Modern Foreign Languages
The Department is committed to developing our students’ linguistic skills along with their confidence, through a well-designed and imaginative programme.
At The Oratory students are required to do at least one language, whether Modern or Classical, and may do two or even three. The Modern Languages available are French and Spanish as our main options. Other languages are also available upon request including Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese and Russian.
A language GCSE and a certain competence in a given language are considered by many employers to be a highly attractive skill for future employment.
Languages A Level
By the end of the course, students will be able to express their views on a wide range of current issues, research topics, and develop presentation and essay-writing skills. Students will also find they have learnt much more than a language. Ideally, students should be good linguists, with a desire to improve their fluency, and a willingness to learn about different cultures and to communicate.
About
Bonjour. Buenos días. Buongiorno. 你好. こんにちは. Привет.
Learning another language will enable you to stand out from the crowd when applying for competitive university courses or job opportunities. By learning a foreign language, you will improve your communication, memory, multi-tasking and problem-solving skills. You will also enhance your knowledge of foreign cultures. These are very marketable skills for your future life and career, especially in combination with other subjects such as Maths and Science.
At The Oratory, students are required to study at least one language, whether Modern or Classical, and may do two or even three. The Modern Languages available are French and Spanish as our main options. Other languages are also available upon request including Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese and Russian.
Mr Mike Naish – Head of Modern Foreign Languages
Curriculum
GCSE
Students at The Oratory must choose a language GCSE at the end of the 3rd Form. Success at GCSE in Modern Languages comes with proper preparation; a detailed knowledge of the syllabus content and exam technique; using a wide variety of relevant topic-specific vocabulary and manipulating a range of different tenses. We follow the two-year Edexcel IGCSE course for French and Spanish. The course is divided equally in terms of marks between listening, speaking, reading and writing assessments.
A Level
Modern Languages at A Level is a rigorous and highly respected academic subject. As a facilitating subject, it will equip students with a range of very useful skills including debating, presentation, listening, research, translation and essay writing skills. Students are required to study a range of cultural topics including a literary and film option. They must also conduct research on a cultural topic of their own choice as part of the speaking exam. We follow the AQA A Level course for French and Spanish.
Find out more about Modern Language at A Level courses here: 6th Form Options Booklet.
Co-Curricular
Regular lunchtime Language Clinics – to assist students who may need extra help in improving their language skills.
Tuesday lunchtime (1.20pm – 1.50pm) for all 5th Form Spanish students
Spanish IGCSE drop-in booster session with Mr Naish
Wednesday lunchtime (1.20pm – 1.50pm) for all 5th Form French students
French IGCSE drop-in booster session with Mrs Peyri-Walker
We would highly recommend participation in these sessions, which are offered all year round, especially in the final months before the IGCSE exams. These sessions are highly focused on vocabulary learning, exam and revision techniques, and exam practice in real-life conditions.
