Foreign Language Studies

Overview

To learn a foreign language can be hugely beneficial both by way of immediate learning and long term application. At DBIS Mandarin is our selected compulsory language. Mandarin because of it's global significance and because of our place in China.

Our Mandarin Studies department comprises a staff member based within our Kindergarten to work with our Nursery and Reception year students along with Mandarin teachers to meet the Primary and Secondary School needs. We also have the support of education assistants to further enhance the language study programmes. Lessons include a rich array of oral work, mime and role play, character development and thematic studies.

French is offered as options within our Secondary School programme.

Kindergarten

Our Kindergarten Mandarin programme begins in the Nursery year. The lessons are short, frequent and focus on an introduction to Mandarin in a fun and inclusive way. Our Kindergarten classroom teachers participate in the lessons to ensure reinforcement of the new learning is woven into the ongoing classroom programme. All learning at this level is oral.

Primary

Our Kindergarten and Primary School Mandarin Department has recently reviewed our Mandarin curriculum and has added a range of additional elements to further enhance the learning opportunities for our students.  Our continuing focus is on developing Mandarin competence, to enhance an understanding of language and identity and to develop an international outlook. 

Our programme is aligned to the National Languages Strategy of England addressing three key strands of oracy (listening, speaking and spoken interaction), literacy (reading and writing) and intercultural understanding. The objectives for each of these three strands are progressive allowing students to revisit and expand their knowledge throughout the language learning process.

Mandarin lessons begin in Kindergarten with our Nursery students, and continue as a compulsory subject until Year 8 in our Secondary School.  Mandarin is then an optional subject to pursue.

Contextual units of study are generally taught over a two to three week period and consistently include an oracy and literacy focus.  Additional units of study that include history, tradition, celebrations and cultural awareness occur at set intervals throughout the year in line with significant dates (eg: Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival etc.).

Lessons are timetabled to occur twice each week.  This time allocation allows for core language development and the development of cultural awareness.  Please note that the time allocation does not allow for a full language fluency programme – our focus is on providing an introduction to Mandarin and building related competence.

Regular assessments occur within the lessons to ensure student development is carefully monitored and developed accordingly.  Revision and assessment activities occur twice each term addressing the most recent units of study and pre test the upcoming units of study to ascertain the longer term recall and application of previous learning.

As with any language, development is enhanced by way of reinforcement and opportunities to use the language.  We encourage you to support your child as they learn by incorporating elements of their learning into your day to day lives eg: use of greetings, counting items in Mandarin etc.

We look forward to another fun filled year of Mandarin learning.

Within each Year level we have a set of core expectations, to view these please click here:

Kindergarten to Year 6 Mandarin Studies Core Expectations of development

Overview of assessment practices within our Year 1 - Year 6 Mandarin programme

Secondary

Our Secondary School language studies build on the strong foundations established throughout the Primary School years.  All Students participate in compulsory Mandarin and French studies in Year 7, moving into optional languages from Year 8 that accommodate either Mandarin or French.  Learning other languages gives our students opportunities to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills and to express themselves with increasing confidence, independence and creativity.

At the Key Stage 3 level there are a number of key concepts addressed within the modern foreign languages programmes of study, these concepts include:

•      Linguistic competence

•      Knowledge about a language

•      Creativity

•      Intercultural understanding

To see the National Modern Foreign Languages Curriculum in detail, please click on the links below:

Please note: Modern Foreign Languages is not a National Curriculum strand at the Key Stage 1 level.  

          Key Stage 2

          Key Stage 3