'He who does not know foreign languages does not know anything about his own.' Goethe

A survey of languages spoken at Putney High School showed us how our linguistic field is continually changing. Almost 40 languages are spoken in the Senior School alone. There are 60 girls in the school for whom English is an alternative first language. In a person’s working life, it will be likely that several new languages may have to be acquired. We seek to give the skills necessary for acquiring a new language independently and confidently. We have a state-of-the-art digital laboratory to help learning.

Our mission, backed up by the many trips, is to play a leading role in the global village and to create enthusiastic and skilled language learners.

The Department comprises four full-time and four part-time teachers, as well as three foreign language assistants. French, German, Mandarin and Spanish are taught at all levels; girls have experience of all four languages in a carousel system in Years 7 and 8 before making a free choice of up to three of these languages to study in more depth from Year 9.

Mandarin has been part of the curriculum since September 2007 and we had our first cohort of GCSE candidates sitting the exam in summer 2011. The Chinese department has established a link with Jin Yuan High School, one of Shanghai's leading schools. The first exchange took place in 2010 and the next will be at Easter 2012.

GCSE

Girls have a broad experience of languages in Key Stage 3 and at GCSE girls must study at least one Modern Foreign Language. Many choose to study two or even three. We study the AQA courses in French, German, Mandarin and Spanish. Their website is www.aga.org.uk. In these courses, all four skills are studied: listening, reading, speaking and listening.

 AS and A Level

We have a high take-up for these advanced levels and a good number of dual linguists each year. Many girls opt for a Modern Foreign Language as a 'contrast' alongside scientific subjects and others choose a language as a complement to their humanities subject.

We offer French, Spanish and German AS and A2 levels from AQA - www.aqa.org.uk - and Mandarin AS (and A2 from September 2012) from Edexcel - www.edexcel.com. Modern languages at AS involve the in-depth study of contemporary issues such as equality of the sexes,positive discrimination and modern family life. At A2, further topics are studied, including racism and the environment alongside classic works of literature and the new skill of translation. There is a continued focus on the four key skills.

We prepare students for Oxbridge and are delighted that the study of languages at university - often in combination with another subject such as History or English - is one of the most popular options for our students. Many return and tell us how languages have enriched their life.

Extension Activities

We are lucky to be situated close to central London, so take full advantage of theatres, cinemas, galleries and workshops. Sixthformers are encouraged to organise work experience or language courses abroad.

We organise many trips abroad every year. In 2011 the French department led an exciting study visit to Montpellier for Year 9 students; they were welcomed by local host families and visited Nimes and a local language school. The trip will run again in 2012. In 2011, there were residential trips to the Chateau de la Baudonniere in Normandy for Year 9s and a homestay trip to Paris for Years 10 and 11, as well as a Year 8 day trip to the Christmas market in Lille.

The German Department organises an exchange to Tübingen for Year 10. Girls stay with their exchange partners and are able to experience life in a German family and in a German school as well as taking part in group outings to other towns, such as Stuttgart and Ulm, and visiting local sights. We also sometimes organise a study trip for Year 11 upwards. We take about 50 girls from years 7 - 8 to visit the Christmas market in Aachen. In the Sixth Form, girls are encouraged to organise their own visits to Germany, for example by keeping in touch with exchange partners from Year 10.

Year 11 and 12 Spanish students participated in the now well-established nine-day study visit to Sámara, Costa Rica. They saw turtles and howler monkeys and flew through the rain forest on a zip wire. Kayaking, surfing, salsa and language classes also took place on the beautiful blue palm-lined Pacific beach. In June, Year 10 girls enjoyed a week in Murcia, south east Spain, where they stayed with warm and friendly Spanish families. They attended language classes and took part in a variety of activities, including a boat ride, swimming in the Mediterranean sea and visiting cultural places of interest. From January 2013 we are also offering a study visit in Seville for year 9 students.

Mandarin students entered the HSBC Mandarin speaking competition at the British Museum and accompanied by a specialist, they also visited the Chinese Galleries at the Museum. They will visit Shanghai at Easter 2012.