Modern Languages

Hello/ Hola/ Salut!

The Department of Modern Languages aims to prepare students for the world of work as well as the global village by educating and offering insights of the language, culture and literature of the French and Spanish speaking countries across the globe.

The Modern Languages department at the ALHCS offers two foreign languages (French and Spanish) to senior students in years 4, 5 and 6.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Students wishing to pursue French or Spanish, or both languages at the YEARS 4 and 5 levels are required to be at the BANDS 1 or 2 level in YEAR THREE (yr3).

• Students wishing to pursue French or Spanish at the SIXTH (6^th) FORM level MUST obtain a passing grade in French/Spanish at the CSEC level.

• ALL students MUST be recommended by their French or Spanish teacher.

• Students will continue working on the following competencies:

• Reading

• Writing

• Listening

• Speaking

CSEC EXAM COMPONENTS AND WEIGHTING:

• Paper 1 : Multiple Choice 25%

• Paper 2: Structured 42%

• Paper 3: Oral Exam 33%

Modern/Foreign languages complement EVERY PROFESSION/CAREER.

• E.G Hotel industry employee

• Education

• Psycholinguistics

• Translator / interpreter

• Anthropologic linguistics

• Police officer

• Immigration/ customs officer

• Business and Finance

• Journalism

• Forensic linguistics

• Medicine

• Etc.

CHOOSE WISELY! CHOOSE A MODERN LANGUAGE TODAY!

The Modern Languages Syllabus focuses on developing students’ ability to communicate in two of the languages in use in the Caribbean region. As students develop the competence to listen, speak, read and write in French and Spanish and interpret aspects of the culture in which the languages are embedded, they acquire the means to facilitate deeper interaction with our Caribbean neighbours.

The syllabus is organised around three main concepts: Functions and Notions, Settings and Topics and Grammar and Lexis. In the syllabus, emphasis is placed on the student’s ability to use the target language in a functional way. Therefore, the basic functions needed for communication are identified. Functions, however, are performed in particular contexts and, therefore, the settings in which the functions are likely to be performed are identified.

This approach used in organising the syllabus seeks to shift attention away from a purely structural approach to a more communicative one. It is expected that students following this syllabus will be able to carry out these functions in the target language based on the following topics – Home and Family, School and Career, Sports and Recreation, Daily Routines, Shopping and Travel.