All pupils at Hall Mead study a foreign Language from Year 7 to Year 11. The School offers both French, and German as first Foreign Languages, and from September we will also be working with a number of feeder schools to ensure successful transition. Beginners japanese and Italian are also offered as lunchtime activities for pupils in Key Stage 3 and beginners Latin as an after school club. Advanced Spanish Club is also provided for KS4 Pupils.

In Years 7 to 9 we aim to develop pupils' abilities in the four main skill areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, always bearing in mind the future requirements of GCSE courses in Years 10 & 11 and, of course, the National Curriculum. We also aim to develop our pupils' confidence in and enjoyment of their use of language. Our Year 7 pupils will be embarking on programmes of study designed to deliver Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum.

At the end of Year 7, selected pupils will be offered Fast Track GCSE French and German in Year 8 to be completed in Year 8 to be completed in Year 9. We are one of a few specialist schools who offere this unique opportunity and are proud of the success our youngsters have achieved to date.

Those pupils who show considerable linguistic ability in Years 7 to 9 will, subject to numbers, be offered the opportunity to pursue a fast course to GCSE in Years 10 & 11 in Spanish, in addition to continuing to study their first language. The pupils who complete their GCSE in Spanish at the end of Year 9 are now able to follow an "AS" Spanish course which can later be continued at Havering College, or Coopers Sixth Form College to A Level.

The Modern Languages Department is keen to teach Modern Languages in an exciting and realistic way, making full use of the Europa Centre and ICT. To aid success the latest course books and materials (including interactive white boards) are used in the classroom. We also offer an exchange program to Berlin and a work experience opportunity in Berlin in Year 10. They invite a theatre company into the school to show plays for the students in the foreign language studied.

Our aims are to stimulate interest in language and other cultures, encourage confidence and communacative skills and widen the pupil's general knowledge and understanding of our increasingly important European Neighbours in the world of business, travel and greater social contact. As many schools are now choosing to make make languages optional at key stage 4, we are proud to offer these opportunities to advantage your children in an increasingly competative job market.

K. Stock
Head of MFL Faculty

Y.Warren
Second in Dept

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Latin lessons come to Hall Mead
This is the second year of Latin lessons at Hall Mead. There are now 30 students from years 8, 9 and 10 and we meet every Monday after school in the Alan Wunderly Centre. It may be a dead language but it’s certainly not boring. We study the language and the Roman way of life and in addition learn about our own language. It’s a completely modern way of learning; we use computers. Did you know that 3 of David Beckham’s tattoos are in Latin? Do you know when to use I and me correctly? Do you know where these every day abbreviations come from and actually mean? Cv, eg, etc, ad lib, QED, ie, NB In the new year check out our new Latin website, where there will be words to learn and help with the lessons. Also the answers to the abbreviations above. Some quotes from the group:- “It’s really fun” "I Like Latin" “It’s a life changing experience” "Its a very cool and technical subject" “It’s better than an ordinary lesson” Jacob Perry "I like Latin because I like learning Languages." Billy Mortimer “Using the computer makes it surprisingly easy to learn” Megan Withers “One of the best lessons I’ve been to.” Damon Wright “A very cool and technical subject” Jack Kite “It’s improving languages for me and you can work at your own speed” Irene Zweistra “It gives you more job opportunities” Andrew Gray “It can help you with your future career” Chloe Gibbs “You can learn at your own pace” Qudrat Khan “Latin is easy and it’s fun to learn” Kiu Sum “Sounds hard but it’s surprisingly easy to learn” Bradley Hirst "Its fun, easy and funny" Neil Rathod "It's easy to learn and better than a lesson." Claire Beckwith "Sounds hard but it's surprising easy to learn" "Its a Blast from the past" “It’s a blast from the past” Alex Webber “It’s been great working with the students. They’ve helped me to learn. I have been amazed at how much Latin there is in use today” Mr. Blair. And Mr. Doll says “Tempus fugit when you’re enjoying yourself” Mrs. Warren adds “NB Nota Bene” Mrs. Warren ___________________ This is my second year of learning Latin. I wanted to come back for a second year because I find it very interesting and wanted to learn more. Did you know? The Romans first introduced the cat into Britain! Cave canem! This means Beware of the dog! We sometimes use computers and books but some of us are creating our own lessons to teach the group. I am currently working on a lesson about signs of the zodiac. All Latin words! I am also currently planning a lesson about the Roman Numerals. Many of us want to continue with Latin next year. Martyn Brown 9CW

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MFL trip to Barcelona 2007 In July 2007, we took 39 Year 9 students who had just completed their fast track Spanish GCSE to Barcelona. We took a plane from Luton to Girona airport where we were transferred by coach to Lloret de Mar- a resort on the coast. Over the five days we visited Barcelona city centre, (including La Sagrada Familia and the Nou Camp-Barcelona Football Club’s Stadium), Port Aventura Theme Park and a water park. On the last day we had an ‘Adventure in the Forest’, where we climbed trees and swung on ropes! In the afternoon we had some free time to have a kick about on the beach and do some souvenir shopping. The trip went without any hitches, the students were extremely well behaved and thoroughly deserved to go. It was very tiring, packing so much into five days, though we did use the coach as a sleeping facility on the way to the different places! This provided the teachers with the opportunity to take some sneaky photos of the students asleep!! A big thank you to everyone involved in the trip-you made the experience absolutely amazing. Miss N. Machin

Paulsen School: Website www.paulsengymnasium.de

Year 9 & 10 Italian Club every Wednesday at 12.45 in L2 Year 7 & 8 Italian Club every Friday lunchtimes at 12.45 -13.15 in L2 Year 7 & 8 Christmas Card Competition Coming soon Closing date for entries 12th December 2007

 

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