Ultra-Curricular WorkMODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES DEPARTMENT

Spanish

• Read some Spanish & Latin American literature: one A2 cultural awareness topicfocuses on Gabriel Garda Marquez ('Cr6nica de una muerte anunciada'); otherrecommended texts by the same author are 'Cien afios de soledad' and 'Amor en lostiempos del colera'. Consider organising a book club or write a review about thebook( s) you read.

• Watch some Spanish speaking movies: the other A2 cultural awareness topic focuseson Almod6var, hence as a director he should be your first choice ('Volver', 'Hable conElla', 'Todo sobre mi madre', 'La mala educaci6n', etc); Guillermo del Toro ('Ellaberinto del fauno', 'El orfanato') is another renowned director. Consider organising afilm club after school in order to discuss issues related to a particular movie.

• Visit Madrid (e.g. Almod6var/fashion week/galleries): keep a diary, make a blog or apodcast about it in Spanish.

• Study in Spain or Latin America: there are a number of summer residential studycourses which are highly recommended (e.g.http://www.tiatula.com/)

• Organise some work experience in Spain or Latin America

• Keep abreast of competitions run by the Spanish Embassy. Go to:http://www.educacion.gob.es/sgci/uk/es/homelindex.shtml) for cultural quizzes,creative writing and for film making competitions visit:http://www.educacion.gob.es/exterior I ukl es I consej I es Ipromocionl spanishfllmcompetition.shtml

• Follow Spanish & Latin American news online on a daily basis (e.g. www.elpais.es) orby subscribing to El Pais (available locally in newsagents in Woodbridge). Why notgenerate a Fronter room for debates & discussions on Spanish current affairs?

• Arrange an independent exchange for the summer through our link school inPamplona

• Take part in LAFTA:http:// www.languageswork.org.uk/learner zone Ithe laftas.aspx

• Watch Spanish TV: http://www.rtve.esltelevision

• Listen to Spanish radio: http://www.rtve.es/radiol

• Follow blogs, tweets and forums in the target language. Contribute where appropriate(re world events, politics, ecology, social issues, development).

French

• Take interest in France generally, through keeping in touch with press, TV, news,politics: subscribe to some magazines or other periodicals

• Expand the cultural element, perhaps in conjunction with a topic studied in history,drama, art, English, to include French literature or cinema or art or fashion or dramaor history.

• Watch French films regularly (DVD or locally through the Foreign Language FilmClub at the Riverside Theatre, Woodbridge, the first Monday of every month) andfollow through with something you especially like.

• In addition to watching films, watch a series by a particular director (ideally someoneknown or maybe an up-and-coming)

• Spend time in France, (preferably without the family), not so much as a tourist but asa temporary inhabitant (work experience through link school or family/friends?)

• Be genuinely interested in language, especially if studying linguistics - follow up leadsand links, be a bit pedantic maybe, collect ideas.

• Establish a link with a native speaker (penfriend, exchange partner, family member orfriend - sustained over years rather than months) and do an independent

• Spend a year abroad in a francophone country in Africa for instance

• Follow blogs and forums in the target language. Participate too if appropriate (reworld events, politics, ecology, social issues, development) and print out as evidence!

German

• Read some classic literature over and above the A2 set text - Brecht or Ball forstarters and even Harry Potter 'auf Deutsch'

• Go to Germany independently or as part of an exchange) and practise the language

• Keep abreast of German politics and Germany's role in the EU

• Attend a residential German language course in the holidays

• Attend courses organised by the Goethe Institute

Italian

• Read some short stories in Italian; the penguin parallel text is a good start followed byItalo Calvino stories.

• Travel independently in Italy

• Contact the Italian department at the university to ask for a prospective reading list-they are usually very helpful.

Japanese

• Read manga or watch anime in the original language to gain a deeper understanding ofthe meanings of these art-forms, which may then be developed in Art lessons.

• Play Japanese computer games and then learn Japanese to understand the culturalbackground of the game better; get involved with the technology and participate ininternational competitions.

• Do martial arts and thus understand more about the philosophy underlying the martialart

• Research Japanese fashion and express your individuality according to the style ofHarajuku fashion.

• Research other aspects of Japanese society and culture, e.g. modern or classical music,food (ingredients, preparation, presentation), etc.

Mandarin

• Online learning: BBC Languages Chinese, practise listening and speaking

• China trip in future to practise Chinese at every opportunity.

• Reading Practical Chinese reader, The rise of Modern China, My hometown ...