Languages and Linguistics
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head, if you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” By Nelson Mandela.
The Languages and Linguistics department includes the following:
- Mrs K Kapoti – Lead Teacher of Languages and Linguistics
French & Spanish Specialist - Mrs H Jenkins-Baldock – Teacher of Languages and Linguistics
Spanish & French specialist - Mrs J Ariza – Teacher of Languages and Linguistics
Spanish specialist - Mrs F Zadi – Teacher of Languages and Linguistics
French specialist
Curriculum Vision
Through the study of French or Spanish alongside Linguistics, students build accurate vocabulary and grammatical knowledge, develop confidence in communication in the target language, and gain an understanding of language structure, meaning, and variation. The curriculum is ambitious , requiring students to apply linguistic concepts thoughtfully to a variety real-world contexts.
From Year 7, students focus on one language in depth, establishing strong foundations in phonics, grammar, and core vocabulary. Homework is set through Language Nut, providing structured, fun and engaging practice beyond the classroom. The purposeful use of technology, including BBC Bitesize video resources, supports independent learning and reinforces key knowledge.
Students engage with authentic materials, are challenged with translations, identify language patterns, and investigate the historical and sociopolitical influences that have shaped languages.
This approach develops problem-solving, oracy, and critical thinking skills, preparing students effectively for GCSE, A-level, and future pathways.
These transferable skills enable progression into A-level Languages and Linguistics and support success across a wide range of further and higher education routes in an increasingly interconnected world.
Enrichment and Celebration
A vibrant programme of enrichment brings languages to life and celebrates success. This includes:
- European Day of Languages activities
- Christmas and Valentine’s card competitions
- A cross-curricular project exploring “Why languages are important”
- A languages film club, authentic restaurant visits, and residential trips abroad
Student achievement is recognised throughout including students' awards and certificates, prizes, celebrating effort, excellence, and the values that underpin the ethos of SST.
Together, our curriculum and enrichment provision equip students with the cultural literacy, critical thinking, and communication skills needed for future study and success in a global society.
Curriculum Intent
Here at SST we are committed to inspiring, empowering and equipping our students for a life of language learning.
By equipping our students not only with a knowledge of grammar and vocabulary in French and Spanish, but with an understanding of the science of languages, from morphology to syntax, and diacritical markers to gender and number categories, we will empower them to tackle any language that they should need for living and working in and beyond modern Britain. This grounding in linguistics will also improve their competencies in English and encourage them to cast a critical eye over their own communication skills in spoken and written language, complementing and extending their studies across the curriculum.
In addition, exposure to the weird and wonderful nature of the world’s diverse languages family will inspire our students to look beyond the limits of their own language and explore what else is possible, questioning their assumptions and the world-view shaped by the language we speak. Did you know Dyirbal recognises five gender categories, for example? Finally, through engagement in international cultural events such as the European Day of Languages our students will be inspired to pursue the international outlook and appreciation without which they cannot hope to become global citizens.
