Why learn a Foreign Language? We teach 3 Modern Foreign Languages at Upper Batley High School – French, Spanish and Urdu - and our aim is to support and help learners develop their use of the Foreign Language in the classroom and beyond. We are a team of dedicated staff willing to instil the love of languages in our learners’ minds and hearts. Learners profit from a wide range of learning styles and activities which provide them with not only a well-rounded knowledge of the language that they are studying, but also a broadened perspective of the culture and the people of the countries where the language is spoken.

In addition, they get to learn much more about how English works alongside other languages, discovering its many similarities and shared vocabulary, expanding their range of English vocabulary in the process.
 

During their languages journey, learners develop a solid understanding of the mechanics of how to successfully learn another language whilst developing their skills of communications, analysis, deduction and how to overcome communication barriers, instilling into them a greater confidence to communicate in another language in a variety of real-life situations. On top of this, learners are provided with a wide range of opportunities to develop their intra-personal skills such as collaboration in group and partner work scenarios, reasoning, problem-solving and analysis all the while whilst building up their levels of literacy, auracy and oracy.
 

The school subscribes to a number of online educational sites offering an inclusive and varied learning environment. In languages, we make sure learners are happy, safe, engaged and learn new things about the world whilst experimenting with new vocabulary, ideas and activities.

In particular, Spanish is the fastest growing language on the internet and has overtaken French and German in recent years due to its accessibility and cultural relevance. Spanish is now the third most spoken language in the world behind English and Mandarin Chinese. It is a recognised official language of both the European Union and the United Nations as well as being the unofficial second language of the United States of America, which boasts more native Spanish speakers than Spain.

Outline of Course Content - Spanish

Year 7 topics include :-

·         Unit 1 – Mi familia y yo (My family and me) - numbers / alphabet / dates / personal details / colours/ family/ pets

·         Unit 2 – Mi vida escolar (my school life) - school subjects / School uniform / opinions / school rules / time / school facilities

·         Unit 3 Mi tiempo libre (my free time) – free time activities / sport / music / technology / weather

·         Unit 4 Cultural project: Encanto (Rated U) – A project about Colombia and the popular film “Encanto”

Year 8 topics include :-

·         Unit 1 – Mi ciudad (my city) – towns and cities / places in town / directions / past and future tenses

·         Unit 2 – A comer (let’s eat) – food / drink / ordering in a restaurant / diet / past and future tenses revisited

·         Unit 3 – Mis vaccaciones (my holidays) – Holiday activities / countries / modes of transport / accommodation / conditional tenses

·         Unit 4 – Cultural project: Coco (rated U) – A research project centred around the film “coco” and Mexico

 

year 8 options:

At Upper Batley High school we believe learners should be given a choice of language earlier than GCSE so that they can experience other languages and make an properly informed decision at the end of key stage 3 with regards to their language of choice.

Learners will therefore get to chose to switch to the other language of French, Spanish (if not already stuying) or Urdu. As such there is some crossover with topics in year 9
 

Year 9 topics include :-

·         Unit 1 – La gente del mundo hispano (Celebrity culture/ describing people) – Describing family members/ researching famous Spanish speakers, learning about the positives and negativities of fame

·         Unit 2 – La moda de hoy (todays’ fashion/trends) – clothing/shopping/social media/ traditions then vs now/ books/ film

·         Unit 3 – Vamos a visitar el mundo hispano (holidays) – case studies of Spanish speaking countries / destinations / transport / accommodation / past holiday details / future and ideal holiday details

·         Unit 4 – Cultural project: Voces innocents (rated 12). Studying the geopolitical struggles of Latin America through a film project about the El Salvadorian civil war

GCSE Course (Y10 – 11)

Over 2 years, learners will study a number of topics across the following 3 themes :-

Theme 1: People and lifestyle

Theme 1 covers the following three topics:

Topic 1: Identity and relationships with others

Topic 2: Healthy living and lifestyle

Topic 3: Education and work

Theme 2: Popular culture

Theme 2 covers the following three topics:

Topic 1: Free-time activities

Topic 2: Customs, festivals and celebrations

Topic 3: Celebrity culture

Theme 3: Communication and the world around us

Theme 3 covers the following three topics:

Topic 1: Travel and tourism, including places of interest

Topic 2: Media and technology

Topic 3: The environment and where people live

AQA is our chosen exam board.

GCSE: One Reading and one Listening exam at the end of Year 11, totalling 25% of the total mark as well as sitting a Writing exam and before all of these a Speaking exam. Pupils will be entered at either Higher Tier (access to grades 9-4) or at Foundation Tier (access to grades 5-1) according to their ability. 
 

Extracurricular and Enrichment Opportunities

At the end of Y8, classes get to experience an authentic French/ Spanish café environment, with learners taking on the roles of waiters and customers, being able to order their food and drink from their fellow learners. 

In addition, we deliver master classes before and after school for our Y11 learners in order to support and reinforce their learning supplementing the content and skills covered in timetabled lessons.

It is hoped that in the next few years it will be possibly to launch trips to various locations to bring the language to life for learners. This includes the Spanish language school in Leeds (Instituto Cervantes) who offer speaking workshops with native speakers. In addition to this it is hoped that a trip to Barcelona may be launched in the next few years for year 8 and year 9 learners to be able to experience the cultural and linguistic benefits of travel to Barcelona and put their language skills into practice under the close supervision of their teachers in a cross curricular trip.
 

Resources to support learning

Learners are provided with vocabulary booklets, Spanish phonics sheets in their books, revision guides and dictionaries (available at GCSE level at discounted rates), Conversation booklets, Role-Play and Photocard practice booklets (GCSE level) as well as unitised practice exam booklets for listening and reading exams at both tiers.

In addition, Spanish provides access to app and online-based vocabulary learning tools with the current KS3 and GCSE cohorts such as Quizlet and kerboodle.