Department Vision
In today’s increasingly globalised world, the ability to communicate in a modern language is an essential skill for both personal and professional success. At Queen’s Gate, we understand the significance of this and provide our students with ample opportunities to develop their language skills, both in and outside of the classroom. Through interactive lessons with native speakers, individual oral sessions, and regular target language immersion trips, we encourage the girls to think about the world around them with creativity and curiosity. As mentioned in previous ISI reports, the Modern Foreign Languages Department helps to promote the celebration of the multicultural nature of the school, further developing pupils’ often sophisticated communication skills. Pupils develop high levels of facility in the many and diverse foreign languages which are studied and highly valued.
The MFL Curriculum at Queen’s Gate emphasizes the importance of personal expression and communication. It also provides opportunities for pupils to learn about and appreciate different cultures and beliefs through language learning. Teachers promote mutual respect by encouraging children to engage with and learn from others with different backgrounds and perspectives. The girls are encouraged to explore their own interests and passions in other languages, and to appreciate the diversity of cultural expression.
Through engaging activities, we inspire curiosity, develop passion, and unlock the potential for lifelong learning. The MFL Department’s goal is to equip students with critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal communication skills, while nurturing global awareness, empathy, and respect for different cultures. Ultimately, the aim is to enable students to become responsible, culturally aware, and well-rounded individuals who can navigate and contribute to a diverse, interconnected world.
Years 7-9
All of the girls at Queen’s Gate continue with their French studies in Years 7 and 8. We are fortunate to be able to cater for all levels of proficiency, from those who have previous experience and native speaker to those who are taking the language for the very first time.
As well as receiving a thorough grounding in the French Language, all Year 7 girls have one period a week of introductory German. In this way, we hope to broaden their horizons and give them a taste of one of their possible options in Year 9.
In Year 9, pupils are offered the opportunity to take up a new modern foreign language by choosing between German, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish. Pupils in this year group are given an intensive, in-depth introduction to the language and are provided with an excellent basis to continue the language on to IGCSE in Years 10 and 11. No previous knowledge of the language is required.
In whichever language they are studying, the girls at Queen’s Gate are provided with dynamic language teaching that enables and encourages them to speak and write with confidence and enthusiasm about themselves and their interests in the target language.
(I)GCSE
In French and Italian, pupils prepare the Cambridge International IGCSE. All four skills, Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing, have an equal weighting and are worth 25% each in the final assessment. The topics and grammar covered enable the girls to become competent linguists and achieve a strong level of mastery. Topics include: Local area, Free time and Hobbies, Holidays, School life and future career plans, Healthy living and health Family and relationships, and Customs and Traditions.
In German and Spanish, candidates take the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE. All four skills, Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing, have an equal weighting and are worth 25% each in the final assessment. The curriculum is broad and well balanced, with all themes and topics are studied in the context of both the pupils’ home country and that of countries and communities where the target language is spoken. The themes and topics covered are as follows: Home and Abroad, Education and Employment, Personal Life and Relationships, The world around us, and Social Activities, Fitness and Health.
In Mandarin, candidates sit the AQA GCSE Chinese (Mandarin). As with the other GCSE level courses, all four skills are equally weighted. The objective of the course is to enable students of all abilities to develop their Chinese (Mandarin) language skills to their full potential, equipping them with the knowledge to communicate in a variety of contexts with confidence. The themes covered in the course are: Identity and Culture, Local, national, international and global areas of interest, and Current and future study and employment.
As well as learning about the various countries’ cultures and traditions, the (I)GCSE qualifications provide an excellent grounding in the target language, enabling the students to talk about themselves and others on a range of familiar topics, and equipping them with the relevant transactional skills to get by in the countries where those languages are spoken. They also provide an excellent foundation from which to progress to A level language learning.
QG Supercurriculum
At Queen’s Gate School, our modern foreign languages extra-curricular and super curriculum provision is designed to immerse students in authentic cultural experiences. We utilise a variety of authentic resources, including videos, cartoons, and songs, to bring languages to life. Our ICT tools, such as online textbooks, Blooket, Wordwall, Kahoot, Linguascope, and Languagenut, make learning interactive and engaging.
Students can look forward to exciting trips, such as visiting the Christmas markets in Cologne and Bruges, celebrating Chinese New Year with a trip to Chinatown, and attending educational days and foreign cinema at the BFI on the South Bank. Students could also join interactive cooking sessions at a local Italian pizzeria and learn the art of making authentic Italian pizza from a master pizzaiolo, as well as participate in virtual tours of iconic Italian cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, discovering the stories behind famous monuments and artworks. We also collaborate with prestigious institutions like the French Institute and the Goethe Institute to enhance our language programmes.
In Year 8, pupils are given the opportunity of taking part in our French exchange programme where they spend one week in Paris with their exchange family during the Spring term. They attend morning lessons at Saint Louis de Gonzague school, our renowned partner school and visit Paris with us in the afternoons. Our exchange partners spend a week with us in London.
Other extra-curricular activities that students will be able to enjoy are a Languages Day, a KS3 House Poetry Competition, a food market, interactive foreign language theatre productions, and salsa or flamenco sessions.
