The MFL Department is committed to developing our pupils’ linguistic skills along with their confidence through a well-designed and imaginative programme, whilst naturally, preparing them for the demands of the exam boards and beyond.
T
he three main languages offered are French, German and Spanish, which are examined at GSCE, IGCSE, A Level and IB Diploma. Modern Languages teaching takes place in the Modern Languages Centre, which is fully equipped with a state-of-the-art digital Language Laboratory. Information Technology is widely used and the Department’s resources library contains a selection of foreign language CD-ROMS and DVDs. In addition, there is an extensive collection of foreign language books and magazines in the School Library and pupils are encouraged to follow the news regularly.
All pupils joining the School in the Shells (Year 9) have a choice of two languages from French, German, Spanish and Ancient Greek. After Shells, all pupils continue with at least one modern language to GCSE and a large number take two modern languages to GCSE.
In the Sixth Form, pupils can opt for French, German or Spanish at A Level or they can also choose to study these languages as part of an IB Diploma course at both Higher and Standard Levels.
In addition to the mainstream languages, it may be possible to study Italian, Japanese, Russian, Mandarin and Arabic. Teaching can usually be arranged in these subjects for pupils joining the School who already have experience of these languages; however Russian, Japanese, Mandarin and Arabic can only be studied ‘off timetable’ unless pupils choose the IB Diploma in the Sixth Form. In all cases this will need to be negotiated with the Head of Modern Languages and the Academic Director when, and if, the appropriate resources are available. We also do our utmost to meet the needs of bilingual students.
The Linguanaut is a termly languages magazine produced by pupils that offers an impressively wide-ranging selection of topics, written in an equally diverse collection of languages. Click on the image above to read the latest edition.
We offer a variety of activities and visits abroad on a year-by-year basis. For example, a language study trip to Andalusia, a Swiss exchange, and trips to Christmas Markets in Germany and Berlin. We also run very successful languages societies. Pupils regularly take part in cultural evenings; watching films in French, German or Spanish, attending conferences, discussing books, or acting in a foreign language or workshops.
Head of Department: Marie-Laure Delvallée
STAFF
| Marie-Laure Delvallée | MA, BA, Université du Littoral (Head of French) |
| Jamie Davies | BA, University College, Durham (Head of Spanish) |
| Suzanne Arbuthnot | BA, Queen’s University, Belfast |
| Stuart Bartholomew | MA, late Exhibitioner of Jesus College, Oxford |
| Solana Cabello Malfetano | BA, University of Malaga |
| David Caro Solano | MEd, University of New South Wales; PgD, Macquarie University; BA, University of Western Sydney |
| Nick Coram-Wright | MA, St Andrews University |
| Robert Cottrell | BA, University of Southampton; PGCE University of Buckingham |
| Paula Diaz Rogado | BA, Univeristy of Salamanca |
| Ann-Laure Davies | Master FLE, BA, University of Pau |
| Patrick Herring | BA, Gonville and Caius, Cambridge |
| Linda Raabe-Marjot | BA, St Edmund Hall, Oxford |
| Svenja Schmidt | MA, Goethe Universität Frankfurt; PGCE, Oxford University |
| Nicoletta Simborowski | MA, Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford |
| Dr Paolo Torri | PhD, University of Leuven; MA, BA, University of Milan |
| Language Assistants: | |
| Aline Gay | French |
| Anna-Lisa Vorbrugg | German |
| Safae Samadi El Idrissi | Spanish |
| Other languages: | |
| M-T Caprotti | Italian |
| P Chen | Mandarin |
| JP Fan | Mandarin |
| S Richardson | Japanese |
| M Takriti | Arabic |
| N Walker | Russian |
| Lucy Bentley | Modern Languages technician |