Modern Languages
Arabic Chinese French German Spanish
Head of Department: Miss S.J. Davidson
Modern Language Trips 2010 -11
The Modern Languages Department teaches French, German and Spanish throughout the School. In addition Mandarin and Cantonese are available as options for some pupils.
The Department is housed in the Gascoigne Building where accommodation comprises eight full-size classrooms, six smaller rooms for use by Sixth Form pupils and the language assistants and two 28 position language laboratories. Of the latter, one is a Tandberg IS 10, where half the positions are equipped with video facilities, and the other a fully multimedia Divace system, installed at Easter 2004, which, in addition to the normal language laboratory functions not only enables controlled access to foreign satellite broadcasts and the Internet but also allows pupils to use a wealth of digitised audio and video material in the foreign languages for private study.
Throughout the School, primacy is given to the spoken language and pupils
are given the opportunity to speak the languages as much as possible. To this
end trips and exchanges are offered at all levels and pupils are encouraged
to see such trips as an important and integral part of their studies, especially
at Sixth Form level. However at the same time a rigorous approach to learning
is developed and pupils acquire a firm grammatical foundation on which to
build as well as developing some knowledge of the culture of the countries
where the languages are spoken.
French
Head of French: Mr S. Jessop
See new French Department pages here.
German
Head of German: Miss S.J. Davidson
The Department is staffed by:
Miss S.J. Davidson MA
Herr J. Rohrborn MA
Frl C. Hoth (German Assistant)
Mr T. D. Watson MA
Course Content
2nd and 3rd Form
No previous knowledge of the language is assumed though in practice a small minority of pupils does arrive with some previous experience. At this stage the basic grammatical foundations are laid and all four linguistic skills are developed, though the emphasis is placed on enjoyment and using the language productively. Some Third Year pupils have the opportunity of taking part in trip to Cologne at the end of the Christmas Quarter.GCSE
In addition to following the AQA non-modular specification pupils in the Fourth and Fifth years are encouraged to broaden their understanding of the language and culture through music, poetry, film and song. At GCSE most candidates take the Writing Test option though some will offer the Coursework alternative if it be thought more appropriate for them to do so. All sets take their GCSE examination at the end of the Fifth Year; however in the Fifth Form the top sets begin a transition course designed to facilitate the transition to Advanced Level work. Fourth Year pupils are encouraged to take part in the Easter exchange with a Gymnasium in Hamburg.AS and A2
The AQA specification is again followed; and the Coursework option in the Upper Sixth Form. Great emphasis is placed on studying the various themes in a German context, so much use is made of extracts from German newspapers, magazines and television broadcasts. As 35% of the examination is made up of the oral component, particular importance is attached to developing fluency and maturity of expression. Every Sixth Form pupil has one lesson a week with the German Assistentin and is encouraged when in the Upper Sixth to take part in the study trip to Berlin in October in addition to participating in the Work Experience exchange in Hamburg offered to Lower Sixth Form pupils during the Easter holidays. The Course Work option enables each pupil to study a broad range of German literature but also affords the opportunity of examining other aspects of German culture or society expressed in film and music.Spanish
Head of Spanish: Mrs N.M. Mola
The Department is staffed by:
Mr B. Béjoint, L-ès-L
Mr M. P. Bolger, BA MLL
Miss L M Eich M.Ed
Mr S. T. Forge, MA
Mr P. J. Lewins MA
Miss H F P Machin BA
Mrs N. M. Mola, BA MA
Sta A Ruiz Laigle, Spanish Assistant
Course Content
3rd Form
No previous knowledge of the language is assumed though in practice a small minority of pupils does arrive with some previous experience. At this stage the basic grammatical foundations are laid and all four linguistic skills are developed, though the emphasis is placed on enjoyment and using the language productivelyGCSE
The course followed is the AQA non-modular specification. Most pupils take the Writing Test option though some will offer the Coursework alternative if it is thought more appropriate for them to do so. All sets take their GCSE examination at the end of the Fifth Year; however in the Fifth Form the top sets begin a transition course designed to facilitate the transition to Advanced Level work. Fourth Year pupils are encouraged to take part in the Easter exchange with our partner school Colegio Salesiano in CádizAS and A2
