Maynard students often go on to continue their language studies at university, often combining them with other subjects, such as Law, Economics, Management Studies, Journalism, Maths and a Science, where the possibility exists of studying this subject in the foreign language during a year abroad.

Ethos

At the Maynard we believe that language learning is one of the most enjoyable and rewarding experiences that life can offer. Modern languages prepare you for modern life and as the world gets smaller, there has never been a better opportunity to get into languages.

Curriculum

French, German and Spanish are offered at the Maynard. French is the main language in the Junior school. Our Language Circus in Year 7 continues to be popular and gives our girls a firm footing in each language. Girls continue with French but are able to use a second foreign language, both of which they study until the end of Year 9. At GCSE girls are free to choose whichever language they prefer although many girls choose to pursue two. All three languages are offered in the Sixth Form. Maynard students often go on to continue their language studies at university, often combining them with other subjects, such as Law, Economics, Management Studies, Journalism, Maths and a Science. A second language offers our girls the opportunity to pursue their own interests in the foreign language during a year abroad

Teaching

The department makes full use of all available techniques and strategies to give the students confidence in using their language knowledge in the classroom situation. The use of the latest software and audio-visual technology all serve to enhance motivation and confidence. Wherever possible the onus is on real communication: girls produce work that is to be read by girls of their age in other countries.

Extra Curricular

We celebrate European Day of Languages annually with a variety of activities both inside and outside the classroom. In recent years this has included a pétanque tournament, an art competition, a treasure hunt and a LAFTA (Languages and Film Talent Award) competition and Salsa classes. All girls in Year 7 to Year 11 saw two plays performed by the nationally renowned theatre company Onatti. Members of the Lower Four German class enjoyed success at the South West regional public speaking competition in 2009. In recent years the Maynard has played host to Master class sessions for German and Spanish, helping our students and those of local schools in their preparations for their AS/A2 examinations.

Trips

Time spent abroad is of great value to students who have the opportunity to put their knowledge to use in truly authentic situations. We offer study trips and an exchange for girls in Year 10 and Year 11. We regularly take large numbers of girls to Nice, where trips to Cannes, Monaco and Antibes complement the morning's language lessons. The Spanish Study trip to Valladolid during the October half-term, where girls attend lessons in the morning at the Casa del Español, is an excellent trip. The longstanding German exchange to Hildesheim is similarly successful and has forged many friendships . Such foreign visits are invaluable for improving the students' linguistic proficiency and cultural awareness; they give students the opportunity to visit the country whose language they are studying at least once during their GCSE and A Level courses. The preparation and follow-up of visits to France, Germany and Spain play an important part in our students' development and in their preparations for GCSE. The programme is carefully arranged, so that French and German/Spanish trips occur in alternate years.