Curriculum Topics
Year 7
Term 1 – Precision
Linguistics focus: phonetics and accentuation
Language focus: personal introductions (French and Spanish)
Term 2 – Cause and effect
Linguistics focus: agreements in number and gender
Language focus: family, character and physical descriptions (French and Spanish)
Term 3 – Input, process, output
Linguistics focus: verb tense and aspect
Language focus: food (French), free time (Spanish)
Term 4 – Deconstruct
Linguistics focus: morphology
Language focus: local area (French), house and home (Spanish)
Term 5 – Interpretation
Linguistics focus: extralinguistic communication
Language focus: out and about (French), school (Spanish)
Term 6 – Modelling
Linguistics focus: genre, symbolism and model texts
Language focus: the Francophone world (French), local area (Spanish)
Year 8
Term 1 – Resilience
Linguistics focus: listening and reading strategies for the resilient language learner
Language focus: holidays (Spanish), lifestyle (French)
Term 2 – Justify
Linguistics focus: Diachronic language change: language extinction and survival
Language focus: media and technology (Spanish), France and other countries (French)
Term 3 – Equivalence
Linguistics focus: Translation theory: dynamic vs formal equivalence and other models for translation
Language focus: holidays (French), diet and health (Spanish)
Term 4 – Hypothesis
Linguistics focus: language acquisition and knowledge transfer
Language focus: local area (French), fashion and shopping (Spanish)
Term 5 – Application
Linguistics focus: loan-words and neologisms
Language focus: technology (French), culture across the Hispanic world (Spanish)
Term 6 – Reflection
Linguistics focus: Self-correction: planning and proof-reading an extended piece of writing in the target language
Language focus: issues for teenagers (French), local and global issues (Spanish)
Year 9
Term 1 – Reduce it
French: All about me
My personality, friends and family
Spanish: All about me
Free time activities and special occasions
Dual Language: as for French and Spanish
Languages 4 Life: Language for travel
Greetings, methods of transport, buying travel tickets
Term 2 – Transform it
French: Education and employment
School systems and subjects, job titles and plans
Spanish: Employment
Job roles and responsibilities, and future plans
Dual Language: as for French and Spanish
Languages 4 Life: Language for tourism
Accommodation, directions, visiting tourist attractions
Term 3 – Prioritise it
French: Healthy living and lifestyle
Sports, active holidays, ailments and injuries
Spanish: Healthy living and lifestyle
Diet, daily routine, ailments and injuries
Dual Language: as for French and Spanish
Languages 4 Life: Language for education
Contrasting education systems, school subjects, rules and facilities
Term 4 – Categorise it
French: Issues that affect me
Healthy eating, making a change
Spanish: Issues that affect me
Children’s rights, fair trade, the environment, making a change
Dual Language: as for French and Spanish
Languages 4 Life: Language for work
Job adverts and applications
Term 5 – Compare it
French: Leisure
Television, music, film, reading
Spanish: Holidays
Introductions, in the souvenir shop, making plans
Dual Language: as for French and Spanish
Languages 4 Life: Language and culture
Francophone festivals, German cuisine
Term 6 – Evaluate it
French: At home
House and home, daily routine
Spanish: ¡Zona Cultura!
Hispanic Day, Día de los Muertos, Semana Santa, quinceañera, Navidad, etc.
Dual Language: as for French and Spanish
Languages 4 Life: Language and communication
Body language, idioms, slang and text talk
Year 10
Term 1
French- Qui Suis-Je?
Spanish- Desconéctate
Term 2
French- Le temps des loisirs
Spanish- Mi vida en el insti
Term 3
French- Jours ordinaires, jours de fête
Spanish- Mi gente
Term 4
French- De la ville à la campagne
Spanish- Intereses e influencias
Term 5
French- Le grand large...
Spanish- Ciudades
Term 6
French- Au collège
Spanish- De costumbre
Year 11
Term 1
French- Bon travail (part 1)
Spanish- A currar (part 1)
Term 2
French- Bon travail (part 2)
Spanish- A currar (part 2)
Term 3
French- Un oeil sur le monde
Spanish- Hacia un mundo mejor
Term 4
Speaking exam preperation
Term 5
Speaking examinations conducted
Term 6
Revision
Year 12 and 13
Language options will be available in the Sixth Form at SST, or other schools within the Maidstone Campus.
Transition Information
Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3
Students are provided with additional support where they have not previously studied a language.
There is an opportunity for students to join the Vocab Taskforce, a group which develops strategies and tips for learning languages.
Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4
Throughout Key Stage 3, students are encouraged to think about the next stage of their transition, with a Foundation Year in Year 9 allowing students to explore the learning of languages in more depth. During Key Stage 3 and the Year 9 Foundation Year, students are educated on the benefits of speaking another language in a range of careers which they may not have considered.
Key Stage 4 to Key Stage 5
During the GCSE course, students are given an awareness of application of the language in different contexts and how learning a language for A Level and at University extends from the GCSE syllabus.
Links with Sixth Form students at other schools on the campus allows discussion with GCSE students so they can find out more about aspiration.
Beyond Key Stage 5
Students are given opportunities to look at different routes to learn languages beyond the Sixth form, including the role of additional languages in jobs involving apprenticeships, college courses and University modules.
Extended Curriculum Opportunities
Click here to view the Extended Curriculum Opportunities for Languages and Linguistics.
