Welcome to Modern Languages! -
French & Spanish: G.Lucas, C. Macrae and R.Ventoso
Updated November 2023
Why learn a second language?
Here are our top 10 reasons:
1. You fall in love with the subject.
2. English is not enough! Its really important that you learn to speak and understand other people no matter where they are from.
3. You can travel to new places around the world.
4. It's the perfect way to meet new people and discover new cultures.
5. Speaking another language really makes you stand out from the crowd.
6. Learning a foreign language can help you understand your own language and make it easier to learn others.
7. You develop 4 key skills; listening, reading, talking and writing.
8. You'll have fun learning about a wide range of topics from shopping, to sport, to food and entertainment.
9. Speaking more than one language increases your brain capacity and you have better memory too.
10. It's an impressive achievement to speak a foreign language and you'll have better options for your future!
Modern Languages Classroom
ADVH French University Visit
S2 Fashion Show
S2 Fashion Show
Courses
S1 French
- French culture
- School
- Film study "Le Petit Nicholas"
- Hobbies & Leisure
- Home area
S2 French
- Fashion
- TV, Film & Media
- Language in work
- French culture - Paris project
- Home - pocket money / chores / daily routine
- La Francophonie & regional identities
S3 French
- Healthy living / Health and wellbeing
- Film study "Paris Je T'aime"
- Family and friends - relationships
- Technology
- Grammar focus points
- Citizenship
National 5 French
Society:
- Television / Reality TV
- New technology
- Your home are as a tourist area
- Environment
Learning:
- Improving education systems
- Exploring different education systems
- School
- Preparing for exams
Employability:
- Jobs
- Work experience
- Future plans
Culture:
- Holidays
- Special events and celebrations
- Literature and film
Society:
- Relationships and conflicts (family and friends)
- Lifetyle
- Global languages
- Citizenship (fair trade and humanitarian aid)
Learning:
- Choice of school subjects
- Why study a language
- Why go to university
- Career paths and study
Employability:
- Summer jobs
- Future plans
- Types of careers - women in the world of work
Culture:
- Travel
- Living and working abroad
- Multicultural society
- Traditions and beliefs
- Literature and films
Spanish
S1 Spanish
School Links
We have strong MFL 1+2 links with our ASG. The programme for MFL progression is well embedded; initiation in French in Primary 1, introduction to the second Modern Foreign Language in Primary 5, continuation of both to Primary 7 through transition to high school and subsequent opportunity to thrive and reach advanced level of study in MFL in the senior phase .
At St David’s RC High school, we hold an ASG meeting each term where Secondary school MFL teachers and Lead Learners from each primary school have the opportunity to plan ahead, share good practice and receive any support needed to maintain and update the delivery of the programme.
The PT MFL 1+2 maintains regular contact throughout the year with primary schools and makes a visit to each school to meet the incoming S1 in May. This might include the observation of the P7s’ current MFL learning in action, the delivery of a mixed carousel of games and activities incorporating P7 prior learning or the teaching of a specific topic from the programme. This is followed by more MFL ‘taster’ lessons during the two days of Primary visits in June.
In February each year, we hold an exciting Transition event, currently ‘La Francophonie’. Each Primary school researches and presents on a Francophone country of choice. The morning’s interactive activities are based around the chosen countries so that all P7s pupils (and some High School helper pupils) are well involved. This is a fun and educational way of the P7 getting to know their peers in other schools, to show off their projects, sample some French break time snacks and to practice their French.
Vive les langues!
Relevance beyond school
Whichever languages or courses pupils pursue post S2, they will be engaged in experiences and tasks which, without question, prepare them well for their future lives and the real work place. Creating role plays, presentations, posters; writing CVs, letters of job application; arranging business meetings and promoting and marketing products are all highly relevant to pupils’ lives beyond school.
Calendar of exciting events
On the 26th September (yearly), we hold a celebration dedicated to the European Day of Languages.
Each year, we host a P7 Transition event for all of our feeder primaries, based around the theme of "La Francophonie" and our students ranging from S1-S6 enjoy organising and taking a leading role in supporting this event.
There are lots of other activities happening during the year: from Foreign film cinema excursions, correspondence with pen-friends, visits from Edinburgh University language students to sampling foreign foods.
Study clubs after school pupils with the opportunity to gain further support from teachers out of class time.
A bientôt!