Learning a foreign language immerses students into entirely new cultures, world perspectives and lives inviting them to experience a world beyond their own to help them fully appreciate the language and expand their horizons.

This is the surest way for them to develop into tolerant individuals, with an understanding of life that is open-minded and embraces cultural differences and leads to an appreciation of cultural diversity.

Learning a foreign language also provides students with a better understanding of their own native language and culture, not only cultural customs but of the grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation patterns of their first language.

The Modern Foreign Languages Curriculum at Co-op Academy Swinton is built around three goals for ‘Life-long Learning’ focussed around the key tenet of developing ‘Good linguists’. These three goals for understanding are:

1. Know the origins and foundations of the language: students can secure knowledge of grammar and structure and gain linguistic competence to apply to different topics and develop fluency. “Grammar, which knows how to control even Kings.” Moliere
2. Develop meaningful communication: students can apply grammar, vocabulary and transactional language to a variety of scenarios and communicate in the target language in written and spoken form, while understanding what they hear and read.
3. Become a global citizen: this is about understanding the culture of Hispanic, francophone and Chinese countries and being able to compare with our own culture.

At Co-op Academy Swinton we believe a high-quality languages education should foster students’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world.

The teaching here enables students to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It provides opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. Language teaching provides the foundation for learning further languages, equipping students to study and work in other countries.