Starting Year 7 (6e): Helping pupils choose a 2nd Modern Language German is a passport for Europe! An asset to help you learn other languages: learning German is easier than one might think. It is also a springboard for the acquisition of other languages. It is an asset in a multilingual Europe. A language that is similar to English: a pupil who is learning English will make rapid progress in German because the two languages are similar. By learning one, they will strengthen their knowledge of the other… A logical grammar and simple rules: contrary to many preconceptions, German is not a difficult language which is only for the brightest of pupils. It is a logical language. Discovering a cultural dimension that is rich and diverse. German is the mother tongue of 97 million Europeans, in other words, of approximately one in five Europeans. German culture is an invitation to travel to a country of stunning diversity. German + English = a formula for success: in the search for a job, German is an asset because Germany is France’s main economic partner. German is the second most studied language, after English. The job market is demanding : companies increasingly want employees who are proficient in several foreign languages. RUSSIAN Which pupils is Russian for? Russian is for ALL pupils. You do not need to be of Russian descent or to have parents who have studied to study Russian. What do we do in Russian class? A lot of speaking, even as early as the first year. The main goal is to communicate: to understand and to make yourself understood. Some writing as well, of course. Pupils practise their writing skills between lessons; they also discover a country, a culture, a history and a set of traditions which are quite different. Is it difficult? The alphabet is not. It seems daunting, and yet pupils master it in a matter of months, to them it is like a game. Learning a modern language always requires work and effort. This is especially the case for Russian, because of its grammar (particularly its declensions) and its lexicons with Slavic roots which differ from ours. What are the keys to success when learning Russian? There is no inborn talent. Successful pupils are those who express an interest in this language and civilisation. A good memory and proficiency in the fundamentals of French grammar are very helpful. Russian requires rigour, intellectual flexibility, as well as consistency in your work (each year is built on the previous year’s foundations), a sense of organisation and perseverance. Is it useful for the future? The number of former pupils who later continue studying Russian in parallel with their training is surprising. Studying Russian undeniably requires effort, but there is then a genuine satisfaction in speaking and understanding this language. The discovery of Russia fascinates. Choosing Russian means playing the originality card, proving one’s openness and curiosity, which is much appreciated during a university or job interview. It means speaking a language that few foreigners speak, the language of a country and region experiencing rapid transformation and growth. Pupils should not forget that the choice of a second modern language is above all theirs to make, and should be informed by their desire to discover this language. Page 1 sur 2
35 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2DG
Tel : +44 (0)20 7584 6322
Fax: +44 (0)20 7823 7684
http://www.lyceefrancais.org.uk
ITALIAN The objective is to prepare pupils for oral and written communication through various activities (in class): reading texts about daily life or about various aspects of Italy’s civilisation, listening exercises, dialogues, as well as playful activities. Homework: learning vocabulary words by heart, or declensions of irregular verbs, and once a week, writing a paper to be submitted to the teacher. Class work: correcting exercises, revising the previous lesson through questions to pupils, and finally: a test every fortnight. Curriculum: acquiring grammar notions must enable simple language utterances. At the end of year 8 (5e), pupils will be able to introduce themselves, to speak about themselves, about their family, about leisure and interests; they will have learnt to ask for, and convey simple information to an Italian interlocutor and they will also be able to write small essays without the assistance of a dictionary. SPANISH The objective is to focus on comprehension and expression, on communication between pupils, as well as with their environment. Culture, civilisation, and linguistic contributions are studied by means of authentic and diverse documents (songs, poems, texts, dialogues with adapted acoustics) and of varied pedagogical approaches, in the spirit of interdisciplinary learning and active participation from each pupil. Studying grammar points and other linguistic phenomena, memorising, appropriating the language and encouraging reflection are all objectives of each lesson. THIS YEAR’S THEME: Introducing yourself; introducing others, speaking to adults, discussing someone’s profession, roots, discovering Hispanic celebrities ; speaking about your daily life, your obligations, discovering other lifestyles ; placing yourself in time, speaking about time, about the weather and seasons ; introducing your family, speaking about parents/children relationships, giving a presentation on a film, an advert, a comic strip, giving advice, orders ; traditional holidays of Spain and Latin America; speaking about your friends, expressing your opinion, reminiscing, writing a letter ; the press, books, reading a tale ; spotting information in a documentary text, traveling in Latin America, discovering pre‐Colombian cultures.
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35 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2DG
Tel : +44 (0)20 7584 6322
Fax: +44 (0)20 7823 7684
http://www.lyceefrancais.org.uk