Modern Languages at Inverclyde Academy
Learning a language enables our young people to develop a wide range of transferable skills and provides a foundation for all manner of opportunities whilst at school and in the future. Many university courses offer language modules.
We live in a globalised society with easy and instant communication and travel. Learning about other cultures encourages tolerance of others and a deeper understanding of our own culture and language.
S1-S3
We use a mixture of textbooks, digital and project-based learning in the BGE. During their first term, S1 pupils follow an introductory course of Spanish, learning enough basic language to give personal information during a simple conversation.
In January, pupils switch to French, revisiting basic vocabulary covered at primary school and then moving on to study ‘Francophonie’ (life in French-speaking countries).
Pupils continue with French into S2, looking at free time and healthy lifestyles.
They return to their Spanish studies for the second half of the year, learning how to talk about their local area and Spanish-speaking countries.
Towards the end of S2, pupils engage in the ‘personalisation and choice process’; for Modern Languages, this means that they can choose to continue both languages into S3 or specialise in either French or Spanish.
The S3 courses in French and Spanish are similar, in that both lead to pupils achieving the Modern Languages for Life and Work Award. In French, pupils look at media and study a film before moving onto the topics of learning and employability. In Spanish, pupils study healthy lifestyles and leisure before also moving onto the topics of learning and employability.
Senior Phase
We offer both French and Spanish from N3 to Higher.
Extracurricular Activities
We start the year celebrating the European Day of Languages.
BGE pupils compete in the annual Language Perfect online competition.
We host visits from University of Strathclyde Language Ambassadors who meet BGE and Senior Phase pupils to share their experiences of university, their year abroad and career plans.
We have an eTwinning partner school based in the south of France. We exchange work and engage in interactive projects which really brings the learning to life for pupils.
Most years, we are able to offer an educational visit abroad. We tend to alternate between Malaga, Spain and Château Beaumont in Normandy, France. Pupils gain so much confidence though travelling abroad and trying out their language skills in real contexts, as well as enjoying the cultural aspects and the weather!
Senior Pupils visit Heriot-Watt University’s annual Multilingual Debate in March.
