Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

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i-mum
Posts: 50
Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2014 3:57 pm

Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

Post by i-mum »

How does DGS boys differ from other grammar schools when it comes to languages? Are there more mandatory languages to take? Son enjoys learning languages however when it comes to proper long writing tasks it doesn't interest him much and becomes a chore.
I was thinking of putting Skinner on CAF but looking at my commute to work now thinking of DGS. For either school we will relocate fairly close to school so commute for boy isnt going to be a criteria.
RoboR
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Joined: Tue Mar 15, 2016 11:36 am

Re: Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

Post by RoboR »

My son just started in Y7 and is doing Mandarin Chinese and loves it ! (His carrot on the stick is being able to watch and understand Dragon Ball Z in its native language and subtitles lol !!) DGS is a language specialist school and have just started a accelerated language program for Japanese and Chinese Mandarin funded by DFE and British Council so it is pretty big on langues and your son will need to write but as everyone else does he really would just go with the flow.

I would strongly recommend coming early to the parents evening on thursday as it really does get a bit busy and there is just so much to see that time runs out very quickly !
i-mum
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Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2014 3:57 pm

Re: Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

Post by i-mum »

@RoboR, thank you. Yes we will come early to the parents evening so we can get to see and know about school.
salsa
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Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:59 am

Re: Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

Post by salsa »

Yes, all children have to take two language GCSEs, one of which will be either Japanese or Mandarin. These oriental languages are allocated by the school in year 7. They only do this language for the first year as it can be quite a challenge. So, my son had, I think, his allocated language taught 3 times per week in year 7. There was a lot of homework of pages and pages of practice of the different alphabets and symbols.
In year 8 the boys can express two preferences for their European language. As some languages such as Spanish can be over subscribed, children may not get their preferred language. The boys then carry on with the two languages to GCSE.
Salsa
hanaF
Posts: 66
Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 11:13 am

Re: Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

Post by hanaF »

salsa wrote: In year 8 the boys can express two preferences for their European language. As some languages such as Spanish can be over subscribed, children may not get their preferred language. The boys then carry on with the two languages to GCSE.
Salsa
Thanks Salsa, do you know if Latin is likely to be oversubscribed in Y8? This is the only one DS wants to do.
salsa
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Re: Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

Post by salsa »

You're welcome. Latin is definitely not oversubscribed.
i-mum
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Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2014 3:57 pm

Re: Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

Post by i-mum »

Sorry I am not much familiar with secondary education system. I should have done a bit of homework before asking so please excuse me for such questions.

Does it mean at DGS kids do three languages at GCSE - one oriental language, one European language and English? And how many at IB exam?

Minimum of how many languages kids do in any other grammar at GCSE. Only English or atleast English and one more language? And how many minimum at A-level?
hanaF
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Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 11:13 am

Re: Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

Post by hanaF »

i-mum wrote:Sorry I am not much familiar with secondary education system. I should have done a bit of homework before asking so please excuse me for such questions.

Does it mean at DGS kids do three languages at GCSE - one oriental language, one European language and English? And how many at IB exam?

Minimum of how many languages kids do in any other grammar at GCSE. Only English or atleast English and one more language? And how many minimum at A-level?
English is mandatory at GCSE for all schools. Most students would take another language at GCSE (in order to achieve the English Baccalaureate) They are not required to take a language at A Level unless they want to.

At DGS, In addition to English, children will take one oriental language and one European language to GCSE level. As they do International Baccalaureate instead of A Level, everyone will also need to take English and a language in 6th form.

The more I read about the IB, the more I like about it and DGS' curriculum.


Thanks again Salsa, DS will now be happy that he can take Latin instead of French/German. Think this is the choice of school for us. :D
salsa
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Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2013 10:59 am

Re: Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

Post by salsa »

Yes, you are right. Moreover, with the IB they can also start a language from scratch. At some schools children start learning one or two languages, but when it comes to choosing their GCSEs options the languages are not compulsory. At DGS all must take the two foreign language GCSEs. What they have to choose from is Art, Music and Drama. My son loved all three, but could only choose one.
i-mum
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Joined: Fri Mar 28, 2014 3:57 pm

Re: Dartford grammar boys - language focused?

Post by i-mum »

thank you hanaF and salsa.
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