Digital Technology
Mrs. E. Elliott
Head of Department
Welcome to French
Here at Ferndown Upper School we are passionate about learning languages. We wholeheartedly share the sentiments of the Psycholinguist Frank Smith.
“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”
When you learn another language, you extend your linguistic and cultural knowledge, expand your worldview and broaden your horizons. You recognise differences in values and beliefs and discover new ways of doing things, not to mention strengthen your understanding of your own cultural and linguistic background. Our aim if for all students at Ferndown Upper School to find their MFL lessons interesting, engaging and challenging.
Subject Leader
Emma Elliott – Head of Modern Languages, Director of Learning for Communications
Meet The French Department Staff
Miss. A. Uphill
Teacher of French
Curriculum
Year 9 French – Social Media, describing an outing or event, sport, health and well-being, jobs and job preferences, future plans, holiday preferences, dream holidays and disastrous trips. Start GCSE course – Family relationships and qualities of a good friend.
Year 10 French – Describing what you were like when you were younger, role models, music, TV and cinema, food, drink and eating out, celebrations and festivals, describing your local area, places of interest, weather and climate, finding your way around a town and community projects. Holiday plans and experiences.
Year 11 French – School life and plans for the future, applying for a job and work experience, social inequality, rights and responsibilities, environmental issues, man-made and natural disasters. Revision for the GCSE exams.
Year 12 & 13 French – Aspects of French-speaking society: Current trends
Artistic culture in the French-speaking world
Aspects of political life in the French-speaking world
Aspects of French-speaking society: Current issues
Individual research project.
Facilities and equipment
The department boasts a computer room where students can access a wide range of online programmes and resources to develop their linguistic skills and listen independently to sound files and watch video clips.
A level students have access to Kerboodle (for Spanish) and Dynamic Learning (for French) which is an interactive research with a wealth of material to practise all skill areas.
We have an extensive library of films in Spanish and French for students to borrow to enrich their learning.
Extra-Curricular
Exchange trip to Valencia
Pen pal links with our partner school in Valencia
Revision classes for GCSE French (Week 1 Friday 2:40-3:40pm)
Revision
• CGP GCSE AQA French/Spanish – The Revision Guide and other workbooks: Exam Practice and Translations Skills
• Revise GCSE Spanish/French Pearson – Revision guide and Revision workbook
• GCSE Bite size – Listening and Reading exercises
• Atantot.com – Vocabulary practice; games and exercises. There is also some grammar practice
• Atantot Extra.com – Vocabulary practice; games.
• Languages online.com – Interactive reading exercises and grammar practice
• Word reference.com – online dictionary
• Duolingo & Quizlet – vocab building and practice apps
Careers In Modern Foreign Languages
As a Modern Foreign Languages student, you will have gained skills highly valued by employers, such as verbal and written communication, problem solving, processing of information, teamwork, literacy and oracy. Speaking a foreign language enables you to compete in the global market place in a wide range of careers connected to areas such as the diplomatic service, marketing, customer service, law, business management and journalism to name a few. However, if you are passionate about languages you may wish to explore careers opportunities in an area more directly related to Modern Languages such as travel consultant, aviation operations manager, interpreter/translator, bilingual administrator, cabin crew, heritage-engineering technician and commercial procurement and supply.
Labour Market Information – LMI
It is useful to look at the labour market when considering a career related to Modern Foreign Languages. Many sectors related to MFL are areas of growth in terms of employment opportunities. The number of jobs aimed at bilingual workers has more than doubled in recent years with French, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic in highest demand.
The LMI for All portal provides high quality, reliable LMI information – see link below: https://www.lmiforall.org.uk/
Pathways Example Post 16 Routes – Level 3 A Level
- A-Level French, Spanish, English Language, English Literature, History and Politics
Pathways Example Post 16 – Apprenticeship Ideas
AVIATION OPERATIONS MANAGERS
- Lead operations in the field of aviation, recruitment of ground staff and crewmembers, scheduling of flights and rotas for pilots, flight attendants and airport staff.
COMMERCIAL PORCUREMENT AND SUPPLY
- Monitor international business trends and product availability in order to pay the best price for company goods and services without sacrificing quality or delivery times. A key element of the role is nurturing relationships with worldwide suppliers to negotiate the best prices.
INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FORWARDING SPECIALIST
- Act as an intermediary between the company who makes the shipment and the final destination for the goods organising different transport modes to carry out shipment.
HERITAGE ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN
- Perform a vital role in the preservation, restoration, re-manufacture, service and repair of historic UK and International engineering achievements working in organisations as diverse as global manufacturers, museums and small operators.