Languages Department
Modern Foreign Languages are an important part of the curriculum both for the practical skills in communication which the study of a language develops and for the understanding and awareness of the society and culture of the countries where those languages are spoken. We offer three foreign languages at Durham High School : French, German and Spanish, the latter being offered currently as a Sixth Form enrichment option.
All girls take French from the start of Year 7 and German from the start of Year 8. Each year there is a visit to France organised for Year 7 pupils and a visit to the Rhineland in Germany for Year 8 pupils: it is no coincidence that each of these visits takes place in the first year of the study of the language. Living the reality of foreign language communication and enjoying the challenges this offers is crucial to appreciating the value of foreign language study and sustaining the motivation of pupils to learn languages.