2. Why study a language???? Broadens possibilities for communication Useful in many areas of work Further understanding of own language Useful as links with Europe and the rest of the world grow stronger Improve cultural awareness Part of the English Baccalaureate

3. How many people in EU speak English as native language? What percentage of world’s population speak English as their first language? Quote from a former German chancellor: “If I want to sell to you then I must speak English but if you want to sell to me dann müssen Sie Deutsch sprechen”. In a recent survey 74% of British employers said that they wanted to employ people with conversational skills in a foreign language, and this figure is likely to grow.

5. Each language has 5 hours lesson time over two weeks. Double linguists have 7 lessons over two weeks, split between the two languages. One lesson each week will be an early morning lesson, taking place on a day agreed with the teacher. Spanish is only available to students who have been studying it in years 8 and 9 (French+Spanish, French+German)

6. All languages follow the Edexcel syllabus. General topics are: Out and about (weather, accommodation, travel and tourism, transport, directions) Customer service and transactions (cafés and restaurants, shops, dealing with problems) Personal information (interests (sport and leisure / media), activities, family and friends) Future plans, education and work (jobs, work experience, school) Topics are covered in greater detail and with important grammar points.

7. GCSE courses in all three languages are assessed in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Listening and reading are worth 20% of the final mark; speaking and writing are worth 30% each. There are two tiers for listening and reading:– foundation and higher. Writing and speaking are assessed through controlled assessment: this is fully prepared in class and then done under exam conditions. There is no final written / speaking exam.

8. Links with Collège Lou Vignarès in Vedène – south of France. -Letter writing -Creating and exchanging DVDs -Exchange trips in the future

9. Links with Karl Maria Weber Schule in Eutin, on the north-east coast of Germany. Exchange planned for this year.

10. Think carefully about the language options available to you Talk - your languages teachers, Miss Kiggin, tutors, parents Talk to year 10 and 11 students about their experience of GCSE languages Look at the textbooks used at GCSE level Ask questions!