Foreign Languages
AAESS students now have the chance to study three modern
languages. As well as Arabic, which is a compulsory subject in
the UAE, French and Spanish are now taught in the Secondary
School. Studying foreign languages can really widen your
horizons and expand your world knowledge. Also, the ability to
speak a modern foreign language is an asset in many careers, as
well as being very useful when you are on holiday! We hope that
AAESS students will enjoy studying foreign languages and will
make the most of the opportunities on offer.
Bienvenue!
Welcome to the AAESS French Department. Our aim is to give all
AAESS students an introduction to the French language and to the
culture of the French-speaking world.
French is a compulsory subject in Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9) and
during these years we concentrate on the basic grammar and
vocabulary of the everyday French, in order to give students a
solid foundation in the language. An active learning approach is
adopted, which allows students to engage in communication from
the very beginning. The four language skills (speaking,
listening, reading and writing) are combined in an integrated
curriculum. The Métro series of course books is used; these are
supplemented by CDs, DVDs, French television programmes and
computer-based activities for extra practice and authentic
language input.
At the end of Year 9, students have the option to continue
French up to GCSE level. The GCSE program lasts two years.
During this time, students extend and deepen their knowledge of
the language and by the time they reach the exam, are able to
communicate in many everyday situations. In Year 11 students
have the opportunity to practise conversation with a French
native speaker. Most students who take GCSE are motivated and
exam results over the last few years have been very pleasing
(100% passes at grade B and above).
At present, only a few students continue to study French to AS
and A level. We hope that these numbers will increase in
future, as French is a fascinating and challenging subject. At
this level, the program is more demanding but also more
rewarding. Students study topics relating to contemporary French
society and life across the francophone world, and receive an
introduction to modern French literature.
The British National Curriculum scheme of work for French programme of study for key
stage 3
- French for Key Stage 3
Spanish
¡Bienvenidos
al departamento de español!
Welcome
to the newly formed Spanish department. We are currently
teaching Spanish in Key Stage 3 for 1 hour a week to years 7, 8
and 9. At the moment the course is catering for beginners with a
view to rapid extension to cater fully for the many talented
young linguists that we are lucky enough to have at AAESS. In
the short term we are looking to resource the course with books
appropriate to the levels of understanding of the pupils (from
ab initio to accomplished!) and we are hoping that we will be
able to extend into lesson 7 early in 2007. In the longer term,
depending on the demand we will look to expanding Spanish in
Key Stage 3, possibly into Key Stage 4 and maybe even further…
The emphasis at the moment through is on language acquisition
and having fun with it whilst learning and looking round a
classroom of smiling faces, so far so good…
A big advantage to learning Spanish language is that it is a
widely spoken language. Not only in Spain but also in most Latin
American countries: México, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Ecuador,
Chile, Argentina, etc.
The British National Curriculum scheme of work for
Spanish programme of study for key
stage 3
- Spanish for Key Stage 3
