We believe that an outstanding languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. It should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language, as well as provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and provide the foundation for learning further languages.

Spanish is the main language of study up to Year 7 but there are French and German clubs available for our younger linguists. From Year 7 all pupils continue to learn Spanish, and are offered the opportunity to study either French, German or Latin. 

We offer a spiral curriculum, which means that our pupils have lots of opportunity to revisit topics, grammar and vocabulary in order to ensure that it is embedded well. We are very sad that we cannot offer trips abroad at the moment but we are very much looking forward to leading trips to Spain, France, Germany and Austria as soon as we can. In the meantime, we are looking at ways to showcase the children’s language skills in different areas of the school. They will be performing short dialogues,whilst also writing and reading prayers for our virtual assemblies and Chapel Services.

There will also be lots of opportunity throughout the year to acquire new language skills in our on-going Cross-Curricular approach, meaning that pupils will acquire more Spanish vocabulary in different subjects. From learning about the Spanish Armada in History to discovering the work of Gaudi in Art. We will continue to celebrate our language days over the course of the year and pupils will also have the opportunity to cook, create, research, share and present. 

Our newly arrived Spanish Assistant, Javier, is joining the team from next week and we cannot wait to meet him. He will be supporting the children in and out of lessons with their Spanish. German Ambassadors from the Senior School will join us throughout the year to support and we will also have use of the French Assistant from the Senior School this year. We are very grateful for them and the children very much love having their guidance in the lessons. 

Meet the Languages Team:

Mrs Knightley

I am absolutely thrilled to be leading the Modern Foreign Languages Department and to be teaching a lot of your young Felstedians this year. I have loved languages and linguistics for as long as I can remember. Born to a military father and a German mother in Munster, Germany, I developed an ear for language early on. I studied French and Latin A level and then lived in Madrid for five years before studying for a BA in European Languages (French and Spanish), followed by a PGCE in MFL. I completed an MA in Education four years ago.

I have now been at Felsted for ten years and I feel very much part of the Felsted family. I have four children in the school as well as my husband!

 

Mrs Tyrie

I have been at Felsted for 9 years, teaching French and Spanish. My passion for languages started at a young age. Born to a Czech Mother and Belgian Father, I grew up in Indonesia and the Dem.Rep of Congo. 

I attended Elon University in America and moved to England in 2000 to be with my fiance, now husband. I have always been surrounded by many languages and my curiosity for them helped me to learn a few. 

My mother tongue is French, but I also speak Indonesian, Czech, Spanish and English. I am a Tutor in Courtauld House and really enjoy being part of the school. I have 2 children at the Senior School and my husband is an Old Felstedian. 

 

Mrs Nuss

Hola, salut!

I'm Miss Nuss, a new member of the MFL department. Some students will have met me during last year when I appeared in some of their classrooms as a supply teacher. 

I grew up in Essex and was fortunate to experience different languages and culture at home as my father was Belgian.  I completed my teaching degree in 1995 and taught French & Spanish for 10 years before having my children who are currently working hard in the senior school (they have assured me!)  Since moving to Felsted I have been so lucky to have been involved with the community both inside and out of school. It has been great to see the childrens' energy and enthusiasm during the first weeks of this autumn term and I'm looking forward to contributing to their progress and enjoyment  during the rest of the year.

 

Mrs Hitchcock

I have been excited by learning languages since I was eight, when I wanted to learn German so I could speak with Swiss friends. I still have the German grammar book my mother bought me! Finding out how much fun that was, led me to a German degree at UCL, where I spent my third year in Salzburg, at the Akademisches Gymnasium as the language assistant.  The teachers I worked with there and some of the pupils are still friends three decades later! 

Highlights of my 9 years at Felsted as a German teacher include the Felsted German Day assemblies each year, organising three summer holiday trips to Salzburg, our annual trips to the Bremen Christmas Market with Year 8s and the Bremen Pupil Exchange with Year 7 and 8 pupils which took place last year. I cannot wait until we are able to resume our trips to Germany and Austria but in the meantime, we are taking part in a project with our German friends so that we can learn about each other’s cultures.

 

Señorita McCauley

Hola! 

My name is Señorita McCauley and I will be teaching Spanish in Stewart House this term, along with being the Mouse Class Teacher in Reception. I am very excited to be part of the Modern Foreign Language Department and being able to use my heritage to inspire young minds.  Being born into a Spanish family has helped me to develop a love for languages and to become fluent in Spanish.  This is why I was inspired to study PGCE in Modern Foreign Languages.