Key Skills Support
The four key skills required in Modern Languages are as follows: Reading, Listening, Talking and Writing. In all year groups, Teachers in the Modern Languages Department regularly discuss with pupils what can be done at home to further enhance their skills in these areas.
Please see the section entitled Hints and Tips for Dealing with Homework to see how you can best support your child at home.
Hints and Tips for Helping with Homework
Homework is issued to all year groups on a weekly basis (more regularly for S5 and S6 pupils). The two types of homework issued in the Modern Languages Department involve either vocabulary learning or the completion or finishing off of a piece in Reading, Writing or Talking.
The following suggestions can be applied to all levels and languages:
- Ask your child to show you their Homework Planner. All pupils are expected to note down any homework given. If nothing has been noted for French or Spanish, it may be that your child revises his or her vocabulary thoroughly without having to note it in their Planner! Remind them that due to the nature of homework given by the Modern Languages Department, they always have vocab learning to do! (pupils sometimes think that because a piece of homework doesn’t have to be ‘handed-in’ that they don’t have any)!
- Ask your child what particular topic he or she is studying at present. Ask them to tell you how to say some of the things associated with this topic in French or Spanish ie. Can you name me 5 school subjects/ 5 classroom objects/10 pets?
- Test your child by having a vocab list in front of you! (All vocab lists for Métro and Listos are on the Modern Languages Dept website www.frenchatschool.co.uk). It doesn’t matter how good your own French or Spanish is! Get them to spell it out to you!
- Chat with your child in French or Spanish! Again, it doesn’t matter how good you are; any exposure to the language is positive!
- Discuss with your child how he or she can use their various items of technology (a mobile phone, MP3 player or PC) to help with French and Spanish. For example, has your child thought about recording themselves speaking on to their phone or MP3 player to help them with pronunciation, Talking assessments etc? Or using the internet to gain immediate access to any topic under the sun in French or Spanish? It may be that your child likes a particular foreign football team or is an avid fan of a particular band: why not get them to read about it in French or Spanish? Any exposure to the foreign language is relevant, even changing the interface on their phone or Facebook account or listening to French or Spanish radio while studying!
Department Study Support Activities
The Modern Languages Department offers supported study for all year groups in both French and Spanish. Traditionally, few pupils attend these sessions. Since we wish all our pupils to succeed, we would appreciate your support in encouraging them to attend when possible.
S1 and S2: All staff make themselves available at lunch and after school prior to assessments in Speaking and Writing. Pupils who require extra support are encouraged to attend these sessions for help in preparing for the assessments.
S3: All staff make themselves available at lunch and after school prior to assessments in Speaking and Writing. Pupils who require extra support are encouraged to attend these sessions for help in preparing for the assessments.
S4: Revision classes are offered either during a lunch time or after school after the February break. Furthermore, ad hoc sessions are arranged by all staff prior to SQA assessments.