Modern Languages

                                    Year 11 in Seville, October 2011

The latest educational review by the UK Government returns languages to the core of the National Curriculum. The importance of communicating with our neighbours in Europe and beyond has always been recognized by the Eltham College Languages Department. All boys take one modern foreign language to GCSE, with many taking a second. Languages are a popular choice in the Sixth Form, with a good numbers of pupils studying Languages at University.

The Lower School Curriculum is based on the principle of exposing the boys to as wide a range of different languages as possible. GCSE choices are made in Year 9, enabling the boys to choose the language to which they are most suited.

In Year 7, all boys learn both French and, since September 2010, Mandarin. French is taught in forms; there are parallel Mandarin sets for beginners and for the boys who have already learnt Mandarin at the Eltham College Junior School. In Year 8, boys choose two of French, Mandarin and Latin, as well as learning German. In Year 9, they can start Spanish; they choose three languages from French, Spanish, German, Latin and Mandarin. The GCSE courses begin in Year 10, when all boys must study one modern language and there is an option to do a two-year GCSE course in Russian as a second foreign language.  There is a thriving Japanese club which meets once a week.

In the Sixth Form, pupils take up to two modern foreign languages. Languages also work well as a fourth A Level option for scientists, historians, economists and mathematicians in search of a broader education. We follow the AQA courses for both GCSE and A Level. This allows us the flexibility to continue the study of literature in the Upper Sixth. There is a thriving Modern Languages Society, which organizes events in and out of school, as well as an annual Dinner.

The Head of Modern Languages is Mr. Ben Pollard, who is also Head of German. Head of French is Miss Lucia Scarantino; Ms. Sharon Dunne is Head of Spanish. Mr. Peter Howls is in charge of Russian. There are six full time members of staff, two part time teachers and four Foreign Language Assistants, who work with A Level pupils on a one-to-one basis in preparation for speaking exams. Mrs S. McCafferty runs the Media Resources Centre, where all pupils benefit from the very latest technology and access to authentic resources.

The most frequently asked question by visitors to the Department is whether we run trips. We believe that Exchanges, study trips and cultural visits are the most important aspect of our work, and many of our exchanges have been running for over thirty years. The list of journeys past, present and future includes Paris, Laval, Nice, Monaco, Berlin, Nuremberg, Vienna, Minden, Mexico, Cuba, Posadas, Barcelona, Salamanca, Valencia, Jerez and Beijing. Click here for full details of our trips.

We recently welcomed a group from a school in Barsbüttel, near Hamburg.

More detailed information can be found on the individual languages pages.