Middle School Curriculum 2024-2026

Latin

Mandarin

OCR GCSE Latin J282

AQA GCSE Mandarin 8673

Why study Latin? Latin remains a subject which is highly respected by universities and employers. The rigour of the language sharpens the minds of the most scientific thinkers, while the context of the language and literature studied enables those with a leaning towards the humanities to enjoy a glimpse into the ancient world. With a working knowledge of Latin, the mysteries of all languages become more transparent, not just the Romance languages but the structure and framework of language itself. Apart from English, Latin is the only GCSE which includes the study of literature in the original language. The subject matter for the prose material ranges frommagic and mystery to political intrigue, while the verse material is an extract from Virgil’s famous epic about the trials of Aeneas as he strives to found the race of people who will become the Romans.

Why study Mandarin? LearningMandarin enables you to communicatewith many people and connect on a deeper level, not just in Asia but across theworld! Mandarin is the national language in China and Chinese is the most widely spoken language in the world; more than one billion of theworld's population are Chinese speakers. Learning Mandarin is more than learning a language, it enables you to explore one of the most ancient cultures of theworld. Chinese is now considered as an important language worldwide because of its increased presence in the business world throughout theworld and including Hollywood! What does the course cover? Pupils acquire vocabulary, grammatical knowledge and skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening across a range of themes: Identity and culture: Me, my family and friends (relationships with family and friends, marriage/partnership); Technology in everyday life (social media, mobile technology); Free time activities (music, cinema and TV, food and eating out, sport); Customs and festivals in Mandarin-speaking countries/communities.

What does the course cover? The aim of the OCR syllabus is that pupils acquire an understanding of many elements of the language, literature and civilisation. First and foremost, pupils are encouraged to develop competence in the Latin language and a sensitive appreciation of its use in translation and composition. For the Literature element, pupils receive specially developed booklets of the set text, throughwhich they are guided in creating a translation, as well as an appreciation of the style of the author. How is the course assessed? The final grade is based on performance in three examinations:

Language Paper: 50% of final mark 1 hour 30 minutes

Comprehension, grammar and translation questions based on unseen passages on mythology and the domestic life and the history of Rome.

Local, national, international and global areas of interest: Home, town, neighbourhood and region; Social issues (charity/voluntary work, healthy/unhealthy living); Global issues (the environment, poverty/homelessness); Travel and tourism. Current and future study and employment: My studies; Life at school/college; Education post-16; Jobs, career choices and ambitions. How is the course assessed? The final grade is based on performance in four examinations: Paper 1 (Listening): 25% of final mark 45 minutes Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language. Paper 2 (Speaking): 25% of final mark 10-12 minutes Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes. Paper 3 (Reading): 25% of final mark 1 hour Understanding and responding to different types of written language. Paper 4 (Writing): 25% of final mark 1 hour 15 minute s Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes.

Prose Literature: 25% of final mark 1 hour

Comprehension, translation and analysis based on a set text. This paper requires candidates to answer comprehension and appreciation questions on material previously seen and studied in detail in lessons.

Verse Literature: 25% of final mark 1 hour

Comprehension, translation and analysis based on a set text. This paper requires candidates to answer comprehension and appreciation questions on material previously seen and studied in detail in lessons.