Modern Languages

Modern Languages

At Winchester French,German, Russian and Spanish are taught to GCSE and to Pre-U and university entrance level. Boys may study Mandarin to GCSE,subject to numbers. On leaving the School all Wykehamists should have the confidence and competence to communicate effectively and accurately in at least one foreign language.

French

All Wykehamists study French during their first three years at Winchester. About thirty boys a year go on to study French in the Sixth Book. About 12 boys go on each year to study the language at Oxford, Cambridge and other good universities.

German and Spanish

In their first year at Winchester, boys study German, Spanish or Greek as a second foreign language. They take GCSE at the end of their third year. Many of them will have gone beyond the confines of the GCSE syllabus to learn more grammar and read some literature in the foreign language. About 25 boys a year study either German or Spanish in Sixth Book. The foreign press and satellite TV are used in the course as well as traditional grammar books. Boys also read about four literary texts in the language. Every year about six boys go on to study German or Spanish at university.

Russian

Boys may start Russian in the third term of their first year in the school. A modern Russian course is followed which enables rapid progress in the language. The GCSE exam is taken at the end of the third year in the school. About eight boys continue to study for the Pre-U in Russian and among these there are always some successful applicants for places at Oxford and Cambridge.

Literature and Culture

The Modern Languages department has a strong literary tradition. Every year a play is put on in French in the QEII theatre. Recent examples include Le malade imaginaire and En attendant Godot. We also run play reading societies in French, German and Spanish and invite outside speakers to come and lecture on literary topics.

Facilities

There is an excellent range of books in the Modern Languages section of the library. All classrooms have a data projector and a connection to the internet. There is a conversation room for conversation work in small groups, and a Tandberg digital language laboratory in which to do a variety of listening exercises.

Trips abroad

There are exchanges with schools in France, Spain and Germany. Study visits are occasionally arranged to Russia and Colombia.

Further information about the teaching and learning of Modern Foreign Languages may be obtained by contacting the Head of Modern Languages,
Dr Barbara MacKinnon