Our department

We currently offer three foreign languages in Madras College: French, German and Spanish. Our aim in the Modern Languages department is to enable pupils to communicate at their own level in the foreign language they are studying. Through learning a foreign language we strive to develop cultural awareness in all our pupils irrespective of their background or country of origin.

When entering the school in S1, pupils study either French or German, depending on the language they studied in their primary school. Pupils will continue with the relevant language through to the end of S4 when they sit their Standard Grade exams. When making their course choices in S2, pupils are offered the chance to take up Spanish as an additional foreign language at Standard Grade. Pupils may also have the possibility of taking up French or German depending on what their first foreign language has been.

Pupils are given experience of the four skills involved in learning a foreign language: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

We aim to maintain and stimulate lasting pupil curiosity, interest and enjoyment in their chosen foreign language(s) by providing a happy, safe and enjoyable atmosphere where pupils can achieve their potential.


Why are languages important?

There are a whole host of reasons why it’s important to speak a language other than English. We are part of the European Union, in which we can live, work or study in any one of 27 countries without restrictions.

Employers prefer applicants with a language qualification, especially in tourism, business management and banking, but also in a wide range of other jobs with an international focus.

But economics and employability aren’t the factors at play, here. By speaking a language other than English, the world opens up to you. You have an asset for life! Languages help us build friendships with people across the globe, and understand and experience different cultures in a way that enriches our own lives, too. They open up travel opportunities, the chance to study or live abroad and, ultimately, allow us to experience things that speaking English alone we simply wouldn’t be capable of.

In addition to this, many Scottish universities (including St Andrews and Edinburgh) will not accept entrants to courses, other than science courses, unless they have a National Qualification in a language.



Useful links to languages websites

Try life in another language
Scottish CILT, Scotland's national centre for languages
The National Centre for languages
Languages work
European Day of Languages
Careers Scotland
Learning languages
Learning and Teaching Scotland