Modern Languages
The Modern Languages Department at St. Mary’s is dynamic and vibrant. We offer French, German and Spanish on the curriculum and are able to provide teachers of Italian and Portuguese as extras. We have two Language Assistants to help with French and Spanish. Many of our Sixth Formers continue their study of languages at university and we have an excellent record of acceptance into major universities including Oxford.
Our department consists of Mr Jim Giblin (Head of Dept.), Mrs Alison Maclaine Mrs Gill Cork (also Head of Middle School), Mrs Dee Webb (also Mary Ward Housemistress), Mrs Annette Lodder and Mrs Rita Howcroft.
French
French is one of three languages taught at St. Mary's. It is offered as the first language taken in Upper III (year 7), and for the first two terms in LIV (year 8). We believe this provides a strong platform on which to build competence and understanding in languages. Girls may then continue French through GCSE to A Level. Our French results are excellent and we are proud of our track record in the subject. French is taught by most members of the department. We also have a French assistant with whom the girls are able to develop their speaking skills.
Spanish
In Lower IV (year 8) the girls take one half term of Spanish and one half term of German in the summer term, to provide an informed choice of language with which to continue their language studies in Upper IV (year 9). Both languages are offered to all girls in Lower IV for four periods in the week.
In Upper IV girls continue with their choice of two languages, from the three they have studied so far, with a view to studying any one or more of these for GCSE and further to A level. Spanish is a popular choice and is on a par with French in uptake.
Our current Spanish assistant from Paraguay is Odilia and she is a real gem in the department. Spanish is taught by Mr Jim Giblin, Mrs Dee Webb and Mrs Rita Howcroft. Many of our girls make Gap Year visits to South America and find knowledge of this language very useful; some go on to study Spanish at university
German
In Lower IV (year 8) the girls follow the course of study described above.
Although numbers opting for German are usually fewer than for Spanish or French, we have had excellent results at GCSE and A level. Mary Ward Schools are found in many areas of Germany and we have set up links with a school in the world heritage town of Bamberg. Mrs Alison Maclaine and Mrs Annette Lodder are responsible for the teaching of German. We are aware that the popularity of other languages, such as Spanish, is on the increase, but there is no denying the importance of German in the business world, nor the recognition of it as an excellent academic subject demanding intelligence and linguistic skill.
Trips
Trips and exchanges are an important part of the ethos behind studying languages and collaboration with other departments is growing. At St Mary’s we have had some very successful trips to Spain, France and Germany.
The 2009 trip to Madrid involved staying with families and included a visit to Toledo, providing an excellent opportunity for the girls to become absorbed in the language and culture of Spain’s capital city. We hope to make this trip a regular feature of our programme.
A new trip to Barcelona is planned for this year, involving the Art and Spanish departments. This will offer our sixth form girls an exciting opportunity to develop their art as well as their Spanish.
Our annual trip to Paris for the Sixth Form Conference is very successful, providing an opportunity to attend lectures in French on a variety of topics, as well as promoting cultural and linguistic awareness through other activities and visits around Paris.
We hope to develop trips to Germany in the future and aim to promote the learning of languages throughout the school by providing opportunities for visits by both Lower and Upper school girls.
