Modern Foreign Languages Department End of Term News
What a fantastic and eventful year it’s been for the MFL department!
We began the academic year with a bang by celebrating the European Day of Languages. Highlights included the popular bake-off, a range of competitions and a lively interform quiz. The bake-off was a particular hit once again, drawing in a record number of delicious entries for our language staff to judge – always a highlight in our calendar! The creativity on display was truly outstanding.
In lessons, students explored the history of the Berlin Wall, linking into the theme of German reunification. Through interactive lessons and thoughtful discussions, they developed a richer understanding of the historical events and the significance of the wall coming down.
We also strengthened our ties with Cardinal Newman College, welcoming their German department to speak with our Year 11 students. This visit gave students valuable insight into college life and studying A-level German, and they made the most of the opportunity to ask insightful questions.
Our international links with partner schools in France and Germany remain strong. Students have enjoyed exchanging letters and working on collaborative cultural projects, which have helped to deepen their appreciation of different cultures and build friendships beyond the classroom. We’re excited to continue nurturing these partnerships next year.
Meanwhile, our extracurricular German clubs have been thriving. The German Spelling Bee proved popular and our German film club has offered students the chance to enjoy a range of films while expanding their cultural knowledge. Students also got a chance to watch “Le Petit Nicolas” this year which students always find entertaining. These activities have been both fun and enriching and we can’t wait to build on them in the coming year!
Year 8 German Picnic with Frau Ingram
In Year 8 German, Module 3 is all about food and healthy living. In class, we have learned all about traditional German foods and how to give opinions on and describe these foods in German. To mark the end of the module and the end of our Summer term, some of our Year 8 classes were super lucky to be able to experience some of these traditional German foods for themselves in their German lessons. We tried Bratwurst, Brezeln, Brötchen and of course Berliner! Students demonstrated lots of curiosity when faced with these new and different foods and they used lots of fabulous adjectives to describe the foods and there were some definite favourites! How many of the German foods can you recognise from the photo?
Board Games with Frau Gill
In an exciting blend of creativity, culture, and education, our school’s German language students have taken on a unique project at the end of this term and we have designed their own German board games. This initiative has not only enhanced their linguistic skills but also introduced them to the rich tradition of German board gaming.
Students were divided into small groups, each tasked with creating a board game that incorporated German vocabulary, phrases and cultural references. The project required them to brainstorm ideas, design game mechanics, create rules and produce game materials, all in German.
The resulting games were fabulous. Some groups developed strategy games set in historical German cities, where players navigated through challenges using their language skills. Others created word games that tested vocabulary and grammar in fun and competitive ways.
One standout creation was “German Cluedo” where the teachers of our school took centre stage and the murder weapons were classroom items and the whole game was set in our school!
To finish the project, a game lesson was organised where each group presented their game and we set up stations around the room and moved from one game station to another, trying out the games. Not only did it reinforce their German language skills in a practical and enjoyable context, but it also fostered collaboration, creativity and a deeper appreciation for German culture.
This project has shown that learning a language can be so much more than memorising vocabulary and grammar rules. It can be a vibrant, interactive experience that brings students together and makes learning genuinely fun.
Mrs Gill
Curriculum Leader for MFL
