Languages

The Languages Department at Kingsdale Foundation School has expanded greatly over recent years and we are now proud to be one of the few Languages Departments in South London which is able to offer a choice of four languages as part of the curriculum to all pupils entering the school. Pupils now have the option to study French, German, Spanish and Latin at Kingsdale. It is expected that pupils will choose two languages to study when they enter KS3 and will continue with at least one language to GCSE level. All four languages are also offered at A Level. 

Community languages are also supported and while we cannot offer lessons in all community languages, learners are supported with specialised exam coaching sessions and achieve outstanding results.

Language learning is a passion which lasts a lifetime and our staff are devoted to passing on their enthusiasm for their subject. Kingsdale students benefit from the expertise of native speakers in each curriculum language and a range of extracurricular activities and catch up sessions offering extra practice. The Languages Department use a great deal of online resources which allow students to take control of their vocabulary learning and prepare for lessons independently such as memrise, activelearn and conjuguemos. 

Learning a language at Kingsdale is rewarding, challenging and fun; students enjoy using their knowledge in context through trips and discovering culture through films, music and poetry.

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Classical Civilisation focuses on the civilisations of Greece and Rome. We look at written sources, stories, images, and artefacts to understand the lives and culture of people living in Ancient Greece and Rome. You don’t need to know any languages, all the texts are in translation, and it doesn’t matter if you haven’t studied the Greeks and Romans since primary school; all you need is an interest in the Ancient World and its cultures.

The French department has continued to develop in the last few years with large numbers opting to continue study to GCSE and a continued successful provision at A level. We are passionate about developing ‘learning to learn’ skills and providing students with systematic retrieval and spaced practice making language learning a more enjoyable (and achievable!) experience.

We have developed our schemes of work so they enhance students’ experience of language learning by including projects on films such as Les Choristes and Le Petit Prince. In Year 7 our approach follows research-based pedagogy which focuses on alertness to sound. In all year groups, we have adapted our curriculum to include more topics based on the history of Francophonie and broaden students’ experience of the French language by looking at other French speaking countries (e.g.: Côte d’Ivoire, Martinique, Guadeloupe, La Réunion, Morocco etc…)

Independent study is a key element of successful language learning and as such students are expected to complete learning homework every week to build their vocabulary over time. We also offer significant and targeted support to year 11 students with different levels of interventions every week.

Wherever possible, students are encouraged to interact with French speakers in authentic situations. In recent years, we have organised trips to the Lille Christmas markets, Brussels, Paris and Champagne and have established links with French schools. In 2022-2023 Year 10 students met French teenagers from Reims with whom they had exchanged letters and videos. We look forward to creating further links around the French-speaking world.

For further information contact Ms Bhira, Head of French sba@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk

Our German department has expanded greatly at KS3 over recent years and now has good uptake at KS3, KS4 and KS5. We have a mix of native and non-native staff, who work together to deliver our ambitious curriculum. We use a variety of teaching strategies to help learners acquire German in an environment where the target language is used as much as possible. The department is very well resourced. We use Stimmt as our main course book at KS4 and supplement it with a variety of other resources. Lessons are fun and encouraging learners to express themselves in German is one of our main priorities. Homework is particularly important if what has been practised in class is to be remembered over a longer period of time. Homework is set every lesson and consists of either a written task or a learning exercise. A vocabulary list is available for each module to help with homework.  Learners who experience problems with their homework are encouraged to go and work with their German teacher at lunchtime. There are many Internet sites to learn German online, but we recommend www.memrise.com in particular. 

The German Department has run recent successful trips to Vienna and Cologne.

For further information, please contact Ms Koch, Head of German.

Whatever plans you may have for the future, knowledge of German will increase your options. When you learn German you acquire a range of skills which can improve the quality of both your work and private life:

Business: Knowing the language of your German business partners improves your relations and therefore your chances for effective communication and success.

The global career: Knowledge of German increases your job opportunities with German and foreign companies in your own country and abroad. Proficiency in German helps you to function productively for an employer with global business connections.

Tourism and hospitality industry: Tourists from German-speaking countries travel wide and far, and are the world’s biggest spenders when on holiday. They appreciate to be looked after by German-speaking staff and tour guides.

Science and Research: German is the second most commonly used scientific language. Germany is the third largest contributor to research and development and offers research fellowships to scientists from abroad.

