Modern Foreign Languages
Intent of MFL
In an increasingly multicultural society, languages play a more predominant role in our everyday lives.
The MFL curriculum equips pupils with the linguistic knowledge and skills to cultivate genuinely positive attitudes towards diversity in other nationalities and cultures, as well as their own and also build their cultural capital. We embrace the cultural and linguistic talents of our pupils and our team of language ambassadors are given opportunities to promote and use their linguistic skills.
We intend to give pupils the knowledge and understanding to progress. Pupils are empowered to have high aspirations and grow in confidence so that they can communicate in a different language demonstrating both resilience and independence.
Implementation of MFL
As an all-through school, the KS3 French curriculum builds on the knowledge and skills learnt at KS2. Each topic studied at KS3 has synoptic links to the AQA GCSE specification.
FRENCH
Year 7 French
In Year 7, all pupils study French for 4 lessons per fortnight each lasting 55 minutes. We study a range of different topics and aim to engage, enthuse and challenge pupils in a progressive way building on studies in KS2.
Pupils cover the topics such as Self and Family, School and Hobbies using the four assessed skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. They have the opportunity to develop their vocabulary, cultural and grammatical knowledge through a variety of different activities. They learn how to become more confident; adapting and developing the language with use of opinions, reasons, connectives, intensifiers, present tense and an introduction to some past tense phrases.
Pupils are encouraged to take part in the Spelling Bee house competition in the Spring term to practise their alphabet sounds and consolidate basic vocabulary. In the summer term when studying hobbies, sport is linked to annual French sporting events such as the Tour de France and we have a house boules competition.
Optimum use of target language is encouraged. Pupils are made aware of how to improve and set targets after each assessment.
Year 8 French
At the beginning of Year 8 pupils cover the topic of Media developing their use of opinions, reasons, adverbs and negatives with reference to some past and future tense phrases. We then introduce the past tense, enabling pupils to describe a visit they have been on and giving them the opportunity to discuss real-life experiences. In the summer term Year 8 pupils learn how to talk about a future visit or holiday. They are then given the opportunity to participate in an immersive educational trip to Paris or Barcelona, with destinations alternating annually. If pupils visit Paris they are able to practise and develop their language skills whilst learning about the most iconic Parisian landmarks and some of the magnificent and captivating museums that Paris is renowned for. There are many opportunities to appreciate French culture in the heart of France’s capital city and develop their cultural capital.
Two films are studied in Year 8: Petit Nicolas & Les vacances du Petit Nicolas.
Pupils are encouraged to use trusted on-line resources to reinforce and consolidate learning.
Pupils are assessed using the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing and become more independent in their use of the language, expressing opinions and reasons with more spontaneity.
Year 9 French
Pupils cover the topics of House and Home, Town, Jobs, Future plans and Healthy Lifestyles using the four assessed skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Pupils have the opportunity to further develop their vocabulary and grammatical knowledge with particular focus on using at least three tenses through a variety of different activities.
Pupils are assessed using the four skill areas and become more skilful at coping with extended, varied passages with some unpredictable elements when listening and reading. When writing and speaking, pupils can develop answers using a range of vocabulary, connectives, intensifiers, opinions and reasons as well as complex structures and three tenses.
In the Autumn term of Year 9 our starting point is the topic on House and Home which develops skills to describe towns forming the foundation of one of the GCSE topics. In the Spring term, we study jobs and future plans to tie in with options and choices for GCSE. This allows pupils to reflect on their hopes and aspirations for the future and verbalise them in the target language.
SPANISH
Year 7 Spanish
All Year 7 pupils learn Spanish alongside French for 4 lessons per fortnight each lasting 55 minutes.
Pupils cover the topics of Greetings, Family, Hobbies/Interests and School over the year using the four assessed skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Pupils have the opportunity to develop their vocabulary and grammatical knowledge through a variety of different activities. They learn how to become confident with the language, adapting and developing the language with use of opinions, reasons, connectives, intensifiers and the present tense. Past and future ideas are introduced.
Year 8 Spanish
Pupils cover the topics of House & Home, Arranging to go out, Shopping, Healthy living and Body & Illness over the year, using the four assessed skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Pupils have the opportunity to develop their vocabulary and grammatical knowledge through a variety of different activities. They learn how to become more confident and independent in their use of the language expressing opinions and reasons with more spontaneity. Past and future tenses are developed. They are then given the opportunity to participate in an immersive educational trip to Paris or Barcelona, with destinations alternating annually. If pupils visit Barcelona they can practise and develop their language skills while exploring the city's iconic landmarks, remarkable architecture and world-renowned cultural attractions. The trip offers many opportunities to experience Spanish culture first-hand in the heart of Catalonia, broadening their cultural understanding and enriching their cultural capital through authentic, real-world experiences.
Year 9 Spanish
Pupils cover the topics of Holidays, Media & Technology and social & global issues. They are assessed using all four skills and are becoming more independent in their use of the language and become more skilful at coping with extended, varied passages often containing some unpredictable elements when listening and reading. When writing and speaking, pupils can develop answers using a range of vocabulary, connectives, intensifiers, opinions and reasons as well as complex structures and three tenses.
ASSESSMENTS IN MFL at KS3
To ensure pupils have sufficient challenge and show progression at KS3, assessments mirror the style of questions that are on the New GCSE specification such as photocards, role-plays, reading aloud tasks, dictation of short spoken extracts, translations and 50, 90 or 150 word essays. All assessments use the GCSE grade descriptors as a baseline.
KEY STAGE 4 MFL
At Key Stage 4 students can opt to take French or Spanish and they have 6 lessons a fortnight in Year 10 and 7 lessons a fortnight in Year 11.
Year 10 and Year 11 follow the New AQA GCSE specifications:
AQA GCSE Spanish specification
At GCSE pupils will learn to:
- Listen and respond to different types of spoken language including dictation of short, spoken extracts.
- Communicate and interact in speech for a variety of purposes including a role play, a read aloud task, talking about a photo and a short conversation.
- Understand and respond to different types of written texts and translate a short passage into English.
- Communicate in writing for different purposes and translate from English into French/Spanish.
- Develop understanding and use of grammar.
We teach this through the specified GCSE themes of:
Theme 1: People & Lifestyle
Theme 2: Popular culture
Theme 3: Communication & the world around us
Year 10 and 11 students are encouraged to work independently through research and use of trusted websites, together with supplementary learning materials. Teams is used to upload useful resources.
ASSESSMENTS IN MFL AT KEY STAGE 4
There are two progress tests in Year 10 as well as the more formal Year 10 examination covering all four skills.
In Year 11 there is one progress test in Autumn term and then two formal mock examinations which assess the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Pupils have the opportunity to experience two full speaking mocks that are recorded by the teacher. After the mocks, feedback is given in all four skills so that pupils can look into their progress to date and learn what they need to do to improve further or where additional support is needed.
Four skills are assessed at the end of Year 11.
Paper 1: Listening (25%)
Paper 2: Speaking (25%)
Paper 3: Reading (25%)
Paper 4: Writing (25%)
Exam papers are tiered. At foundation level, you can achieve grades 1-5. At higher tier, you can achieve grades 4-9
We hope that following a GCSE language will lay the foundations for future language learning and pupils are encouraged to discuss careers and aspirations Post 16.