At BSB, we believe that it is important to encourage our students to acquire a spirit of internationalism in order to function effectively in a rapidly changing international context.

Learning a foreign language not only equips our students with the ability to communicate in an increasingly global community but also provides them with an insight into different cultural backgrounds. It increases their own personal opportunities for work, entertainment and travel, in a world community that is interconnected socially, culturally, commercially and economically.

At BSB, the MFL faculty offers a chance for students to learn Mandarin and French or Spanish. Here is a brief introduction to each of the languages available to students at our Secondary Campus.

Because we are in China!!

Mandarin is a global language: Mandarin is now widely considered one of the leading world languages. An official language of the United Nations, Chinese is the most widely spoken first language in the world, extending beyond the People’s Republic of China and Taiwan to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Brunei, the Philippines, and to Mongolia. Chinese will top English as the most-used language on the Internet, according to forecasts by the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Mandarin has economic and political importance: Growing Chinese presence as both an economic and political power further increases the importance of Mandarin as a global language. China’s tremendous economic growth creates new opportunities and challenges for businesses. China accounted for one third of global economic growth between 2001 and 2004. China is also an immense market for world goods and services, and a vital supplier to world manufacturers and consumers. China’s political importance in the Asia-Pacific region is broadly acknowledged. Businessmen who can speak Mandarin will have an advantage in the business world.

Cultural Importance: China has a major international cultural presence, in literature and cuisine, music and film, dance and art, religion and philosophy, drawing on its tremendous heritage to enrich our present. A fluent speaker of Mandarin will be able to share in the richness of Chinese culture.

French is the second most commonly-taught second language in the world after English.

128 million people speak French (as a native or adopted language) fluently and use it on a regular basis.

72 million people live in a francophone country but do not speak French regularly, due to limited knowledge.

100-110 million students of all ages do not live in a francophone country, but have learned/are learning French in order to communicate with Francophones.

French is spoken officially in 33 countries. This number is second only to English, which is spoken officially in 45 countries. French and English are the only languages spoken as a native language on 5 continents. French is considered an international language not only because it is spoken in dozens of countries, but also because it is one of the official working languages in many international organisations, including Amnesty International, The European Commission, Interpol,  International Olympic Committee,  Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), United Nations, World Health Organisation and The International Red Cross and Red Crescent.

Spanish is the world's 3rd most spoken language, after Chinese and English, and ranks 2nd in terms of native speakers.

Over 400 million people in 21 countries across five continents speak Spanish as their first language and many more speak it as a second language.  Spanish is the most studied foreign language in the English university system; the second most used language in international communication, and an official language of the UN and its organisations.  This diversity, both in human and geographical terms, offers students of Spanish a wealth of opportunities for their future.

The Spanish speaking world also opens wonderful opportunities for those who want to travel. With vibrant new economies flourishing all over Latin America and Spain's important membership in the European Community, opportunities to live and work abound in Hispanic countries.

All students at Key Stage 3 (year 7 to year9) study Mandarin + one extra Modern Foreign Language, either French or Spanish and have the opportunity to continue these at Key Stage 4 (year 10 and year 11) and Key Stage 5 (year 12 –AS level and Year 13 – A levels). Our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales.

In Mandarin, students are divided into 3 groups:

·         Beginners group (Mandarin as a foreign language)

·         Intermediate group (Mandarin as a foreign language)

·         Native speakers group (Mandarin as a first language)

The aims of the syllabus are the same for all students. The aims are set out below and describe the educational purposes of following a course in a foreign language for the IGCSE examination. They are not listed in order of priority.

The aims are to:

1. Develop the ability to use the language effectively for purposes of practical communication within the country of residence, where appropriate, and in all the countries where the language is spoken;

2. Form a sound base of the skills, language and attitudes required for further study, work and leisure;

3. Offer insights into the culture and civilisation of the countries where the language is spoken – this may include literature where appropriate;

4. Encourage fuller integration into the local community, where relevant;

5. Develop a fuller awareness of the nature of language and language learning;

6. Encourage positive attitudes toward foreign language learning and towards speakers of other languages and a sympathetic approach to other cultures and civilisations;

7. Provide enjoyment and intellectual stimulation;

8. Complement other areas of study by encouraging skills of a more general application (e.g. analysis, memorising, drawing of inferences).

Examinations at the end of Year 11 will test pupils’ abilities in reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Note: Students who are native or near native speakers of French, Spanish or Mandarin have the option to sit the IGCSE examination of their 1st language early, thus giving them the opportunity to gain an extra GCSE entry as well as to acquire added skills in a new language.In addition to the languages mentioned students will be able to sit a CIE examination in any one of a number of ‘mother tongue languages’. The School will give logistical support for this, but any instruction in the languages themselves will have to be outside school.

Students are assessed in the various skills areas at various stages in the year. In Key Stage 4, we follow the Edexcel IGCSE syllabus in French and Spanish; in Mandarin, native speakers take the CIE IGCSE examination, while the foreign language students take the Edexcel GCSE.

For AS/A2 level French, Spanish and Mandarin we follow the Edexcel syllabus for international centres.

Students make progress in four key areas: listening and responding, speaking, reading and responding, and writing. Around age 14, most students are able to:

Each classroom is equipped with a computer with DVD/CD drive, an interactive whiteboard and an overhead projector. The faculty also has a private study room for small group use, and regular access to a first class I.T. suite fully equipped for large groups.

Our teachers are all native speakers of the language that they teach, providing the best quality Teaching and Learning experience for our students.

- French: Expo 1 (yr7), Expo 2 (yr8), Expo 3 (yr9) , Expo 4 (yr10 and yr11), and Elan  / Edexcel French for A level (Yr12/Yr13), + Expo Electro software + a variety of Websites with subscription.

- Spanish: Listos 1 (yr7), Listos 2 (yr8), Listos 3 (yr9) , Listos 4 (yr10 and yr11), and Sigue  / Edexcel Spanish for  level (Yr12/Yr13), + Listos Electro software + a variety of Websites with subscription.

- Mandarin: For our students who learn Mandarin as a foreign language, we use Chinese Made Easy and Easy Step to Chinese at Key Stage 3 and A-star revision book at Key Stage 4. For our native speakers of Mandarin, we use YuWen at Key stage 3 and CIE revision book at Key Stage 4.

Students who choose to sit an A –level in Mandarin use Edexcel revision book and CIE revision book.

In the 6th form we also use authentic materials, from TV channels, radio broadcasts, magazines and newspapers.