Communication: Developments in media, information and communication technology require multilingual communicators. A wide range of important websites are in German and worldwide, Germany is ranked number 5 in terms of annual publication of new books. Knowledge of German therefore offers you extended access to information. [Wikipedia, 2014]

Cultural understanding: Learning German provides you with an insight into the way of life, and the hopes and dreams of people in German speaking countries, broadening your horizon.

Travel: Make the most of your travels not only in German-speaking countries, but in many other European countries where German is widely spoken, especially in Eastern Europe.

Enjoyment of literature, music, art and philosophy: German is the language of Goethe, Kafka, Mozart, Bach and Beethoven. Indulge in reading and/or listening to their works in their original language.

Opportunities to study/work in Germany: Germany awards a generous number of scholarships and other support to study in Germany. Working holiday visas are available for young foreigners from a range of countries, and special visas are offered to skilled workers and professionals.

The Latin department has seen great growth in recent years and is now a very strong subject at Kingsdale Foundation School with more and more pupils taking it up at all Key Stages every year. The department is proud to be one of the highest achieving departments in the school, with over 60% of students achieving grades 7-9 since the introduction of the new GCSEs in 2018.

The Latin department uses the Cambridge Latin Course as our main course book for years 7-11. Lessons are fun and encourage pupils to learn new vocabulary and grammar through songs and games. Homework is particularly important if what has been practised in class is to be remembered over a longer period of time. Homework is set every lesson and consists of either a translation task or a learning exercise. A vocabulary list is available for each module to help with homework and we recommend that pupils also use websites such as www.cambridgescp.com, and www.memrise.com to support their learning at home.

From the start of year 7 pupils follow the Cambridge Latin Course where we meet Caecilius and his family and learn about life in Pompeii in AD79 through a variety of Latin texts. By the end of KS3 pupils will be able to recognise and translate three tenses and three cases.

At KS4 pupils continue to follow the Cambridge Latin Course and in addition to being introduced to more complex language, Latin prose and poetry, they also learn about life across the Roman Empire. 

A variety of trips support pupils in their learning. We have run regular trips to Pompeii and Rome. 

For further information, please contact Mr Bowring, Head of Latin via languages@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk

 

Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world and is an increasingly sought after skill by employers in sectors ranging from International Relations and Global Business to Healthcare, Tourism and Education. Moreover, through studying Spanish students gain cultural awareness, global insights and communication skills that will prepare them as global citizens for life beyond school. At Kingsdale, we are proud to see a large number of students choosing to study Spanish both at GCSE and A-Level. We use a variety of teaching strategies to help learners acquire Spanish in an environment in which the target language is used as much as possible. The department is very well resourced - we use ¡Viva! as our main course book at KS4 and supplement it with a variety of other resources. In recent years, our schemes of work have been updated to place a larger focus on acquisition of grammar, so that our learners have the tools they need to speak and write with increasing confidence. Homework is set every week and consists of either a written task or a learning exercise. Vocabulary lists are available for each module to help with homework and regular vocabulary tests are set on Show My Homework for Years 7-11.  Learners who experience problems with their homework are always encouraged to communicate with their Spanish teacher who will be able to assist either online or in person during the school day.  

There are many online resources to learn Spanish, but we highly recommend www.memrise.com   

 

Trips are a staple part of the school calendar, with a residential trip to Málaga each year for Year 11 students. In recent years, we have also organised work experience for students in Year 13 in Córdoba and a cultural excursion for Year 12 to Madrid. Future trips are in the process of being planned for all year groups. 
For further information, please contact Ms Vecina-Jimenez, Co-Head of Spanish 

At Kingsdale, we are pleased to offer students who are native speakers of a foreign language the opportunity to gain a GCSE and A Level in it, where possible. For the past few years, we have seen excellent results at GCSE and A Level in a diverse range of community languages from Arabic to Urdu!

Please see below the languages available and the links to the relevant exam board websites, where you can find past papers and further information on the exam content. Whilst we do not offer tuition in these languages at Kingsdale, we can offer marking support if students choose to complete practice papers at home.

For further information, please contact Mr Watson, Head of Languages on languages@kingsdale.southwark.sch.uk

 

Arabic

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Bengali

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese)

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Greek

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Gujarati

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Italian

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Japanese

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Modern Hebrew

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Panjabi

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Persian

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Polish

GCSE

A Level 

 

Portuguese

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Russian

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Turkish

GCSE 

A Level 

 

Urdu

GCSE 

 

 

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