Modern Languages Teaching and Learning

Teaching

Pupils all learn a new language by listening to and participating in conversations. The emphasis must be put on to teaching in the Target Language and teaching the use of classroom or ‘pupil-pupil’ target language. It is essential that pupils see French or Spanish as a real form of communication not just as an abstract concept or an academic subject. All pupils should be actively involved in each lesson as early as possible.
Each pupil is given his own textbook and is asked to take care of it. This book will be supplemented by worksheets, realia, ICT materials and much more. Each boy will undertake work that is stimulating and. There will be work which they can do in pairs, groups, whole class and individually.

Learning

Pupils learn in a variety of ways and a good Modern Languages teacher will challenge each pupil and incorporate a variety of different teaching styles into their lessons in order to cover all 4 skills. (Listening, reading, writing and speaking). Although the recent trends in Modern Languages have been to use the ‘communicative method’ and concentrate on the children speaking the language, we must not ignore grammar.

ICT and other teaching aids will be used. (e.g. the language laboratory, the overhead projectors, the satellite TV/ video, tapes, songs, realia, flashcards etc.)
It is one of the main aims of the Modern Languages department to teach pupils to become ‘independent learners’ and staff allow them access to ‘self-access’ materials and set pupils work / projects which require independent research.
It is also our aim to expose pupils to as many appropriate cultural activities and opportunities as possible. We look to take pupils to theatre and films in the foreign language, to talks and lectures about the language or country, to hold food and drink events related to the country and of course run annual trips.