Why Study a Language?
The Modern Foreign Languages Department is a dedicated and thriving department offering courses in French and Spanish to Key Stages 3 and 4. We offer study trips abroad as well as lunchtime clubs and after-school study sessions. The department has a deep-rooted belief in the intrinsic value of studying languages. Language learning encourages racial and cultural tolerance, overseas travel and enhances job opportunities. For many universities, the study of a language at GCSE level is a must for entry onto all degree courses.

Staffing
The department is staffed by four highly qualified languages specialists, all of whom have several years experience and have taught in Southmoor Community School for a number of years. Each year we are joined by an assistant de français, who works with both Key Stages, as well as at lunchtime to offer speaking classes in her native language.

Facilities
All pupils are taught languages in specialist language rooms equipped with Overhead Projectors and with the use of a digital projector. In addition, pupils have the benefit of lessons using specialist software in the Sir Tom Cowie Suite where our ICT based language lessons now take place.

Study Trips Abroad
Pupils in Years 8 and 9 are given the possibility to attend a study trip to France at the end of the summer term. This academic year (2006-7) pupils will visit Na beautiful château in Normandy . As well as developing their language skills and using them “for real”, pupils will have the chance to sample French cooking, visit a number of important historical and geographical sites in the region and unwind whilst taking part in many of the Study Centre’s outdoor activities.
Until recently, all pupils studied French in Key Stage 4 and had the possibility of a study trip to France in the Easter of Year 10. This trip visited the Paris region and included visits to Notre Dame, la Conciergerie, the Bateaux Mouches and Disneyland Paris. The department hope to reinstate this trip as demand to study a language in Key Stage 4 grows.

Key Stage 3
All Key Stage 3 pupils study languages for three hours a week.
All pupils in Year 7 now follow the Voilà course, which offers a complete study course in Listening, Speaking, Reading and writing. The textbook adheres to the Key Stage 3 National Strategy Framework for teaching modern foreign languages.
In Years 8 and 9 all pupils study a combination of French and Spanish. French is studied for two hours per week and Spanish for one hour per week. The Spanish course is based around the Así package offering similar multimedia resources to the Voilà package used throughout KS3 French.