. Modern languages are a vital component of a secondary school
curriculum, offering to the pupil a comprehensive series of valuable
experiences which cover the major areas of learning: 1. Aesthetic: Languages offer an appreciation of the sound of
spoken human speech, and offer the opportunity for students to
create their own new sound patterns.
2. Ethical: By studying the culture of other nations, the student
should become sensitive to the differences between cultures and
thereby sensitive to himself and his own culture.
3. Linguistic: Languages offer communication through
listening, speaking, reading and writing. Through the study of
a foreign language the pupil will become more aware of his own
language.
4. Mathematical and scientific: The learning of a foreign language
involves the breaking of codes, familiarisation with symbols and
the building of one's own codes through experiment, using
formulae and problem-solving. One forms an awareness of pattern
and the ability to use symbols with confidence.
5. Social and political: Communication in the foreign language
gives the pupil the opportunity to relate to others within the
peer group and in wider areas, thereby facilitating the
development of social relationships within his own culture and
in relation to another culture.
6. Spiritual: Through languages the pupil will develop an awareness
and a tolerance of others, working in close proximity with his
contemporaries, either as an individual or in a group, thereby
learning to feel closer to and to work with fellow human beings
in general.
B. Modern language learning is a cumulative process, which, if rewarded
often in the early stages, will motivate pupils to further success.
C. Being a cumulative process, modern language learning requires
perseverance, which is in itself rewarding.
D. Pupils learning a foreign language are stretched intellectually.
Horizons are widened and new areas of knowledge and experience are
opened up, giving personal satisfaction and a sense of achievement.
This can apply to all levels of ability, stretching both the most able
pupils who intend further study of the language after 16, and the less
able pupils. ALL pupils can gain both personal satisfaction and a
sense of achievement. E. Modern languages can develop skills, which would prove useful to an
employer at a later date.
o Language skills for those wishing to pursue a career in a language
oriented area.
o The use of patterns, symbols and formulae for those intending to
pursue a scientific career. o The ability to communicate freely and understand others for those
entering management or careers, which require the ability to relate
to others.
o The skill of perseverance, useful in any form of employment.
F. Modern languages offer the possibility of seeking employment where the
demand lies i.e. the freedom of movement within and between nations
within the European Union.
G. Modern languages can open up wider horizons for the pursuit of leisure
activities, important in an age of rapidly expanding technology and
shrinking employment opportunities:
o In the continuation of study of languages already begun at school
for personal interest and reward.
o In the study of other languages based on proven skills of language
acquisition.
o In the possibility of study for travel and tourism.
Section A: Aims
2. (i) Specific aims of the teaching of Modern Languages
We concur completely with the stated aims of the AQA GCSE syllabus and
see them as applicable not only to KS4 but also to KS3 and to foreign
language teaching generally. We aim to: o Develop the ability to understand and use the chosen foreign
language effectively for the purposes of practical communication.
o Develop the ability to use the chosen language both imaginatively
and creatively and to understand the language used both
imaginatively and creatively.
o Develop an understanding of the grammar of the chosen language.
o Offer insights into the culture and civilisation of the countries
and communities that speak the chosen language.
o Encourage positive attitudes to foreign language learning and to
speakers of foreign languages and a positive approach to other
cultures and civilisations.
o Develop students' understanding of themselves and their own
culture.
o Provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation.
o Form a sound base of skills, language and attitude required for
further study, work and leisure.
o Promote skills, which have a wider application such as information
technology, and learning skills (eg analysis, memorising, drawing
inference). | |
|Our syllabuses and schemes of work provide material |
|and a learning environment, which prepares all pupils|
|for a future world and adult life in a multi-racial, |
|interdependent world. |
ii) Detailed language learning objectives
and the general aims of the school A We develop in our students the ability to communicate freely and
confidently in a foreign language: eg o To make contact with fellow human-beings and make oneself
understood o To be prepared to go into any situation and start a conversation in
whatever way one can manage o To talk about one's interests o To be willing and able to cope with everyday matters in another
culture, eg restaurant, hotel, garage etc. B We develop in our students the ability to listen and to understand a
language as spoken by a native speaker, both in detailed and gist
comprehension: eg o To make contact and be able to understand the message being
communicated o To be prepared to listen to others, thereby understanding
alternative points of view o To break down codes and learn new codes, organising strings of
information to be represented at a later stage in one's own reply
using the learned code
C By developing the ability to understand written messages in a foreign
language eg o To familiarise oneself with the written symbols of another
communication system o To distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information o To understand information being communicated in letters, stories,
advertisements, magazines, newspapers etc. o To read and understand the literature of another culture (dependent
upon the level of ability and material) D We develop in our students the ability to write simple but clear
messages in the foreign language using a variety of tenses where
applicable: eg o To learn new patterns and codes, and organise them into
comprehensible written messages o To learn the discipline and accuracy of language, one's own and
that of others, thereb