French
To have another language is to possess a second soul’ Charlemagne. From improving literacy skills to developing self-esteem and widening cultural awareness, introducing a language at an early stage has many benefits.
Multilingualism contributes to personal development, divergent thinking, problem solving, enhances performance in literacy and numeracy amongst other.
Multilingualism promotes cultural awareness, global citizenship, supports communication.
Our children are future citizens of the world and languages are necessary tools in our multilingual societies.
In Knightsbridge School we value languages and we believe that children should start early and enrich their educational experience.
French is compulsory subject for all pupils from Nursery to Senior School.
Pupils study French in Foundation and Junior school through stories, games, role play, rimes and songs. Emphasis is put on spoken language.
In the Senior School, pupils start practising the four skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Preparation for the Common Entrance exam begins in Senior 5 and continues up to Senior 8. Pupils discover and study grammatical concepts, vocabulary and use a variety of communicative activities.
Pupils become familiar with the French culture and French speaking countries.
We are very enthusiastic about languages and we organise special celebrations such as French assemblies and Christmas carol singing.
Trips with cross curricular links are organised in London every year. The last few years our pupils visited the National Gallery and Tate Gallery to admire paintings by Gauguin and other famous French painters. Links with the French Institute offer us opportunities for French film screenings, workshops and visits in the library.
Our pupils benefit from trips to Normandy combining outdoor, cultural and linguistic activities.
Our pupils from Junior 2 to Senior 8 have access to Rosetta Stone, an online language learning program which promotes independent learning.
Language CD-ROMs and educational French internet sites are also used in class providing links with ICT.
The Department supported by well qualified and experienced teachers, uses Asset Languages, a national assessment scheme related to the European Framework for Languages for; different skills are assessed separately and achievement is recognized. Just like in Music examinations, pupils take the tests when they are ready.