Curriculum

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

The study of Modern Foreign Languages helps to develop pupils’ cultural awareness, teaches them the fundamentals of communicating effectively in a foreign language, and equips them with the skills they need to progress to a global marketplace.

Pupils will learn how to convey vital information about themselves, their families and their lives, and will master essential phrases, such as how to ask for directions, order food, and organise social engagements. Pronunciation and grammar will be key components of the course, ensuring pupils are able to communicate through both spoken and written mediums. Pupils will also learn a variety of valuable transferrable skills whilst studying languages, such as communication, problem-solving, creativity, ICT, literacy, numeracy and performance skills.

In order for our pupils to be successful and self-efficient in language-learning, they are taught to learn languages through building blocks of language: phonics, grammar and vocabulary. Each lesson focuses on these building blocks helping learners to make connections between sounds, words, sentences and their meaning. As they progress, pupils are able to understand and produce more complex language across a variety of themes and contexts.

From year 7 to year 11, learners develop their reading, listening, writing and speaking skills over time. This linguistic journey leads them to become more confident language learners and to develop fluency in the spoken and written word with an appreciation of Francophone countries. Pupils are offered opportunities to listen and to practise using the target language and also to have access to a variety of authentic and semi-authentic materials (literary texts extracts, songs, newspapers extracts etc.). We aim at bringing France and it’s culture into the classroom.

In years 10 and 11, pupils follow the AQA GCSE French Specification. Studying a language at GCSE level allows our pupils to access the English Baccalaureate.

In addition to this, we actively encourage and support pupils to undertake GCSEs in their community language. We currently offer support for GCSEs in  Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Italian, Panjabi, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish and Urdu,

KS3 Curriculum

KS3 sets firm foundations of language learning. Building on their experience of language learning in primary years, year 7 pupils learn French phonics and start making links between sounds and spelling. They develop their vocabulary and grammar skills and learn how to introduce themselves, their family and pets in French. They also learn to read, write, listen and speak about various aspects of their everyday life (school, leisure activities, sports, their house and their town).

In year 8, pupils consolidate their language skills. Their developing knowledge of phonics, vocabulary and grammar enable them to understand, to talk about and describe more extensively about a range of themes such as holiday, festivals and celebrations, the media, their region and healthy lifestyles.

In year 9, as pupils become more confident in using a variety of vocabulary and a greater range of grammatical tenses, they explore themes linked to their lives as teenagers, their future plans, their individual tastes in music and their views on environmental issues. They also have the opportunity to explore specific cultural and geographical aspects of the French-speaking world.

KS4 Curriculum

KS4 further builds upon and deepens the basis of language learning in previous yearsIn year 10 and 11, pupils begin to use more complex language. They are able to understand and communicate about an increasingly wider range of themes. The KS4 themes include: identity and culture, local, national, international and global areas of interest and current and future study and employment. As they become more grammatically aware but also linguistically more fluent and spontaneous in French, KS4 pupils are able to understand and produce longer and more complex stretches of language. They learn to use grammar efficiently, to draw inferences and begin to develop a reliable knowledge of vocabulary thus making them more creative and independent in their language skills.

 

Assessment

Paper 1: Listening

  • Written exam
  • Foundation 35 minutes, Higher Tier 45 minutes
  • Foundation 40 marks, Higher Tier 50 marks
  • 25% of GCSE

Paper 2: Speaking

  • Non exam assessment
  • Foundation 7-9 minutes, Higher Tier 10-12 minutes plus preparation time
  • Foundation and Higher Tier 60 marks
  • 25% of GCSE

Paper 3: Reading

  •  Written exam
  •  Foundation 45 minutes, Higher 1 hour
  •  Foundation and Higher 60 marks
  •  25% of GCSE 

Paper 4: Writing

  • Written exam
  • Foundation 1 hour, Higher Tier 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Foundation 50 marks, Higher Tier 60 marks
  • 25% of GCSE

Internal assessments take place every half-term.

KS4 Exam Board Specification: AQA GCSE French (8658) 

 

Enrichment Offer
  • The department is currently building links with a number of French schools. Pupils in year 7 will exchange letters with French pen pals.
  • Pupils can take the opportunity to take part in after school clubs in languages such as Spanish and Italian.
  • Pupils participated in a trip to France in April 2023, where pupils were immersed in the French language whilst discovering the country’s culture and history.  We look forward to offering future trips.
  • We offer a weekly ‘MFL drop-in’ session for all students to support with homework, gain extra tuition or practise French in our ICT suite.
  • At KS4, pupils may attend intervention sessions to consolidate their learning, and to further prepare them for their GCSE examinations.