Languages Faculty

Ms M Aleman- alemanm@denbigh.net
Miss S Dos Santos Jimenes– jimeness@denbigh.net
Mrs C Flowers– flowersc@denbigh.net
Ms C Jolley– jolleyc@denbigh.net
Mrs L Mayhew- mayhewl@denbigh.net
Mrs A Moody- moodya@denbigh.net
Mr A Ozgul- ozgula@denbigh.net
Mrs J Saunders- saundersj@denbigh.net
Ms M Smart- smartm@denbigh.net
Mrs E Thompson- thompsone@denbigh.net

Faculty Introduction

At Denbigh School we are in the fortunate position to offer teaching in French, Spanish and German. You and your child will choose the language you wish to study prior to starting Denbigh School. As it forms part of the EBacc, most students will continue to study a language in Years 10 and 11.

We are also able to offer Italian and Turkish as options in the 6th Form as part of the enrichment programme. Additionally, assistance can be given for other languages at GCSE level.

The Languages Faculty run exchanges with schools & students in France & Germany as we have excellent links with schools in Caen and Schwerte. At A-Level we run a Work Experience programme for A-Level German and French students. Over the years this has been very successful enabling students to acquire work skills as well as being fully immersed in the language they are studying.

Learning a language is vital. Only 6% of the world’s population speaks English as a native language.

Competency in a foreign language is an important skill for the 21st Century. If we are to ensure that the UK remains globally competitive in the current and ever-changing landscape, we need all of our young people to be given the chance to acquire these vital skills. We also know that employers value employees with good language skills.

Students develop communication skills on an inter-personal level for an increasingly global, high-tech economy. From conversation to e-mail to video-conferencing our students prepare to become citizens of a multinational society.

Developing an understanding of another culture is another key aspect of learning a language. As well as learning grammar and vocabulary, learning about the traditions, festivals and culture of other countries is equally important and we have themed lessons at various parts of the year.

Key Words for Year 7 Languages – Spring

Key Term	Definition
Verb	A verb is a word used to describe an action, state or occurrence. Verbs can be used to describe an action, that’s doing something. For example, like the word ‘jumping’ in this sentence: The rabbit was jumping in the field.   They can also be used to describe a state of being, that’s feeling something. For example, the word ‘likes’ here: The monster likes rollercoasters.   Or a verb can be used to describe an occurrence, that’s something happening. For example, the word ‘became’ in this sentence: The caterpillar became a butterfly. When writing, make sure every sentence includes a verb.
Noun	A noun is the name of a thing, such as an object, a place, or a person. Nouns are often described as naming words. There are different types of nouns, such as: concrete, abstract, proper and collective.
Adjective	Adjectives describe nouns to tell you more about something. Adjectives come in several varieties, including descriptive, quantitative, superlative and comparative. Using adjectives is particularly important in descriptive writing.
Gender	In many languages, the noun has a particular gender – masculine, feminine or neuter. This tells us how the word needs to be changed when used in sentences and combined with other words.
Singular	A singular noun refers to one person or thing.
Plural	A plural noun is referring to more than one person or thing.
Connective	Connectives are linking words used to join phrases together to create longer, more fluent sentences.
Opinion	Giving a view about something; this could be positive or negative.
Reason	This is used to explain a certain opinion you may have.
Tense	Tenses are used with verbs.  They tell us when an event is taking place.  It could be in the past, present or the future.

Key Words for Year 8 Languages – Spring

Key Term	Definition
Verb	A verb is a word used to describe an action, state or occurrence. Verbs can be used to describe an action, that’s doing something. For example, like the word ‘jumping’ in this sentence: The rabbit was jumping in the field.   They can also be used to describe a state of being, that’s feeling something. For example, the word ‘likes’ here: The monster likes rollercoasters.   Or a verb can be used to describe an occurrence, that’s something happening. For example, the word ‘became’ in this sentence: The caterpillar became a butterfly. When writing, make sure every sentence includes a verb.
Noun	A noun is the name of a thing, such as an object, a place, or a person. Nouns are often described as naming words. There are different types of nouns, such as: concrete, abstract, proper and collective.
Adjective	Adjectives describe nouns to tell you more about something. Adjectives come in several varieties, including descriptive, quantitative, superlative and comparative. Using adjectives is particularly important in descriptive writing.
Gender	In many languages, the noun has a particular gender – masculine, feminine or neuter. This tells us how the word needs to be changed when used in sentences and combined with other words.
Singular	A singular noun refers to one person or thing.
Plural	A plural noun is referring to more than one person or thing.
Connective	Connectives are linking words used to join phrases together to create longer, more fluent sentences.
Opinion	Giving a view about something; this could be positive or negative.
Reason	This is used to explain a certain opinion you may have.
Tense	Tenses are used with verbs.  They tell us when an event is taking place. It could be in the past, present or the future.

