MODERN LANGUAGES

We aim to incorporate the many diverse benefits of language acquisition in our teaching, helping pupils to achieve their optimum level of communicative competence.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Languages include French, Spanish, German, Italian, Russian and Japanese.
• Our rooms are equipped with video and listening labs and pupils can also take advantage of satellite European Broadcasts and the Internet.
• Pupils can visit France, Germany and Spain and stay with families, participate in 'exchange' visits and even enjoy Foreign Work Experience programmes (see Foreign trips below).

COURSE INFORMATION

Italian, Russian and Japanese are available for senior level pupils. All French, Spanish and German courses are structured as follows:

Junior I and II: Pupils are offered French, Spanish or German as their main language and learn 'personal' spoken language, brought to life by songs, games, tapes and project work.

Forms I and II: Courses increasingly involve pupils in rôle-playing exercises. While communication remains the primary objective, emphasis on skills such as formal grammatical knowledge increases.

Forms III and IV: Almost all pupils continue to Standard Grade. Some choose to study a second language. Confident, competent communication in everyday situations is still the primary objective but reading and writing become increasingly important.

Forms V and VI: At Higher and Advanced Higher level, pupils progress beyond everyday situations to use the language discursively in greater depth and complexity.

FOREIGN TRIPS

France

• 7 days 'two in a household' with French families in the Normandy village of Clères: Juniors, Forms I and II.
• 7-day exchange with Dollar's French partner school, the Institution St Grégoire, Tours: Form III and above.
• 14-day Work Experience is offered through our connection with Tours and la Ville aux Dames, Dollar's twin town: Forms V and VI.

Germany

• 7 days 'two in a household' with German families in the Rhine area: Juniors, Forms I and II.
• 10-day Fellbach Exchange with Dollar's partner school, the Gustav-Stresemann-Gymnasium: Form III and above.
• 14-day Work Experience in Fellbach: Forms V and VI.

Spain

• 7 days 'two in a household' with Spanish families in Salamanca, including morning language classes: Juniors, Forms I and II.
• 7 days exchange with our partner school, IES Luis de Lucena in Guadalajara, near Madrid.
• 14-day Work Experience in Guadalajara: Forms V and VI.