Modern Foreign Languages
The Modern Foreign Languages department at Harris Academy Bermondsey offers all students the opportunity to study French, Spanish and Chinese, regardless of their level of achievement.
Through learning another language students will develop a better understanding of the people and culture from other countries, enabling them to consider their own identity and place in the world. We believe that this is essential at a time of increasing polarisation in Europe and in the world.
Our Modern Foreign Languages teachers create a true culture of immersion for every single student both inside and outside the classroom as we believe this to be of paramount importance in deepening their linguistic and intercultural understanding.
We have a broad and deep knowledge curriculum that equips all our students with the confidence, lexicon and grammatical foundations to allow them to express and develop their opinions and ideas.
As is natural in well-planned MFL curriculum, we adopt a largely vertical approach so as to gradually build on what has already been taught. Elements of the curriculum are also cumulative and spiral, so as to give students every opportunity to refine their language skills and the fluency and incisiveness with which they communicate.
Learning a language also allows our students to form connections between subjects by mastering key transferrable skills such as evaluating, comparing and analysing. It enables students to significantly grow in confidence and equips them with skilful communicators required for their further studies and future career.
Learning a language is essential for all students regardless of the career path they want to pursue. It is also the main skill required for specialist language jobs such as translating, interpreting or language teaching.
Language-learning combined with other qualifications such as IT, law, finance or sales are sought-after by Russell Group universities and future employers. At HAB, learning a language is seen as a long-term endeavour and our curriculum has been designed by experts who strive to foster rounded individuals ready for a lifelong journey of language learning.
The curriculum plan for all years can be downloaded below.
