Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)
INTRODUCTION
Our principal aim is to instil confidence in students so that they are able to communicate fluently and with spontaneity on a range of real life contexts both within the classroom environment and beyond, into their future studies and careers.
We strive to foster students’ curiosity of languages and knowledge of other cultures in order to deepen their understanding of the wider world. Problem solving will be at the heart of our lessons, in order to develop learner autonomy. As a result, students will be motivated to learn and will have a sense of pride and success in everything they do.
KS3 Curriculum Maps
French:
Spanish:
Curriculum in Year 7
All students in Y7 study Spanish.
Our wish is for students to learn a language through a range of interesting and motivating contexts with each unit having a clear intent. Examples of topics covered in Y7 include: My World; Descriptions and In the City. The KS3 curriculum in languages has been carefully considered and devised based on the requirements of the National Curriculum and so that grammar and vocabulary are sequenced according to prior learning. Students are given the ability to master and retrieve key concepts at every stage of their journey. New language is introduced and old language recycled in chunks via the use of sentence builders. Elements of Hispanic culture are explored and discussed throughout the year. There is an emphasis on understanding and celebrating differences within cultures and Spanish speaking countries.
How we assess:
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Overview |
Students will not be formally assessed during this term, however they will complete formative assessments and receive verbal/written feedback on these.
|
Listening / Reading / Writing Students will be assessed on content covered in Term 1. Students will be expected to produce an extended piece of writing in test conditions.
Speaking will be assessed informally in lessons. |
Listening / Reading / Writing Students will be assessed on content covered throughout the year. Students will be expected to produce an extended piece of writing in test conditions.
Speaking will be assessed informally in lessons. |
| Content |
Introductions Basic likes and dislikes Languages spoken Where you live now and will live in the future |
As per Spring Term plus: Family Describing appearances and personailty Describing cities |
How can parents help?
- Encourage your child to learn vocabulary little and often and ensure they are completing their learning homework
- Encourage your child to watch age appropriate television programmes in Spanish
- Encourage your child to use mobile phone apps / websites to practise vocabulary, for example, Linguascope and Memrise
Curriculum in Year 8
All students in Y8 study Spanish and some students will also start to learn French.
Our wish is for students to learn a language through a range of interesting and motivating contexts with each unit having a clear intent. Examples of topics covered in Y8 include: My Mind My Body; Holidays and Cinema (Spanish) and All About Me and My Interests (French). The KS3 curriculum in languages has been carefully considered and devised based on the requirements of the National Curriculum and so that grammar and vocabulary are sequenced according to prior learning. Students are given the ability to master and retrieve key concepts at every stage of their journey. New language is introduced and old language recycled in chunks via the use of sentence builders. Elements of Hispanic and Francophone culture are explored and discussed throughout the year. There is an emphasis on understanding and celebrating differences within cultures and Spanish and French speaking countries.
How we assess:
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Overview |
Spanish only. Listening / Reading / Writing Students will be assessed on content covered in Year 7 and throughout this term. Students will be expected to produce an extended piece of writing in test conditions.
Speaking will be assessed informally in lessons. |
Listening / Reading / Writing Students will be assessed on content covered throughout Year 7 and 8 (Spanish) and Term 1 (French). Students will be expected to produce an extended piece of writing in test conditions.
Speaking will be assessed informally in lessons. |
Listening / Reading / Writing Students will be assessed on content covered throughout Year 7 and 8 (Spanish) and Term 1 &2 (French). Students will be expected to produce an extended piece of writing in test conditions.
Speaking will be assessed informally in lessons. |
| Content |
Spanish: As per Summer Term Y7 plus: Sports |
Spanish: As per Autumn Term plus: School
French: Basic details about themsleves |
Spanish: As per Spring Term plus: Cinema Music Holidays
French: As per Spring Term plus TV and film |
How can parents help?
- Encourage your child to learn vocabulary little and often and ensure they are completing their learning homework
- Encourage your child to watch age appropriate television programmes in Spanish / French
- Encourage your child to use mobile phone apps / websites to practise vocabulary, for example, Linguascope and Memrise
Curriculum in Year 9
All students in Y9 study Spanish and some students also continue to learn French.
Our wish is for students to learn a language through a range of interesting and motivating contexts with each unit having a clear intent. Examples of topics covered in Y9 include: Our Planet; My Neighbourhood and Ideal Summer (Spanish) and TV and Film (French). The KS3 curriculum in languages has been carefully considered and devised based on the requirements of the National Curriculum and so that grammar and vocabulary are sequenced according to prior learning. Students are given the ability to master and retrieve key concepts at every stage of their journey. New language is introduced and old language recycled in chunks via the use of sentence builders. Elements of Hispanic and Francophone culture are explored and discussed throughout the year. There is an emphasis on understanding and celebrating differences within cultures and Spanish and French speaking countries.
