Head of Department |
Miss P Menhenitt |
Teachers |
Mrs S Cameron |
Mrs A Crompton |
Miss L Cross |
Mr O Flatley |
Mrs J Jones |
Miss J Lock |
Stanwell’s French Department is a thriving and successful department which has been at the forefront of the school’s success over the years. With seven members of staff, we offer a blend of youth and experience, all fully committed and enthusiastic with a wealth of skills and knowledge.
The department embraces all aspects of new technology in its teaching methods. We have a departmental trolley of Macbooks which allow pupils to practise their skills and extend their knowledge using specialist software and online learning facilities. The department subscribes to a number of language learning websites which are used by as part of classroom-based lessons with the interactive whiteboards, iPad technology and the Macbooks.
The department believes that an awareness of French culture and customs enhances pupils’ learning experiences and enjoyment. Year 7 pupils are offered the chance to visit the seaside town of Boulogne at the end of the summer term, whilst Year 8 are offered the opportunity to sample the cultural delights of Paris and the Parc Disneyland. In class pupils develop their understanding of French culture by learning about the Tour de France and Bastille Day, and also sampling the delights of le petit déjeuner français. European and World Cup tournaments offer the chance for class draws and a more competitive way of learning the names of foreign countries in the target language.
We firmly believe that pupils are motivated by positive encouragement. The department has a long-running successful reward scheme, which involves graded certificates, a monthly draw for the opportunity to win small prizes, and a termly draw for a voucher prize.
In Key stage 3 pupils are introduced to French and develop their language skills within the framework provided by the National Curriculum. They build up their knowledge and skills whilst exploring a range of familiar topics based on their personal experience. In Key Stage 3 pupils are allocated 2 lessons of French per week in Year 7. If you opt to study German in Year 8 pupils have 3 lessons of French per fortnight, whereas those pupils who do not study German have 2 lessons of French per week.
In Year 7 we learn about: introducing oneself, family and pets, school, routine, clothes, sports and free time.
In Year 8 we learn about: our home, local town, holidays, asking the way, daily routine, food and drink, shopping, a trip to Paris.
The main resource in our classrooms is the interactive whiteboard, where we use resources and games from language learning websites, as well as our own worksheets and booklets.
Pupils follow an adaptation of the Métro 1 and 2 (Heinemann) course. Pupils have access to the textbooks in school and each child is given their own workbook for each module studied.
Pupils are encouraged to speak French as much as possible in lessons in order to increase their confidence and improve their oral skills. Pupils learn through a balance of the four skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing, and these are all complemented by games and songs.
The GCSE course provides a natural progression from the work already done in Key Stage 3. It aims to develop the four language skills and to extend knowledge of the way the language works. Pupils follow the WJEC specification and study topics which build on their knowledge from KS3 such as family, home life, school and free time. In class the Expo text book is used.
Assessment is broken into four units:
Pupils sit an examination at the end of Year 11 during which they answer comprehension questions in English based on extracts of spoken French.
During the three year course pupils complete a number of speaking assessments with their teacher, which take the form of a structured conversation or a presentation and discussion. The best two are submitted to WJEC.
Pupils sit an examination at the end of Year 11 during which they answer comprehension questions in English based on texts of written French.
During the three year course pupils complete a number of written assessments with their teacher, which take the form of letters emails and blogs. The best two are submitted to WJEC.
There is no final exam to assess speaking or writing! It is 100% coursework!
This information will be updated in the summer of 2017 to give details of the new GCSE (first examination summer 2018).
Students are allocated 5 lessons per week and in addition they are offered after-school conversation lessons and grammar support. Students follow the WJEC syllabus.
The current Year 12 are following the new WJEC AS and A Level course. We study a number of topics with reference to French speaking countries as well as in a wider context.
Year 13 are currently following the WJEC A Level course (last examination summer 2017)
At A2 they are studying:
In addition, part of the current A2 course involves studying one film and one book from a prescribed list. This year we are doing Les Choristes and L’Etranger by Albert Camus.
The film forms the basis of a presentation and discussion in the oral examination (FN3) and the book is examined through an essay in French on the FN4 paper.
The two AS modules are as follows:
These units are assessed in the summer term of Year 12.
The three A2 modules are as follows:
At A2 there are currently 2 units (last examination 2017):
These units are assessed in the summer term of Y13.
Anyone who can speak French can communicate with around 200 million people in their own language as French is not only spoken in France but also in Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, several African nations and in many other countries around the world.
Speaking French is a real asset and can be combined with a degree in the sciences, law, business or politics. You often have the opportunity to spend a year abroad, studying your main subject in university in France, Belgium or even Canada.
Year 12 pupils attend a “Wales in Europe” event in City Hall in February, where they are able to sample new languages, attend grammar workshops and even learn Salsa dancing!
We have links with two lycées in France and the teachers there can find suitable penfriend partners for our students, with a view to a possible private exchange arrangement.
© 2014-2021 Ysgol Stanwell School. All rights reserved. Back to the top.