Modern Foreign Languages
At Dartford Grammar School, we take language learning seriously, and believe we fully reflect our mission statement: ‘a learning community developing international citizens’. As a Language College since 1995, an IB World School, holder of the full International Schools Award, and a Confucius Classroom, we place internationalism at the core of what we do. We regularly welcome visitors to the department to see what we do and share our experience. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the many visits and exchanges on offer. There are cultural visits for all students in Year 8 and exchanges with Belgium, Germany, Spain, China and Japan for older students.
Courses in KS3 and KS4
All students study an Oriental language in Year 7 (Japanese or Mandarin Chinese), and choose a European language as a second language in Year 8 (French, German, Spanish; or Latin). All students continue both their Year 7 and Year 8 languages to Year 11, where they take an AQA GCSE (Edexcel in Japanese).
Courses in KS5
In the sixth form, all students study a language as part of the International Baccalaureate www.ibo.org Diploma course, selecting from French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Russian; or Latin. Sixth Form study opportunities include beginner (Ab initio), Standard or Higher courses in most languages.
Staff
The Modern Languages team is made up of 17 members of staff, 10 of whom are native speakers. Foreign Language assistants are also employed in all languages. We also regularly welcome trainee teachers to the department.
Modern Languages within the Community
We maintain an MFL outreach programme with local primary schools and have annual IB Networking Events with other IB schools. The Mick Jagger Centre is also home to a number of Community Language classes.
More Information
French
Why study French?
The ability to speak French is highly sought after among UK employers, with 49% rating it useful for their organisation. With France currently the world’s top tourist destination, and French an official language in 29 countries, spoken on every continent, studying French offers students many future leisure and business opportunities. French shares many of the same Latin roots as English, so studying it helps with English literacy. Year 12 students have the opportunity to participate in the annual exchange to Liège in Belgium and Year 13 students to visit Paris in the Winter Term. All Year 9 students visit Paris in the Summer Term. There are annual enrichment visits for all years to the Institut Français in London.
Syllabus
In KS3 we follow the NCELP pedagogy while incorporating the IB MYP ethos and learning through enquiry. In KS4 we use the Studio series of text books in preparation for the AQA GCSE. In KS5 we follow the IB DP Language Acquisition curriculum addressing all five key themes using a variety of text books and enabling students to explore the rich culture of the French speaking world at all of the three levels offered: beginner (ab initio), Standard Level and Higher Level. Two authentic literary texts are studied at Higher Level.
German
Why study German?
The German language is highly sought after and relevant in areas as diverse as business, tourism, culture, scientific research and innovation. International and UK companies see German-speaking employees as a great asset – in a recent CBI survey published in The Telegraph, UK business managers rated German the most useful foreign language in a future job. The native language of cultural giants such as Beethoven, Mozart and Goethe, German also helps with English literacy, as the two languages share many common roots. There is an annual music exchange to Hanau, Germany as well as a work experience trip to Switzerland. In addition, Year 13 students have the opportunity to visit Berlin in the Winter Term and all Year 9 students visit Cologne in the Summer Term.
Syllabus
In KS3 we follow the NCELP pedagogy while incorporating the IB MYP ethos and learning through enquiry. In KS4 we use the Stimmt series of text books in preparation for the AQA GCSE. In KS5 we follow the IB DP Language Acquisition curriculum addressing all five key themes using a variety of text books and enabling students to explore the rich culture of the German speaking world at all of the three levels offered: ab initio, Standard Level and Higher Level. Two authentic literary texts are studied at Higher Level.
Japanese
Why study Japanese?
Japanese is a language that is still in its infancy in schools in Great Britain, so those who study it will gain excellent opportunities in business as they have a foreign language that few have the chance to learn. Students study a full course in which they learn to read and write the script, study the spoken language and obtain an insight into a fascinating culture and way of life. We currently have an exchange to Wakayama, near Osaka and also welcome a student for a one month exchange each year. The department works closely with the Japan Foundation to promote and develop the teaching of Japanese in the UK.
The Japanese Excellence Programme, which commenced in 2016, is an intensive and demanding language course which requires dedication and commitment from students. The aim of the programme is to enable students to make accelerated progress in the language, resulting in excellent attainment at GCSE and improved capability at IB level. Within four years of joining the programme, students will be well on their way to a high level of fluency. Lessons take place after school for 90 minutes, and focus on establishing a deeper understanding of Japanese culture, vocabulary and characters through fun language projects. Students are also entered for a native speaker character test called the Kanji Kentei at the end of Year 10.