The AQA specification is again followed; and the Coursework option is taken in the Upper Sixth Form. Great emphasis is placed on studying the various themes in a Spanish context, so much use is made of extracts from Spanish newspapers, magazines and television broadcasts. As 35% of the examination is made up of the oral component, particular importance is attached to developing fluency and maturity of expression. Every Sixth Form pupil has one lesson a week with the Spanish assistant and is encouraged when in the Upper Sixth to take part in the study trip to either Madrid, Barcelona or Seville in October. It is hoped that we will run a joint History and Spanish trip to Mexico in summer 2006 and we seek at all times to encourage cross-curricular links. The Coursework option enables each pupil to study a broad range of Hispanic literature, but also affords the opportunity of examining other aspects of Hispanic culture or society expressed in film and music. A significant number of pupils go on to study Spanish at University, including Oxford and Cambridge, sometimes combining it with other languages or with other subjects such as History, English, Economics or Philosophy.Chinese
Head of Chinese: Mr H Yan
The department is staffed by:
Mr H. Yan
Miss Y Wen (Chinese Assistant)
Course content
The Mandarin Chinese Department at Oundle continues to grow, reflecting the subject’s increasing importance to Oundelians’ future in terms of economic, political and cultural influence. Chinese is available in the Third Form to pupils who wish to sit Chinese GCSE at the end of the Fifth Form. Chinese is also offered to those pupils who take French GCSE early as an option in the Fifth Form, and is available as an extension course in the Sixth Form.
Asset languages offer a highly structured and challenging system of assessment. Through the Breakthrough, Preliminary and Intermediate exams, each skill is assessed separately; following Intermediate, GCSE Chinese is offered to particularly strong linguists, and represents a real challenge for our brightest pupils. Resources used include the Ni Hao and Chinese Made Easy textbooks.
Pupils have gone on to study Chinese at university with great success, and OOs are currently studying at Cambridge, Edinburgh, SOAS and Leeds.
History, current affairs and the culture of the Chinese will form an important part of the curriculum, and the activities and trips organised by the Chinese Society would also be available to pupils, including the annual China Trip. In recent years we have travelled to Beijing, Xi’an, Pingyao and accompanied the school Drama department on their highly successful production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at a high school in Shanghai. We welcome guest speakers regularly, and organise expeditions to important exhibitions such as the Terracotta Warriors at the British Museum.
Native speakers are welcome to Chinese Society activities, and can be taught all the way up to full A-level by our native speaker Chinese assistant. Lessons are arranged according to the department’s assessment of the pupil’s level. Our results in the Edexcel GCSE or A Level Chinese examinations are strong, and pupils may sit the papers in either Mandarin or Cantonese.
Arabic
Head of Arabic: Mr C. Nacef
Course Content
Arabic is available in the Sixth Form as a beginner's course, or to those who wish to continue their study from the Fifth Form. The course focuses on developing the ability to communicate in the Arabic language – Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). It begins with learning the script and phonology, and develops into a limited range of situation-based conversations and topics that build vocabulary, grammar, general communicative competence and cultural awareness.
Activities
The Arabic Society’s aim is to offer various trips and activities organized by the pupils and guest speakers. Oundle School took part in National Events (e.g. Eton National Arabic Text Declamation) and the Oundelians were highly commended.
Certification
The course is currently certified under OCR’s Asset Languages Scheme (www.assetlanguages.org.uk). So far, we have had very encouraging results as all pupils have gained high marks and have been awarded certificates stating their level of competence in Arabic. Plans are to offer Arabic for GCSE level (Edexcel) for the strong linguists who study Arabic starting from the Third Form.
As the popularity of the Arabic course is growing, more and more pupils are
taking it as their main or subsidiary subject at University: Arabic, Arabic
and Spanish, Arabic and Oriental Studies, Arabic and Farsi. Most offers have
come from Oxford and Cambridge and SAOS.