• To develop the ability to understand and use the language effectively for practical communication.
• To enable pupils to see the language as a living and changing means of communication rather than merely as a body of language to be learned.
• To develop an understanding of the grammar of the language and to promote grammatical precision.
• To develop an awareness of the nature of language and language learning.
• To enable pupils to move away from dependence on teacher and dictionary and achieve some degree of autonomy.
• To promote enjoyment of learning and using languages and provide intellectual stimulation as incentives to the pursuit of excellence.
• To enable each pupil to achieve the best result of which he/she is capable in public examinations.
• To offer insights into the culture, literature and civilisation of countries where the language is spoken.
• To promote positive attitudes to language learning, to speakers of foreign languages and their culture, encourage contacts abroad through visits and exchanges, and to develop in our pupils a European and international outlook.
• To build a sound foundation for the language skills and attitudes required for further study, work and leisure.
• To promote learning skills of more general application, such as memorising, analysis, drawing of references, dictionary skills and Information Technology.
• To develop pupils' powers of expression and understanding of themselves.
• To adapt our teaching to the needs of the individual and to vary our teaching methods both to interest and challenge pupils.

We believe that there is an important distinction to be made between learning a language and learning to pass a language examination, and in our teaching we strive to help pupils to do the former rather than the latter. The department follows a topic-based approach to work, incorporating structural and grammatical exercises, in whose value we are firm believers, as they arise from the course materials. Prep is considered to be vital for preparing for future lessons, consolidating material already covered in class and developing independent work habits. We make full use of our extensive audio-visual resources and equipment, which includes a digital virtual language laboratory and a satellite TV system, and we seek to incorporate the use of Information Technology into our teaching wherever possible.

Four main Modern Languages are taught at Fettes: French, German, Spanish and Mandarin. Russian, Italian, Japanese and Portuguese are usually available on an ad hoc basis.

French is part of the core curriculum from P to Second Form. Pupils in the Prep School have four lessons of French per week. On entering the Third Form pupils must choose any two of the four main languages. All pupils must take at least one Modern Foreign Language: many decide to continue with two. We use the AQA Board's syllabi for GCSE. At this level, 25% of the marks are awarded for each of the four language skills: listening, reading, speaking and writing. The majority of answers are written in the foreign language. Pupils may not use a dictionary in examinations. There is no coursework for GCSE.

A significant number of pupils continue with one or more languages in the Sixth Form, either by opting for International Baccalaureat (IB) or AS/A2.

We follow the Edexcel AS and A Level syllabi which are weighted heavily towards practical use of the foreign language for written and oral communication. The examination comprises 6 modules: listening, reading comprehension, two oral tests, literature and writing. 30% of the marks are allocated to oral skills, and the majority of answers in all written modules are required to be in the foreign language.

Language work in the Sixth Form is geared to developing competence and accuracy in oral, listening and written skills. Material from a huge variety of sources is used not only for listening and reading comprehension and written response, but also to give an insight into the culture and history of the countries whose languages are being studied. Topics are intellectually challenging, going well beyond the requirements of GCSE: they include such issues as feminism, the environment, international relations, racism, etc. Whilst some pupils will want to continue two languages in the Sixth Form, the topic-based nature of Sixth Form language work means that a course in any language combines well with, and indeed complements, a variety of other subjects.

Sixth Form linguists are taught to differentiate between the more informal register of the spoken language and the greater formality of the written language. Literature work tends to focus on modern texts, and this may include the study of the work of a film director (e.g. François Truffaut).