Head of Modern Languages Faculty: Mrs. A. Evans

Supporting Teachers: Mrs. M. Lewis, Mrs. R. Judge, Mrs. M. Eddyshaw, Mr. A. Goss, Mrs. M. Ellis, Miss K. James, Mrs. B. Martin & Mrs. A. Wang

The Languages Faculty is successful and well-organised and encourages high standards of achievement from all pupils throughout the school.

We strongly believe that learning a foreign language puts our students at a great advantage in the outside world and we encourage them to pursue their languages to GCSE, A level and above.

The teaching of French and Welsh begins in the Preparatory Department; Spanish is introduced in year 9 and Latin in year 10. Chinese is taught to examination level primarily to the sixth form, but we also have a very popular and successful Chinese club for younger pupils.

In the senior school, pupils can choose to study Welsh and Latin to GCSE level in addition to one compulsory language, either French or Spanish (both can be taken if so wished.)

The department favours a communicative approach to language learning and also places great importance on the learning of grammar. We concentrate on teaching pupils the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, all of which are essential for GCSE, AS and A2. All languages are taught through the target language and pupils are encouraged to use the language as much as possible in order to build their confidence.

The languages faculty has a very good reputation, all our staff is highly qualified and experienced and we are very proud of our excellent examination results.

French Teaching Staff: Mrs. M. Lewis, Mrs. R. Judge, Mrs. M. Eddyshaw, Mr. A. Goss

GCSE & AS/A2 Level
French is introduced in the Preparatory Department and continued throughout the school.

The textbooks used in years 7 – 11 are EXPO 1, 2 & 3. These books allow pupils to develop their knowledge of all four skills and encourage them, through a wide range of activities, to gain confidence in their own ability.

At the end of year 9 students can choose to continue studying French to GCSE level. They then move on to the EXPO GCSE text book, which enables them to achieve excellent results at this level.

AS and A2 French are taught in small groups where students benefit greatly from the individual support and attention they receive and thus have the opportunity to expand and improve their knowledge.

We follow the WJEC specification for both GCSE and A level and our results over many years have been of a consistently high standard.

Spanish Teaching Staff: Mrs. A. Evans & Miss K. James

GCSE & AS/A2 Level
Spanish is introduced in year 9 and has proved to be a very popular language at the school for many years.

We are currently using the Caminos 1, 2 & 3 textbooks in years 9 – 11 which are proving to be very popular. The range of activities, including grammar exercises, ensures that all our pupils develop the necessary skills required for GCSE and further study.

We encourage them to take the opportunity to use the language as much as possible, both orally and in written form, and we find that their confidence increases very quickly and they are eager to practise their new-found knowledge.

At the end of year 9 we have a large number of students who decide to continue studying the language to GCSE level and we are very pleased with our high level of success.

As for French, AS and A2 level Spanish are taught in small groups and the individual support our students receive is second to none. We follow the WJEC specification and are very proud of our high level of achievement at both levels which has enabled many of our students to go on to study languages at university level.

Head of Welsh Speaking: Mrs. M. Ellis

The Welsh Department is friendly and forward – looking. Welsh is compulsory in Form 1 and a substantial number of pupils choose to continue the subject to GCSE level. Some choose to study Welsh to ‘A’ level after completing their GCSE course.

GCSE & AS/A2 Level
In conjunction with the use of new course-books for Forms 1, 2, 3 and the GCSE classes we will be making much greater use of I.T. commencing in September 2009. This is part of the ongoing strategy of presenting Welsh as a vibrant and useful element of modern society.

All language skills receive appropriate attention although increasing emphasis will be placed on conversational Welsh in keeping with the greater importance of this aspect of the learning process for the GCSE examinations.

We seek to demonstrate the close connections between Welsh and other subjects (History and Spanish) and actively promote the study of several languages as an important part of a worthwhile overall education.

We keep in tune with these developments by attending courses organized by the WJEC. We would like to emphasize that previous knowledge of Welsh is not necessary for a pupil to succeed in achieving high grades in Welsh at GCSE level. The course is designed to build from Form One in this school and all necessary basic information is dealt with during the first year.

Welsh Speakers
Croeso i Adran Gymraeg Ysgol San Mihangel. Mae hon yn adran gyfeillgar ac rwy’n siwr y bydd eich plentyn yn mwynhau bod yn rhan ohoni.

Mae’r Adran yn addysgu Cymraeg Ail-iaith hyd at safon T.G.A.U. ac at safon Uwch. Os oes ychydig o gefndir Cymraeg ar eich plentyn bydd gwaith ychwanegol yn cael ei osod os bydd hyn yn ddymunol.

Os bydd disgybl yn rhagori yn y Gymraeg efallai bydd modd iddo/iddi sefyll yr artholiad T.G.A.U. flwyddyn ynghynt (sef yn nosbarth pedwar).