Please see the video below for more information and to watch testimonials by Year 10 and 11 JEP students.
The curriculum is much wider than just learning languages: here is a good example - a Taiko Drumming Workshop we hosted (just click on the link below)...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNNTug4WwSg&feature=youtu.be
Syllabus
In KS3 we follow the IB MYP curriculum with the Obento Deluxe and Obento Supreme series of text books. In KS4, a variety of resources are used, many of them developed by our own teachers, in preparation for the Edexcel GCSE. In KS5 we follow the IB DP Language Acquisition curriculum addressing all five key themes using a variety of text books and enabling students to explore the rich Japanese culture at either of the levels offered: Beginner (ab initio) and Standard Level.
Mandarin - Chinese
Why study Mandarin Chinese?
An exciting addition to our language options, the course in Mandarin Chinese offers students an opportunity to learn what is rapidly becoming one of the most prominent business languages in the world. The course will develop in students a broad range of skills including reading and writing the Chinese script, and learning to recognise and produce different tones when speaking this musical language. The Shanghai exchange trip gives an invaluable opportunity to experience this rich and diverse culture. As a Confucius Classroom, there are many opportunities for cultural experiences throughout the academic year and we also benefit from the assistance of Hanban teachers.
The Mandarin Excellence Programme, which commenced in 2016, is an intensive and demanding language course which requires dedication and commitment from students. The aim of the programme is to enable students to make accelerated progress in the language, resulting in excellent attainment at GCSE and improved capability at IB level. Within four years of joining the programme, students will be well on their way to a high level of fluency. On top of 3 time-tabled lessons a week, extra lessons also take place at school for 90 minutes and focus on establishing a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, vocabulary and characters through fun language projects. Students are also entered for a Mandarin proficiency test called the HSK at the end of Year 10. Please see the video below for more information and to watch testimonials by Year 9 MEP students.
Student Testimonials about the Mandarin Excellence Programme
MEP Student Testimonial 1; MEP Student Testimonial 2
Syllabus
In KS3 we follow the IB MYP curriculum with the Jin Bu series of text books. In KS4, both the Edexcel and the AQA textbooks are used in preparation for the AQA GCSE. In KS5 we follow the IB DP Language Acquisition curriculum addressing all five key themes using a variety of text books and enabling students to explore the rich Chinese culture at either of the levels offered: Beginner (ab initio) and Standard Level.
The link below answers frequently asked questions about UCL IOE Confucius Institute for Schools.
https://ci.ioe.ac.uk/frequently-asked-questions/
China Daily interviews DGS
Russian
Why study Russian?
UK companies see Russian-speaking employees as a great asset – Russia is one of the UK's fastest-growing major export markets, and in a recent CBI survey published in The Telegraph, UK business managers rated Russian in their top 10 most useful foreign language in a future job. With roughly 300 million Russian speakers in the world, it’s also the most widely spoken among Slavic languages. One of the 6 official languages of the United Nations, Russian is also the native language of cultural giants such as Tchaikovsky, Chekhov, Pushkin, Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky. The school has recently organized trips to Moscow and St Petersburg, focusing on both the language and on history.
Syllabus
Russian is a KS5 option for those who would like the challenge of beginning a new language. We follow the IB DP Language Acquisition curriculum addressing all five key themes using a variety of text books and enabling students to explore the rich Russian culture at ab initio level.
Spanish
Why study Spanish?
As a major European language valued highly by UK employers, spoken in the majority of South American countries, and increasingly prominent in the United States, Spanish opens up a wide variety of future business and leisure opportunities. Since it shares its Latin roots with many other European languages, studying Spanish helps with literacy and understanding of English and French, as well as other Romance languages such as Portuguese and Italian. Students have the opportunity to take part in an exchange to Madrid in Spain and all Year 9 students visit Barcelona in the Summer Term.
Syllabus
In KS3 we follow IB MYP curriculum which has been designed using a variety of text books and resources. In KS4, we follow the AQA Spanish GCSE Syllabus and students complete work from the Viva GCSE textbooks and the GCSE Spanish Oxford textbooks. In KS5 we follow the IB DP Language Acquisition curriculum addressing all five key themes using a variety of text books and enabling students to explore the rich culture of the Spanish speaking world at all of the three levels offered: Ab initio, Standard Level and Higher Level. Two authentic literary texts are studied at Higher Level.
