HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

St. Mary’s CollegeModern Foreign Languages

Dept.2015-16 Open Events

WELCOME – Hola! Guten Tag! Salut and Nĭ hăo / 你 好 !

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

Dear Parents/Guardians,

A very warm welcome to you from the Modern Foreign Languages department at St. Mary’s College. We hope that you enjoy your tour of the school and get the opportunity to come and talk to us in person about the exciting innovations, learning opportunities and ideas we have for languages here at St. Mary’s.

WHY STUDY LANGUAGES AT ST. MARY’S COLLEGE?

To our MFL team, as in all departments here at St. Mary’s College, your child’s best interests are paramount. Language learning is a passion that all members of the department share, and through this passion, lifelong learning skills are gained that can be used both in commerce and for pleasure, expanding knowledge, collaboration and engendering confidence in our young people. Through engaging trips and exchanges, students develop a broader cultural understanding of the countries and languages we study in class, as well as perfecting outstanding levels of fluency and establishing life-long contacts in France, Spain and Germany.

High quality teaching and learning coupled with our desire to succeed as a department have all lead to increasingly impressive examination results. However, we understand the need to both prepare students for their examinations as well as to create opportunities for them to study languages in non-academic situations. With this in mind, we are in the process of facilitating language learning in the digital age, using podcasts, Android and Apple apps, interactive exercises and websites, promoting the use of ICT both inside and outside of the classrooms. Our VLE (Virtual Learning Environment) also provides students and parents with up to date PowerPoints, websites and listening activities all of which further consolidate the learning students have achieved in class, as well as past papers and vocab learning games with specific topic based themes and examples of A* exam answers.

We are very excited about the way in which language learning has progressed over the past ten years and welcome the introduction of a compulsory language in Primary Schools from the age of 7. Working hand in hand with our Preparatory School, The Mount, students have begun a cycle of accelerated language learning in both Spanish and French, as well as the possibility of the introduction of Mandarin teaching too.

Gaining a foothold above others in today’s global economy is becoming increasingly difficult. However, at St. Mary’s College, we equip our language students with all the necessary skills to gain access to university and increase their own employability. Many of our students have gone on to pursue language based courses at university with the number increasing year on year. Even with those students not continuing with a language at A Level, German, French and Spanish are facilitating subjects for entry at their chosen university.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about our department’s ethos and goals for languages at St. Mary’s. We hope you enjoy the rest of your visit to our great school.

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

Kindest regards,

Alexandros Stagogiannis (Head of MFL)

CURRICULUM

Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9)

In Year 7, your son/daughter will study French or Spanish (depending on the year of entry) for 4 lessons per week.

In Year 8 and 9, your son/daughter will continue with the first year language (2 lessons per week) as well as choosing between the remaining two languages (French/German/Spanish) to be their new language option (3 lessons per week).

Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)

In Years 10 and 11, your son/daughter will have 4 lessons per week of their chosen language(s), following the AQA GCSE programme.

Key Stage 5 (Years 12-13)

In Years 12 and 13, students will have 8 lessons per week of their chosen language(s), following the AQA French/German/Spanish syllabus.

SUMMER 2015 RESULTS

We pride ourselves on having excellent examination results in languages, achieving higher results than many local schools.

GCSE

FRENCH GERMAN SPANISH

70% A*-A 56% A* 54% A*-B

A2 RESULTS 2014

FRENCH – 100% A*-D

A growing number of our languages students at A Level are deciding to continue with languages at university, whether as a pure languages degree or as an additional subject such as Law with French/Spanish and German with International Relations. We also have a former student from last year attending a course at the University of London in Paris, where she is based in France’s glorious capital city for the full three years. She was 1 of only 35 students in the country to be accepted on this course and also attended interview at Oxford. We wish her well with her studies. Bon courage, Emma! (Pictured on the front of this booklet working for

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

GERMAN – 100% A*-A

SPANISH – 100% A*-E

EXTRA-CURRICULAR

At St. Mary’s College, we run lunchtime clinics for all of our languages (French, German, Spanish and Mandarin) for all students in Key Stage 3. These clubs are run in conjunction with the Sixth Form Language Ambassadors as well as in conjunction with a member of the languages staff or the Confucius Institute.

Students in the Mandarin club will begin Mandarin language learning as well as calligraphy, origami and Tai-Chi lessons just before the October half-term.