Year 7

	Spanish	French	German
Autumn 1st half term	Mi vida	An introduction to French	Meine Welt und ich
Autumn 2nd half term	Mi tiempo libre	An introduction to French Describing people	Familie und Tiere
Spring 1st half term	Mi insti	Describing people School	Freizeit – juhu!
Spring 2nd half term	Mi insti	Hobbies and past-times	Schule ist klasse!
Summer 1st half term	Mi ciudad	Town	Gute Reise!
Summer 2nd half term	Mi ciudad	Holidays	Gute Reise!

Year 8

	Spanish	French	German
Autumn 1st half term	My holidays	Free time activities	Holidays
Autumn 2nd half term	My holidays All about my free time	Paris	Free time and Media
Spring 1st half term	Food	Identity	Food and Healthy Lifestyles
Spring 2nd half term	Getting ready to go out	House and home	Daily Routine & Travel
Summer 1st half term	Getting ready to go out	Talent	Festivals
Summer 2nd half term	The Summer holidays	Talent	Fashion and Going Out

Year 9

	Spanish	French	German
Autumn 1st half term	Somos así	Ma vie sociale d’ado	Vorbilder
Autumn 2nd half term	Oriéntate	Bien dans sa peau	Musik
Spring 1st half term	En forma	À l’horizon	Meine Ambitionen
Spring 2nd half term	Jóvenes en acción	Spécial vacances	Die Kindheit
Summer 1st half term	Jóvenes en acción/Una aventura en Madrid	Moi dans le monde	Rechte und Pflichten
Summer 2nd half term	Una aventura en Madrid	Moi dans le monde	Rechte und Pflichten

Year 10

	Spanish	French	German
Autumn 1st half term	Desconéctate	Qui suis-je?	School
Autumn 2nd half term	Mi vida en el insti	Le temps des loisirs	Free time / leisure
Spring 1st half term	Mi gente	Jours ordinaires jours de fête	Family and Relationships
Spring 2nd half term	Mi gente	De la ville à la campagne	Home / Healthy Lifestyle
Summer 1st half term	Intereses e influencias	Le grand Large	Travel
Summer 2nd half term	Revision	Grammar	Grammar review

Year 11

	Spanish	French	German
Autumn 1st half term	Intereses e influencias	De la ville à la campagne	Home / Healthy Lifestyle
Autumn 2nd half term	Ciudades	Le Grand Large	Travel
Spring 1st half term	De costumbre	Au collège	Holidays and at home
Spring 2nd half term	Hacia un mundo mejor	Bon travail Un œil sur le monde	Work and employment / Social issues
Summer 1st half term	Jóvenes en acción/ Una Aventura en Madrid	Revision	Environment
Summer 2nd half term	Una Aventura en Madrid	TBC	TBC

Year 12

	Spanish	French	German
Autumn 1st half term	PART 1:Modern and traditional values PART 2:Internet and cyberspace	La famille en voie de changement La « cyber-société »	Familie in Wandel Die digitale Welt
Autumn 2nd half term	PART 1:Sexual equality PART 2:Celebrity influences	Cultural Theme Une culture fière de son patrimoine	Jugendkultur Feste und Traditionen
Spring 1st half term	PART 1: Cultural topic: Film: El laberinto del fauno PART 2:Regional identity in Spain	Le rôle du bénévolat La musique francophone contemporaine	Filmdossie Kunst und Architektur
Spring 2nd half term	PART 1:Cultural topic: Film: El laberinto del fauno PART 2:El patrimonio cultural	Cinéma: le septième art Cultural Theme	Filmdossier Das Berliner Kulturleben damals und heute
Summer 1st half term	Revision	Revision	Revision
Summer 2nd half term	PART 1:La inmigración PART 2:Las polítcas	Les aspects positifs d’une société diverse Quelle vie pour les marginalisés?	Preparation for A2

Year 13

	Spanish	French	German
Autumn 1st half term	Theme 4b :Aspects of political life in the Hispanic world. Theme 3b: Multiculturalism in Hispanic society. El racismo	Diversité – un aprentissage pour la vie. Quelles attitudes envers les marginalisés? Quelles attitudes envers la criminalité? Pour ou contre le droit de vote	Multiculturalism in German-speaking society
Autumn 2nd half term	Theme 4c: Los movimientos populares. Theme 3c: Multiculturalism in Hispanic society. L a convivencia.	La prison: échec ou succès? D’autres sanctions Les ados et l’engagement politique Individual research project Quel avenir pour la politique? Independent research project	Aspects of political life in the German-speaking world Filmdossier Individual Research Project Revision of AS Topics
Winter 1st half term	Research Project Theme 3c : Literary text La casa de Bernarda Alba.	Le pouvoir des syndicats Manifestations et grèves Individual research project	Literaturdossier Individual Research Project
Winter 2nd half term	AS topics revisión	Attitudes différents envers ces tensions politiques Individual research project Revision of Year 12 topics	Exam skills preparation and practice
Summer 1st half term	La igualidad de los sexos El patrimonio cultural	La politique et l’immigration Individual research project Revision of Year 12 topics	TBC
Summer 2nd half term	Revision and exam preparation	TBC	TBC

Extra Curricular

As well as the trips mentioned, we also offer a German, French and Spanish club during break time once a week and there are also after school clubs too.