Modern Languages Senior School

The Senior School Languages department at Marlborough delivers an enriching programme throughout the school to pupils of all backgrounds and abilities. We believe that by enabling our pupils to communicate fluently in foreign languages, we are helping them gain a vital skill that will enable them to become truly global citizens. We aim to make our pupils think, engage and aspire to give of their best intellectual efforts. We promote outstanding teaching and learning, in order that all pupils have access to the best post-secondary programmes worldwide.

All pupils in Shell must study Spanish, French or Bahasa Malaysia alongside Mandarin. In Remove and Hundred, all pupils must study at least one foreign language on the Edexcel IGCSE course. Beyond this, the IB Diploma requires all pupils to take a foreign language and the same three options are available at Ab Initio and Language B level. An option is also available for first language Bahasa speakers throughout the school.
The department is healthily staffed with six full time language beaks and we have a Spanish assistant who offers extra conversation classes. All members of the Languages department are tutors in both day and boarding houses. All staff are highly qualified and attend professional development courses in order to ensure that their practice is current and relevant.

The department is located within six classrooms, all with wi-fi and up-to-date audio-visual resources to dynamically support teaching and learning. The department is forward thinking, innovative and uses an extensive range of language-learning resources and technologies.

Modern Languages Prep School

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language – that goes to his heart” Nelson Mandela

With ‘Communication’ as one of the key philosophies behind our everyday lives here at Marlborough, and living in such a vibrant, diverse community with over 30 different nationalities represented, it makes sense to embrace the learning of different languages. The study of Modern Languages has at its core the opening up of young minds to new worlds through personal engagement with linguistic and cultural difference.

As Modern Linguists we think learning a foreign language is important and we hope to convey our enjoyment of languages to our pupils. It also enhances the essential principles of friendship and understanding. Our methods are based on a communicative approach underpinned by a clear grammatical structure. We also hope to give them an insight into the culture of the country whose language they are studying. Through learning a modern foreign language, pupils acquire study skills which support other subjects.

All pupils have the option of Spanish or Malay from Reception to Year 8 with the option of French from Year 5 upwards. Pupils are taught twice a week by language specialists.

Aims of the MFL Dept.

• Positive experience
• Sense of achievement and enjoyment
• Cultural awareness
• Confident communication skills
• Transferable skills
• Broadening horizons

How do we teach our languages?

• Two lessons a week from Reception to Year 8
• Communicative, Interactive and Productive
• Up-to-date resources
• Pairs and group work
• Pupils playing games and doing puzzles
• Singing songs, learning short plays and dialogues, using “show me” boards
• Listening to exercises with tape or CD
• Accessing MFL news websites and using IT in a variety of ways