Welcome to the Languages Site

Welcome to the Languages Department at Barker College! Thank you for your interest in us.

At present the Languages Department at Barker offers four languages within the curriculum, French, German, Japanese and Latin. In 2009 we have introduced a Mandarin pilot scheme with some Year 7 classes. From 2009 German and Latin will no longer be offered in Year 7, and they will be gradually phased out, with the final Year 12 class in 2013.

Languages which are not offered within the curriculum may be studied through the Open High School. Within each of these languages our aim is to develop students':

• ability to communicate
• understanding of language as a system
• appreciation of the cultural contexts in which the language is used
• cognitive, learning & social skills
• potential to apply the language to work, further study, training or leisure.

The courses we have developed, and the textbooks we have chosen to use, present the languages and the countries/cultures in a variety of ways designed to interest and enthuse the students. These courses aim to have the students use the language as much as possible in a meaningful way, in contexts which they are likely to meet in the real world. The Latin course aims to have the students read as much as possible and to get to near authentic texts as quickly as possible.

There are eight members of the department who are enthusiastic about and dedicated to their particular language. Each of them tries their utmost to pass on these feelings to all of the students in their classes.

Please visit the relevant page for the language of your choice and browse the facilities page to see what we have to offer. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Colin Creed-Smith
Head of Languages