At Hillpark, French is our core language until the end of S3. Beginner programmes in German and Spanish are delivered in S1 and S2 and pupils may have the opportunity to continue with French and either German or Spanish in S3.
Language Acquisition and Language Skills:
Regardless of age and stage, our pupils acquire, practice, develop and finesse four key skills in the foreign language:
Reading Listening Talking Writing
In addition to these skills, many other competences are developed, for example:
Knowledge about Language (grammar), Using a bi-lingual dictionary,
Using different media effectively for communication: written/oral/ICT presentations, film-making in the foreign language, reading fiction in the foreign language, creative poster work, Understanding of other cultures and Developing skills for life, work and lifelong learning (to name but a few!)
Why study a foreign language?
The study of a modern language has a unique contribution to make to your development of cultural awareness, as it provides you with a means of communicating directly with people from different cultures, enhancing your understanding and enjoyment of other cultures and your own. Learning a foreign language enables you to make connections with different people and their cultures and to play a fuller part as global citizen. It will also help you to progress in your first language.
Employers are often impressed when a young person can include in their CV or application form, knowledge of and qualification in a foreign language: if you have a qualification in a foreign language, in addition to qualifications in core literacy and numeracy subjects, you are eminently employable in most workplaces.
The Ged McKend Outstanding Language Learner Award
The department remembers with fondness Mr Ged McKend who worked for over twenty years in the department as a French and German teacher and who was also Principal Teacher of Pastoral Care. Mr McKend passed away in summer 2021 and we are honouring the memory and the legend of Mr McKend by introducing a new whole school prize, the ‘Ged McKend Outstanding Language Learner’ award.
