MFL – ‘Modern Foreign Language’ Choices for new Secondary students
in Key Stages 3 & 4 (Years 7-11) 2014-15
Dear Parents
Important: Please read this information carefully regarding Language(s) other than English for your child in
Secondary School at Bangkok Patana so that he/she can be placed in the appropriate class and avoid scheduling
delays.
Languages Offered – French, German, Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and Thai.
MFL – All the above languages are offered as MFLs for students who are not native speakers in these languages.
HOLA – Some of the above languages are offered as Home Languages (HOLA) in different Year Groups
dependent on the number of native speakers in particular Year Groups and availability of teaching staff.
Please note that all Thai students are required to undertake Thai as part of government regulations.
Students in Years 7, 8 & 9 have 3 lessons of MFL1 and 2 lessons of MFL2 each week.
Students who have not previously learnt a foreign language (MFL) offered at our school must choose new
languages for both MFL 1 and MFL 2. Support will be provided to enable them to ‘catch-up’.
EAL ‘English as Additional Language’: Most non-native or bilingual English speakers will be assessed by the
Head of our Secondary School EAL Faculty as part of the application process. All students who have been
assessed and found to require English as an Additional Language (EAL) support will participate in EAL
as their MFL 1. This is mandatory and will take precedence over any other language option.
*Students receiving EAL in Years 7, 8 and 9 as their MFL1 will be able to select a language as their MFL 2 Option.
New students in Year 10 who require support in English will do English as a Second Language for their IGCSEs
MFL option.
New Year 7 students continue with the language previously studied in Primary school as their MFL1. All students
must select an MFL 2, which will be a new language for them (from French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese
and Thai) or join one of our HOLA classes in French or Japanese (for native speakers).
New Year 8 students will continue with the languages previously studied in Year 7 as their MFL1 and MFL2 or join
one of our HOLA classes in French, Japanese or Spanish (for native speakers).
New Year 9 students continue with their previous MFL1 and MFL2 or join one of our Home Language classes in
French, German or Japanese (for native speakers). New students joining Year 9 with no previous MFL experience
can take the same language as both MFL1 and MFL2.
New Year 10 students may choose one MFL for (I)GCSE. Students applying for Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
without prior MFL experience should contact Mrs. Suzanne Lindley, Assistant Principal, Curriculum and
Assessment (suli@patana.ac.th) to discuss the best options.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require further information about language choices in the Secondary
School. Please contact me also if you wish your child to be considered for a taught Home Language class.
Yours sincerely,
Jen Peppard
Head of Faculty, Modern Foreign Languages (jepe@patana.ac.th)
Bangkok Patana is an IB World School, accredited by CIS and NEASC
MFL Options Form for new Year 7 Students 2014/15
Name of child __________________________________________________________________________
Nationality (as on application form) __________________________________________________________
Language(s) spoken at home _______________________________________________________________
Languages(s) studied before: Please complete below
LANGUAGE
PERIOD OF STUDY
FROM….. (MM/YY) TO ….(MM/YY)
HOURS PER WEEK
Year 7 students continue with the language previously studied in Primary School as their MFL1. For their MFL 2
students will either select a new beginner’s language (from French, German, Spanish, Mandarin, Japanese and Thai)
or join our Home Language classes in French or Japanese (for native speakers).
Please select your language(s) and tick
in the appropriate boxes:
LANGUAGE
MFL 1
MFL 2
English (EAL)
French
German
Japanese
Mandarin
Spanish
Thai
French Home Language
Japanese Home Language
Please complete and return this form along with your application to the Admissions Office. If you have
any queries please contact Jen Peppard, Head of Faculty, Modern Foreign Languages, at
jepe@patana.ac.th
Parent/guardian’s signature: __________________________________
Date: ______________
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Office Use Only:
Child on the EAL Register:
YES
NO
Bangkok Patana is an IB World School, accredited by CIS and NEASC