Modern Languages

The three main languages taught at Eltham College are French (from Year 7), German (from Year 8) and Spanish (from Year 9). From September 2010 all Year 7 pupils will be taught two Mandarin lessons each week. All pupils study French in Years 7 and 8; provision is made for both beginners and for those who have already learnt some French. German is taught to all pupils in Year 8. In Year 9, pupils opt for three languages from Spanish, Latin, French and German. All boys take one modern European language to GCSE and many take a second. Our aim is to provide choice: by the end of Year 9, pupils will have received exposure to a variety of languages and are free to choose the language to which they are best suited. Please see Middle School Languages notes.

The departmental philosophy is to create an enthusiastic environment in which pupils discover an individual talent to communicate with a world beyond South East London. Active participation is encouraged to give pupils a sense of ease and the confidence to think on their feet and to take charge in unfamiliar environments. In the Sixth Form we teach literature. Under the banner of The Modern Languages Society we take full advantage of all that London offers in terms of cinema and theatre. Above all, the Department travels and maintains links with schools in France and Germany which go back over a quarter of a century. We run annual study visits to Barcelona and Salamanca, as well as bolder trips to Cuba and Mexico.

The Department comprises six full-time members of staff: Mr B Pollard (Head of Modern Languages and Head of German) joined the School in 1999 from Christ's College, Cambridge and has led the German Department since 2003 and took over the running of Modern Languages in January 2008. He spent a year as a Languages Assistant at the Bertolt Brecht Schule in Nuremberg, to which he returns each year with the Lower Sixth Exchange.

The other full time teachers are Miss L Scarantino (Head of French), Ms S Dunne (Head of Spanish), Mr P Cheshire, Mr P Howls, Mr D Boudon; Ms Rosado teaches Spanish part-time. There are four languages assistants for French (Mrs A Senior), Spanish (Mrs I Sadler)and German (Mr M Stickings and Mrs A Classen). They prepare A Level pupils for their speaking exams and teach Sixth Formers one-to-one and in pairs on a weekly basis. The Department has a Languages Technician and is well equipped with a Sanako languages laboratory, interactive whiteboards and a digitised satellite system.