How we assess:
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Overview |
Spanish only. Listening / Reading / Writing Students will be assessed on content covered in Year 7, 8 and throughout this term. Students will be expected to produce an extended piece of writing in test conditions.
Speaking will be assessed informally in lessons. |
Listening / Reading / Writing Students will be assessed on content covered in Year 7 (Spanish only), 8 and throughout this term. Students will be expected to produce an extended piece of writing in test conditions.
Speaking will be assessed informally in lessons. |
Listening / Reading / Writing Students will be assessed on content covered throughout KS3. Students will be expected to produce an extended piece of writing in test conditions.
Speaking will be assessed informally in lessons. |
| Content |
As per Y8 Summer Term plus: Food and Drink |
Spanish: As per Autumn Term plus: Describing a party Describing neighbourhoods
French: As per Summer Term Y8 plus: TV / Film |
Spanish: As per Sring Term plus: Protecting the environment
French: As per Spring Term plus: Clothes |
How can parents help?
- Encourage your child to learn vocabulary little and often and ensure they are completing their learning homework
- Encourage your child to watch age appropriate television programmes in Spanish / French
- Encourage your child to use mobile phone apps / websites to practise vocabulary, for example, Linguascope and Memrise
Curriculum in Year 10
Name of course and board: GCSE French / GCSE Spanish (Edexcel)
Method of external assessment: 100% exam
Students will sit four exams at the end of the two-year course. The examination board is Edexcel. Candidates will be entered for writing, speaking, reading and listening examinations. Each is worth 25%.
There are two exam tiers, Foundation (grades 1-5) and Higher (grades 4- 9).
Students’ progress in all four skills is monitored and supported throughout the course.
Students further develop their skills in understanding written and spoken French or Spanish and in actively using the language to speak and write. They are expected to have and discuss their opinion on a wide range of current topics in French or Spanish.
They continue to develop a wide range of language learning techniques, which will aid them in learning across the curriculum and with any language they may choose or need to study in the future.
We broadly follow the Studio (French) Viva (Spanish) series and over the course of the two years we cover the following topic areas:
Theme 1: Identity & Culture
Theme 2 Local Area, Holiday and Travel
Theme 3: School
Theme 4: Future Aspirations, Study and Work
Theme 5: International and Global Dimension
How we assess:
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Overview |
Listening / reading Writing
Speaking will be assessed informally in class. |
Listening / reading Writing
Speaking will be assessed informally in class. |
Full mock exam (including speaking) |
| Content |
Themes 2 and 3 (Spanish) Themes 1 and 3 (French) |
Themes 1, 2 and 3 (Spanish) Themes 1, 2 and 3 (French) |
Themes 1,2 and 3. |
How can parents help?
- Encourage your child to learn vocabulary little and often and ensure they are completing their learning homework
- Encourage your child to watch age appropriate television programmes in Spanish / French
- Encourage your child to use mobile phone apps / websites to practise vocabulary, for example, Linguascope and Memrise
Curriculum in Year 11
Name of course and board: GCSE French (9-1) / GCSE Spanish (9-1) (Edexcel)
Method of external assessment: 100% exam
Students will sit four exams at the end of the two-year course. The examination board is Edexcel. Candidates will be entered for writing, speaking, reading and listening examinations. Each is worth 25%.
There are two exam tiers, Foundation (grades 1-5) and Higher (grades 4- 9).
Students’ progress in all four skills is monitored and supported throughout the course.
Students further develop their skills in understanding written and spoken French or Spanish and in actively using the language to speak and write. They are expected to have and discuss their opinion on a wide range of current topics in French or Spanish.
They continue to develop a wide range of language learning techniques, which will aid them in learning across the curriculum and with any language they may choose or need to study in the future.
We broadly follow the Studio (French) Viva (Spanish) series and over the course of the two years we cover the following topic areas:
Theme 1: Identity & Culture
Theme 2 Local Area, Holiday and Travel
Theme 3: School
Theme 4: Future Aspirations, Study and Work
Theme 5: International and Global Dimension
How we assess:
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term | |
| Overview |
2021 Listening / reading Writing
Speaking will be assessed informally in class.
|
Full Mock exam (including speaking) | Official GCSE exam |
| Content |
Spanish Theme 1
French Theme 4
|
All themes |
How can parents help?
- Encourage your child to learn vocabulary little and often and ensure they are completing their learning homework
- Encourage your child to watch age appropriate television programmes in Spanish / French
- Encourage your child to use mobile phone apps / websites to practise vocabulary, for example, Linguascope and Memrise
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
“Without language, one cannot talk to people and understand them; one cannot share their hopes and aspirations, grasp their history, appreciate their poetry or savour their songs.”
Nelson Mandela