Modern Foreign Languages

Why study a language?

Did you know that in Birmingham, there are 78,000 people who are fluent in at least two foreign languages? Why be left behind when it comes to applying for college, university or a job? Studying a language develops your communication skills and increases your learning skills too.

How will I study?

We are a small but innovative department, with a wonderful languages lab, foreign language assistants, and other exciting resources. We regularly show you how to become more independent by learning online in your own time, accessing videos, and so on. You will learn how to speak, write, read and listen to the language. We also do links with other subjects, such as drama, cooking and science.

What languages can I study?

In years 7, 8 and 9 you will study either French or Spanish. You can continue studying it in Key Stage 4 and take the GCSE, or you can start a second language instead.

I already speak another language. Can I get credit for it?

If you can speak and write another language to a very good level, you will be able to take either a GCSE or the Asset Languages qualification in that language.

Extra-curricular activities

We organise trips to France and Spain every year, as well as local trips to Aston University, French restaurants, and further afield. We also have Languages and International Days where we do activities in school like samba drumming, African dancing, Chinese calligraphy, cultural art, and cooking. See some of our recent activities below:

International links

As part of the Academy’s initiative to implement internationalism, staff and pupils in the MFL department and other subject areas are involved in different projects with various schools abroad; such as South Africa, Italy, Russia, Bulgaria, Pakistan, and Sierra Leone. Through these links pupils establish relations and get to discover other cultures and habits.