We also hope to start an International Film Club, promoting the culture and cinema of many world languages, particularly those outside of Europe.

SIXTH FORM LANGUAGES

In the Sixth Form, students are given “Languages Ambassador” status and encouraged to promote languages within the younger years as well as take responsibility for clinics. As a result of this leadership, the Sixth Form have also been granted their own Languages Hub in the Languages Department, with access to Literature, Newspapers, Games, apps, wireless Internet for research and TV/DVD facilities for honing their aural skills during their non-contact lessons.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS

Where possible, students also have access to Foreign Language Assistants in French, German and Spanish, who assist the students in their work as well as with clubs and independent research.

COMPETITIONS AND AWARDS

We regularly run competitions in Languages, including the most recent EDL (European Day of Languages) competition, the European Bake Off, for students in the Lower School (Years 7-9).

We have also had a number of students in the past who have entered a German competition run by Oxford University with several students highly

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

commended and one in particular asked to attend the prize-giving ceremony at the Bodleian Library.

We have also run a National Languages Competition in conjunction with ISMLA (Independent Schools Modern Languages Association), the Alliance Française, the Goethe Institute, Instituto Cervantes as well as local businesses such as La Tasca, Liverpool Language School and American Airlines.

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

EXCHANGES AND TRIPS

FRENCH TRIP/EXCHANGE

Situated a stone’s throw away from the Vosges mountains, our French partner school, Lycée Beau-Jardin, is an idyllic Private Catholic Boarding and Day School with fantastic students and genuinely passionate and caring staff. The Head of Modern Languages, Mr Garcia, ensures that the students and parents that take part in the exchange are the best that Beau-Jardin have to offer, working hand in hand with Mrs Ford and Mr Stagogiannis to ensure as close a link as possible both between schools and the students themselves.

Open to Years 10-13, the exchange has been pivotal in the increased fluency of students both at GCSE and A Level, ensuring a level of confidence and oral proficiency second to none. Those who have participated in the exchange each year have improved academically in lessons as a result of the pairings made by both schools and many have remained in contact even after both exchanges have finished.

The dates for the exchange usually begin with the students and staff from Lycée Beau-Jardin coming to us for a week overlapping half-term in October, followed by our return leg to St-Dié-des-Vosges usually again overlapping the February half-term and the week before.

Visits on the exchange include a day in Paris (2 hours away by TGV), where students visit the Eiffel Tower, shop in Les Galeries Lafayette and do a walking tour of the Louvre, La Tuilerie and L’Arc de Triomphe, taking in the sights and sounds of Les Champs-Elyssées en route. Closer to their homes for the week, back in St-Dié, students also visited a local primary and middle school, chatting to French students as well as another country, Luxembourg, taking in the sites and absorbing the historical landmarks of this stunning principality as well as visiting a chocolate factory and a local brewery.

WEBSITES

http://www.lycee-beaujardin.fr/

http://www.lcto.lu/en

http://www.parisinfo.com/

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

SPANISH TRIP/EXCHANGE

In April, 24 students from Year 8-13 took part in the much anticipated Spanish trip with Mrs Nichols to Barcelona for five days.

During this amazing experience the students were able to take in the wonders of the Camp Nou, Gaudi’s architecturally stunning and famous La Sagrada Familia as well as spending a day in Port Aventura Theme Park. A day was also be spent in Dali’s museum in Figueras, where students were able to study first-hand the wonderfully bizarre drawings and paintings of Spain’s most eccentric and revered artist. Ambling around La Rambla, then visiting the pupils from the school hosting our exchange for 2014-15 (Centro de Estudios Joan XXIII) before picking up last minute gifts capped off an outstanding short break over the April holiday. Doubtless the weather will be there for all students and staff going on this year’s exchange too!

WEBSITES

www.j23.fje.edu

http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/

http://www.salvador-dali.org/museus/figueres/en_index.html

http://www.fcbarcelona.com/camp-nou

GERMAN EXCHANGE

In February, we will once again welcome our German correspondents and colleagues from Realschule St. Maria in Niederviehbach, Bavaria to St. Mary’s. On our return trip to Germany, the students will enjoy a day trip to Regensburg, then Straubing and the Bayerischer Wald (Bavarian Forest) as well as a visit to München (Munich). Excursions will include a river cruise, a visit to the Medieval town centre and famous clock tower, tobogganing in the Bavarian Forest as well as a visit to the Allianz Arena, home of Bavaria’s favourite football team, Bayern München. Tuning in to the Bavarian dialect will be an interesting challenge to all students, but one which we are already looking forward to! Viel Glück!

