Department of Modern Foreign Languages

Welcome to our department where students can study French and Spanish.

France and Spain are two of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, so either of these languages could be really useful, helping to make visits abroad even more enjoyable.

In addition, there are plenty of opportunities for those who study languages, as businesses in Wales need to be able to deal with companies overseas in their own language.

Don’t forget how important foreign visitors are to the economy of this country; the Welsh tourist industry needs people who can welcome these visitors in their own language.

French or Spanish?

We alternate the two languages so that both of them stay strong in the school. For example, students in Year 7 in September 2006 study Spanish and then continue with Spanish through Years 8 and 9. At the end of Year 9, they choose whether or not to study a language in Year 10.

How do students learn?

Students learn a language through a wide variety of activities, such as games, conversations, puzzles and listening to tapes and CDs. In this way, they learn how to speak, read, write and understand the language.

GCSE French and Spanish

Students learn everything they need to get by in France or Spain. They find out how to book a hotel, buy food and drinks, and talk about themselves and their interests.

Holidays are much more fun if you can talk to the people that you meet and get yourself out of difficult situations! Although communication is the most important thing, students will also learn to be accurate when they speak or write in the foreign language.

A level

By the time they come to study at this level, students already know the basics and are ready for the real advanced stuff!

Though the skills are the same (reading, writing, listening, speaking), students learn how to handle more complex topics, such as the environment or problems facing young people, like drugs, alcohol and smoking. Students will be able to read magazine articles, listen to the radio, watch TV or a film and, of course, surf the Internet.

Learning a language is a wonderfully exciting way of building self-confidence, improving communication skills, getting to know other people and their cultures, and generally broadening your horizons.

We hope students find it a stimulating and worthwhile experience.