Promoting Equality and Diversity

Promoting Equality & Diversity

The idea that cultural diversity enriches life and increases understanding of one’s own identity is inherent in the study of foreign languages and is something that we seek to make explicit to MFL students. Equality issues are implicit in many of the topics studied (eg Immigration, la condition féminine) and are also often made explicit in class discussion and tasks set. We encourage students to develop knowledge and awareness concerning values and attitudes in society in written and oral work.

When dealing with topical and challenging topics, and likewise when analysing texts which represent a variety of different social groups we encourage students to share their own opinions and ideas we avoid bias in teaching and encourage them to think independently and draw their own conclusions, all the while allowing for healthy debate in class between students, where prejudiced views are challenged .

We also seek to use a variety of teaching and learning styles in order to appeal to differing personal tastes, therefore enhancing E&D opportunities. (See individual lesson plans for detail).

Fundamental British values

Themes covered:

Democracy: Through their curriculum, students learn, develop and practice their ideas on freedom of speech, good citizenship, equality, tolerance, etc. and link these to democracy, tolerance, respect or lack of democracy (in some countries/societies/within society). Students learn to become more democratic as they learn to explore and take into account others’ opinions.

Rule of Law: Students have the opportunity to study articles, watch videos and understand social behaviours and the implications of these. In yr 1 students explore social trends within the law (for example, the use of the Internet) and compare these to the British permissibility.

Individual Liberty: Through articles, audio and visual materials students have debates and one to one discussions about personal preferences, choices and permissibility. Learning about the lack of freedom, restrictions in society and the limitations for some ethnic groups make them reflect on their own individual liberty. This value is explored and compared to French values within the topics of family and relationships and popular culture, for example.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance: Tolerance, mutual respect, different faiths and beliefs are tackled through discussions, debates and articles in French. Students‘ opinions are listened to and respected. Comparisons are drawn between British beliefs and those of French societies and cultures. For example, different opinions on same sex partnerships and how society views these.

NB Any reference to GB or Anglophone countries in the exams are considered irrelevant and not given any marks!