WEBSITES

http://www.realschule-stmaria.de/

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

http://www.allianz-arena.de/de/index.php

http://www.muenchen.de/

7 COGNITIVE REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD STUDY LANGUAGES

1. You become smarter

Speaking a foreign language improves the functionality of your brain by challenging it to recognise, negotiate meaning, and communicate in different language systems. This skill boosts your ability to negotiate meaning in other problem-solving tasks as well. Students who study foreign languages tend to score better on standardised tests than their monolingual peers, particularly in the categories of maths, reading, and vocabulary.

2. You build multitasking skills

Multilingual people, especially children, are skilled at switching between two systems of speech, writing, and structure. According to a study from the Pennsylvania State University, this “juggling” skill makes them good multi-taskers, because they can easily switch between different structures. In one study, participants used a driving simulator while doing separate, distracting tasks at the same time. The research found that people who spoke more than one language made fewer errors in their driving.

3. You stave off Alzheimer’s and dementia

Several studies have been conducted on this topic, and the results are consistent. For monolingual adults, the mean age for the first signs of dementia is 71.4. For adults who speak two or more languages, the mean age for those first signs is 75.5. Studies considered factors such as education level, income level, gender, and physical health, but the results were consistent.

4. Your memory improves

Educators often liken the brain to a muscle, because it functions better with exercise. Learning a language involves memorising rules and vocabulary, which helps strengthen that mental “muscle.” This exercise improves overall memory, which means that multiple language speakers are better at remembering lists or sequences. Studies show that bilinguals are better at retaining shopping lists, names, and directions.

5. You become more perceptive

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

A study from Spain’s University of Pompeu Fabra revealed that multilingual people are better at observing their surroundings. They are more adept at focusing on relevant information and editing out the irrelevant. They’re also better at spotting misleading information. Is it any surprise that Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot are skilled polyglots?

6. Your decision-making skills improve

According to a study from the University of Chicago, bilinguals tend to make more rational decisions. Any language contains nuance and subtle implications in its vocabulary and these biases can subconsciously influence your judgment. Bilinguals are more confident with their choices after thinking it over in the second language and seeing whether their initial conclusions still stand up.

7. You improve your English

Learning a foreign language draws your focus to the mechanics of language: grammar, conjugations, and sentence structure. This makes you more aware of language, and the ways it can be structured and manipulated. These skills can make you a more effective communicator and a sharper editor and writer. Language speakers also develop a better ear for listening, since they’re skilled at distinguishing meaning from discreet sounds.

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

THE LANGUAGES WE OFFER

GERMAN

Germany remains the largest single export market for British goods outside of the USA, and Europe's largest economy – with a GDP of more than €2.4 trillion – continues to defy the eurozone downturn. So it's no surprise that UK companies want to hire employees who know their umlauts from their eszetts.

FRENCH

Proficiency in French remains a highly sought-after skill among UK employers, with 49 per cent rating it as useful for their organisations.

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

SPANISH

Valued as a major European language but also as the leading language of fast-growing Latin American economies – as well as its continued rise to prominence in the United States – Spanish is rated as useful by 37 per cent of the employers surveyed

MANDARIN

The official language of China – the world's most populous and economically dynamic nation – features highly in managers' preferences.

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

USEFUL WEBSITES

www.languagesonline.org.uk www.linguascope.com www.duolingo.com www.memrise.com www.livemocha.com www.schoolshape.com www.wordreference.com www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/ www.ver-taal.com www.linguee.fr www.linguee.de

USEFUL APPS

DUOLINGO LINGUASCOPE SCHOOLSHAPE MEMRISE BUSUU FOREIGN SERVICES INSTITUTE

___________________________________________________________

CONTACT US

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us on the details below:

HOLA! GUTEN TAG! SALUT! NĬ HĂO!

❝If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.❞‒Nelson Mandela

Head of MFL, Teacher of French/German: Mr Alexandros Stagogiannis: stagogiannisa@stmarys.lpool.sch.uk

Teacher of French/Spanish: Mrs Elaine Ford: fordest@stmarys.lpool.sch.uk

Teacher of Spanish/French: Mrs Ann Nichols: nicholsa@stmarys.lpool.sch.uk

DANKE

MERCI