Bengali

Head of Faculty:

Mr D. Bahier

Deputy Head of Faculty:

Ms N. Robinson


About the department:

GCSE Bengali helps students develop their language skills in a variety of contexts and understand the culture of countries and communities where Bengali is spoken. It encourages enjoyment of language learning and the recognition that language skills enable students to take their place in a multi-lingual global society.


Key stage 3 Curriculum:

Students choose to study Bengali in year 8. During year 8 they study the following subjects:

  1. Introducing yourself
  2. School
  3. My family
  4. My house
  5. My Free time
  6. My town


Key stage 4 Curriculum:

Most students who choose Bengali in year 8 continue to study it in KS4 to GCSE level.

The exam board used is AQA Bengali Full Course (8638) and students complete final exams in year 11 in Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. All components of the exam are 25% of the final mark.

In GCSE Bengali students study the following areas:


Theme – Identity and Culture

  • Me, my family and friends
  • Talking about socialising and family
  • Describing people
  • Talking about friends and family
  • Describing mealtimes
  • Technology in everyday life
  • Talking about social networks
  • Talking about what’s trending
  • Free-time activities
  • Making arrangements
  • Talking about reading preferences
  • Talking about free-time activities
  • Talking about TV programmes and films
  • Talking about what you usually do
  • Talking about sports
  • Talking about typical foods
  • Discussing different types of entertainment

Customs and festivals in Bengali-speaking countries/ communities:

  • Talking about who inspires you
  • Talking about illnesses and injuries
  • Comparing different festivals
  • Describing a special day
  • Ordering food in a restaurant
  • Talking about a music festival

Theme – Current and Future study and Employment

  • My studies/Life at school/college
  • Giving opinions about school subjects
  • Describing school uniform and the school day
  • Talkingabout subjects and teachers
  • Describing your school
  • Talking about school rules and problems
  • Jobs, career choices and ambitions
  • Talking about different jobs
  • Talking about work experience
  • Applying for a summer job
  • Talking about plans for a school exchange
  • Talking about activities and achievements
  • Talking about how you earn money
  • Education post-16/Jobs, career choices and ambitions
  • Talking about the importance of learning languages
  • Discussing gap years
  • Discussing plans for the future

Theme – Local, National, International and global areas of interest

  • Home, town, neighbourhood and region/Travel and tourism
  • Discussing holidays and weather
  • Saying what you do in summer
  • Talking about holiday preferences
  • Saying what you did on holiday
  • Describing where you stayed
  • Booking accommodation and dealing with problems
  • Giving an account of a holiday in the past
  • Talking about places in a town
  • Talking about shops
  • Describing the features of a region
  • Planning what to do
  • Shopping for clothes and presents
  • Talking about problems in a town
  • Describing a visit in the past
  • Describing types of houses
  • Social issues and Global issues
  • Talking about healthy eating
  • Discussing healthy lifestyles
  • Talking about international sporting events
  • Considering global issues
  • Talking about natural disasters
  • Talking about local actions

Extra-Curricular:

  • The Bengali department offer A level and AS level in year 12 and year 13.
  • The Bengali department also offers lunch time clubs for KS3 and KS4 during the term time on Monday and Wednesday from 12:40-1:10pm