Modern languages

One of the largest departments, we offer courses in seven languages. Our students learn to be confident, accurate and articulate linguists, engaged with the cultures of the countries whose languages they study. 

From the Fifth form (Year 10), all linguists have the opportunity to practise their spoken language in small conversation classes with one of our five native-speaker assistants. A wide range of trips abroad, and to galleries, exhibitions, theatres and cinemas in London, adds greatly to the experience a modern languages student has at St Paul’s. Our society, Eurosoc, is one of the busiest and we have our own twice-yearly magazine, Metro, to which all the languages contribute.

GCSE

Boys can follow courses in five languages: French, German and Spanish (CIE IGCSE); Italian and Russian (Edexcel GCSE).

Most boys complete their IGCSE French in the Fifth form (Year 10), after which they may choose to follow an engaging, cultural French course, written by us and certified by the Chartered Institute of Linguists, or an accelerated German course. Those who would profit from a longer preparation take their IGCSE at the end of the Sixth form (Year 11).

In all our work, equal emphasis is given to the four language skill areas of reading, writing, listening and speaking, and the focus of our teaching is on the practical application of the language.

AS & A2

Paulines enjoy studying languages and a good number continue to do so beyond GCSE, with a great deal of success, in French, German, Italian and Spanish (Edexcel). The teaching of literature at this level adds further dynamic to our provision of foreign languages teaching and, although there is no coursework option as such, the research-based element of the new Edexcel syllabus gives students the opportunity to carry out deeper study in an area of particular interest. 

Japanese and Portuguese are offered as non-examined General Studies courses in the Lower Eighth (Year 12).

After St Paul’s

Many Paulines go on to study languages at university and the department’s record of recent success at Oxbridge is outstanding.

Modern languages staff

Simon HollandsHead of Modern Languages

020 8746 5489

Christina von Loeper

David Hempstead

Douglas Perrin

Edward Williams

Eliza James

Guy Larlham

Joanne Fanner

Larissa Lapaire

Paul Collinson

Peter Davies

Stephen Wood

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