The Modern Languages Department at Bromsgrove is responsible for the teaching of French, German and Spanish throughout the school.  We aim to make the pupils enthusiastic about communicating in a foreign language and give them the tools in terms of vocabulary and grammatical structures to do this.  In addition, we hope to interest the pupils in new cultures, literatures and societies through annual exchanges and visits to all three countries and the study of national cinema.

As well as a pleasant suite of classrooms in the large Kyteless building, the Modern Languages Department has access to a 25 position language laboratory and brand new satellite television system.  We use an ICT room where there is full internet access to educational sites and foreign newspapers, hard copies of which are kept in the School Library.

German
German can be studied in Lower Fourth, either as an ab initio subject, or by those who have already done some German at a previous school. The pupils are prepared for the Edexcel GCSE examination.  Pupils use the course book Zickzack 2 in Lower Fourth and then use Lernpunkt 2 and 3 in preparation for GCSE.  An increasing number of pupils continue to do German to AS/A2, including some native speakers.  The pupils sit the AS by/A2 offered Edexcel and are prepared for this using the course book Schauplatz along with a variety of other up to date video and internet materials. For A2, the pupils look at topics such as life in East Germany, National Socialism, youth in German literature and modern German cinema.  They also look at literary texts such as Frisch’s Andorra and Koenig’s Ich fuehle mich so fifty-fifty. The school has a longstanding exchange program with the Evangelisches Gymnasium Hermannswerder in Potsdam and many pupils participate each year.

French
French teaching in the Upper School assumes at least two years of prior study.  Pupils again prepare for the Edexcel GCSE and, thanks to the French assistant, many pupils have access to small group work with a teacher to improve oral skills.  The textbooks for the three years leading to GCSE are Tricolore 3 and 4. Grammar and vocabulary reference materials supplement the textbook and listening and speaking exercises are integral to the course.  Post GCSE, French is available to AS and A2 level. In both the Lower and Upper Sixth, every pupil of French has either an individual or small group lesson with an oral teacher or French native speaking assistant. The Lower Sixth textbook is Au Point. This textbook is used in the Upper Sixth, too, but is supplemented throughout the Sixth Form course by publications such as Essor, Zenith, and Help Yourself to French Grammar The post-16 course is thus challenging and varied, but ultimately satisfying for the enthusiastic linguist.  The French Exchange to Pau, in Southern France, provides a great opportunity to improve knowledge of French culture, history, and language. The Exchange is open to all learners of French, who are urged, especially at Sixth Form level, to take full advantage of this excellent link. Pupils usually visit France at Easter and host their partners in the following Summer Term.

Spanish
Spanish can also be studied from the Lower Fourth either as an ab initio subject, or by pupils who have some prior knowledge from previous schools.  The textbooks for the three years leading to GCSE is Listos1, 2 and 3. Grammar and vocabulary reference materials supplement the textbook, and listening and speaking exercises from a variety of sources are also used.  Post GCSE, Spanish is available to AS and A2 level. The Lower Sixth textbook is Sigue 1, which continues as Sigue 2 in the Upper Sixth. These excellent course books are complimented by the simultaneous progression through D.F. Tyler's Spanish Grammar. Sixth Form students to study the cinema of Carlos Saura as an option, as well as the study of the plays of Frederico Garcia Lorca. Upper Sixth pupils are introduced to Antonio Machado's "Campos de Castilla".