The Language Department at King Edward's aims to offer an exciting and challenging course that will train minds and prepare for living in Europe. The principle languages taught are French, German and Spanish. The aim of the course in Modern Languages is to develop the linguistic skills of comprehension and expression, both written and spoken, in order to be able to use the foreign language; and to extend further pupils' knowledge of the country, its way of life, its literature and general civilization.

Years 7, 8 and 9
All pupils take two foreign languages in Years 7 and 8, from Spanish, German and French. In Year 9 pupils choose whether to continue one or two languages or not for a further year.

In Year 8 pupils may go to Santander in Cantabria as part of the School's activities week programme or to Aix-en-Provence, our twin town in France as part of our Exchange programme. From Year 9, pupils may opt to take part in German and Spanish Exchanges to Braunschweig and Pamplona respectively.

Years 10 and 11
All pupils have to take one modern language to GCSE and some take the option of two, an advantageous position we wish to maintain.

The features of Key Stage 4 in Modern Languages are as follows:-

1.Equal ‘weighting' at each level of the four skills (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing) i.e. each skill counts as 25% of the total.

2.Heavy emphasis on authentic material in the foreign language. Candidates will be expected to cope with ‘real' French, German and Spanish and much of the listening comprehension, for example, will be based on unscripted recordings of native speakers.

3.The tasks set in the examination are intended to be, as far as possible, authentic and valuable outside the classroom - hence the increased stress on practical skills such as letter writing, note-taking, role playing etc.

4. As with most other subjects, differentiated papers will be set at two levels. Candidates are entered at either Foundation or Higher. Foundation will give grades C-G and Higher A*-D. Close consultation between colleagues and individual pupils will take place so that the right level is chosen. We anticipate that the vast majority of pupils will be entered at Higher Level.

All pupils are strongly advised to take part in an Exchange with France, Germany or Spain during Year 10. The main exchanges are offered through the links between Bath with Braunschweig, Aix-en-Provence and Pamplona. These involve two to three weeks at each end of the exchange and are invaluable for building confidence.

Pupils should consider, in the light of the growing importance of languages in employment and as a good base for language study at A Level, choosing two modern languages at GCSE. The transferable skills involved facilitate learning, and studying two languages keeps options open for the wide range of higher education courses involving either joint honours in languages or combining languages with other subjects.

Year 12 or 13
The A Level examination contains a variety of linguistic exercises, including essays, comprehensions, translations, an oral test, demanding an ability to sustain discussion and argument, and a course of literary study, with examination answers written in the target language.

Methods of Assessment & Examining
This is a flexible course designed to develop to a high level all the skills started at GCSE and to offer the opportunity for some self-study (particularly in regard to topic work for the oral examination). It is a modular course, but with AS exams in Year 12 and A Level in Year 13. It also encourages visits abroad and allows you to study some literature primarily, though not exclusively, for its linguistic merit.

GCSE Spanish
Students have the chance to take up Spanish from scratch in Year 12 and sit GCSE at the end of the year. A good level of proficiency in another language is expected.

The French Department is pleased to offer a linguistic and cultural trip to Paris during the start of the Easter Holidays.

The aim of the trip is to give pupils studying French in Years 7 & 8 some experience of French culture and the opportunity to use their French in an authentic setting. It will also enable them to sample some of the huge variety of cultural activities that Paris has to offer.

Activities planned include:

A visit to the Eiffel Tower
A visit to Montmartre
A boat trip down the River Seine
Visits to the Louvre and the Pompidou Centre
A day trip to Disneyland Paris

The Onatti Theatre Company will be returning to perform at King Edward’s on Friday 24^th February for Years 8 to 13. This production is called , Primera cita (First Date).

This is an excellent opportunity for pupils to enjoy their Spanish in a new and exciting medium. The play will be performed by native speaking actors completely in the foreign language and relevant for modern teenagers. Some time will be spent in Spanish lessons preparing the pupils for the play, looking at new vocabulary and outlining the plot to ensure that pupils can easily follow the action.  

The provisional dates for the exchange are as follows:

Saturday 30 March – Saturday 14 April 2012

Saturday 7 July – Sunday 22 July 2012

The visit includes three days of excursions and group activities during the first few days when the Spanish pupils are in school, and one or two events during their Easter holiday. 

In July there will be optional trips for Spanish pupils in Bath or Bristol, and two trips for English and Spanish pupils together.  Trip details will be confirmed nearer the time, but likely destinations are Thorpe Park, Spalshdown or Hollywood Bowl.

We currently twin with two Gymnasien, one in the town centre, the Kleine Burg, and the other a short tram ride from the centre, the Ricarda Huch Schule and this link is well-established.

The confirmed dates for the 2011-2012 exchange are as follows:

Bath to Braunschweig: Monday 16 April 2012 – Wednesday 25 April 2012 (starting the final week of the Easter holiday)

The return visit (Braunschweg to Bath) will probably be, as this year, during the end of September 2012.

When the Germans are staying in the UK they have organised trips to London, Cardiff and Bristol and also experience some time in school, being hosted by pupils of similar ages and with similar interests.

In Germany, we have trips organised to Berlin, Hanover and the Autostadt in Wolfsburg and also have some time in school.

The pupils have a challenging and thoroughly enjoyable time, and many revisit their exchange partners.