MFL
KEY STAGE 3 CURRICULUM
All students follow a knowledge-based curriculum with engaging topics relevant to students’ interests and the world around them. The curriculum is designed to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become an effective and successful language learner and to support students in developing an understanding of themselves as part of a global society. We aim to develop strong language skills, the ability to work independently and to communicate effectively in a group. We also foster a love of language learning, combined with a positive attitude towards speakers of other languages.
We promote high standards by ensuring that students have a strong understanding of key grammatical rules and structures which enables them to understand and communicate successfully and independently. There is an emphasis on using the foreign language as a means of communication within the classroom and developing the skills necessary for effective communication. Vocabulary and grammar are regularly revisited in new contexts so that students are able to embed these in their long-term memory. We strongly believe that learning a foreign language also supports students’ literacy skills in English, through the development of their understanding of sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary and communication skills and ensures that students are able to transfer these skills to other subjects. Students are assessed regularly throughout the year through a mixture of teacher assessments, classroom-based activities and formal assessments in speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Year 7
First Year Spanish
Module 1
Our first module begins which a short series of introductory sentence builders which aim to teach students key classroom language which will enable them to communicate successfully in the classroom with both their teacher and peers. Communicative functions here include, asking and answering basic short questions and requesting items and expressing needs and wants. This introductory module aims to give students the knowledge of what they need to know in order to introduce themselves, including talking about family members, describing themselves and others as well as talking about where they are from and which languages they speak. Through this, they will be introduced to some high-frequency structures and vocabulary, key phonological rules and fundamental grammatical rules and conceptions, such as gender and number and verb conjugation and a range of subject pronouns in Spanish.
Module 2
Our second module, through the context of local area, builds on from module 1 by revisiting and enhancing students’ knowledge of verb conjugations within the present tense focusing on students being able to use verbs in the ‘yo’, ‘él’, ‘ella’ and nosotros/-as’ forms in particular as well as asking questions in the 'usted' form. Students will begin to develop giving opinions in Spanish starting with short, simple ones. Students also learn how to sequence and link individual sentences allowing them to move towards creating longer cohesive utterances. Students will also gain the experience and skill of using transactional language in real-life contexts such as asking for directions and shopping for clothing in a shop.
Module 3
Our third module revisits again key grammatical ideas such as verb paradigms, infinitives, and verb conjugation within the present tense. By changing the context, we aim to consolidate knowledge and move towards mastery with key grammatical skills and knowledge such as how to accurately use the present tense. Knowledge is only context specific and so to master it, therefore our learners must revisit it in various contexts. By now, students will have had the opportunity to encounter a range of regular and irregular present tense verbs in numerous contexts in order to practice and develop their understanding of verb conjugations within the present tense. This is highly essential for successful communication as it is the most frequently used tense. Knowledge is sequenced in small steps to reduce cognitive load and allow for frequent reviewing to build confidence and competency. In this module, they will talk about what they like to do to support their physical and mental well-being as well as practising ordering food in a restaurant and going to the doctor, again giving them the opportunity to build their confidence in using the language in real-life situations.
Year 8
First Year Spanish
Module 1
Our first module begins which a short series of introductory sentence builders which aim to teach students key classroom language which will enable them to communicate successfully in the classroom with both their teacher and peers. Communicative functions here include, asking and answering basic short questions and requesting items and expressing needs and wants. This introductory module aims to give students the knowledge of what they need to know in order to introduce themselves, including talking about family members, describing themselves and others as well as talking about where they are from and which languages they speak. Through this, they will be introduced to some high-frequency structures and vocabulary, key phonological rules and fundamental grammatical rules and conceptions, such as gender and number and verb conjugation and a range of subject pronouns in Spanish.
Module 2
Our second module, through the context of local area, builds on from module 1 by revisiting and enhancing students’ knowledge of verb conjugations within the present tense focusing on students being able to use verbs in the ‘yo’, ‘él’, ‘ella’ and nosotros/-as’ forms in particular as well as asking questions in the 'usted' form. Students will begin to develop giving opinions in Spanish starting with short, simple ones. Students also learn how to sequence and link individual sentences allowing them to move towards creating longer cohesive utterances. Students will also gain the experience and skill of using transactional language in real-life contexts such as asking for directions and shopping for clothing in a shop.
Module 3
Our third module revisits again key grammatical ideas such as verb paradigms, infinitives, and verb conjugation within the present tense. By changing the context, we aim to consolidate knowledge and move towards mastery with key grammatical skills and knowledge such as how to accurately use the present tense. Knowledge is only context specific and so to master it, therefore our learners must revisit it in various contexts. By now, students will have had the opportunity to encounter a range of regular and irregular present tense verbs in numerous contexts in order to practice and develop their understanding of verb conjugations within the present tense. This is highly essential for successful communication as it is the most frequently used tense. Knowledge is sequenced in small steps to reduce cognitive load and allow for frequent reviewing to build confidence and competency. In this module, they will talk about what they like to do to support their physical and mental well-being as well as practising ordering food in a restaurant and going to the doctor, again giving them the opportunity to build their confidence in using the language in real-life situations.
Year 9
Term 1
Entre amis- Students learn about how to describe their friends and relationships as well as talking about trips with their friends in the past and future. They extend their ability to develop their answers and to change tenses.
Term 2
Vivre mieux- This unit considers different aspects of a healthy lifestyle including the role of sport, fitness, healthy eating and routines. Students learn how to use or understand the simple future and begin to understand and/or use some more complex structures such as depuis and the perfect infinitive.
Term 3
De la naissance à la mort- In this unit students consider different aspects of their life from birth to death. These include what they were like when they were little, family relationships, household chores, future plans for work and life and using languages in the future. There is a focus on the future and imperfect tenses, reflexive verbs and negatives.
Key Stage 4 Curriculum
EDEXCEL GCSE FRENCH
EBACC SUBJECT
COURSE CONTACT: Mr B Harrison-Webster Head Of MFL
Exam Board Website: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/french-2024.html
Course Content
GCSE French continues to build on what you have learned at KS3. You will continue to develop your listening, reading, speaking, writing and translation skills so that you can communicate more fluently and effectively. You will develop your ability to speak spontaneously, understand authentic texts including literary texts, translated into French and English and apply new language and structures independently.
The six following thematic contexts are studied:
• My personal world
• Lifestyle and wellbeing
• My neighbourhood
• Media and technology
• Studying and my future
• Travel and tourism
Assessment Details
Examinations can be taken at Higher or Foundation level. You must take the same level in all the papers.
There are 4 papers:
- Listening
- Reading
- Speaking
- Writing
Each paper is worth 25% of the total grade.
Why Study This Course?
Developing your communication skills in both French and English, becoming an independent learner and learning about other cultures. Linguists are highly valued in almost every career as every company requires articulate employees with good communication skills. In addition, most companies work with organisations abroad and/or speakers of other languages in this country. Languages are particularly useful in Business, Management, Law, Marketing, Administration, Medical careers, and Journalism. Britain has a national shortage of employees at all levels with language skills.
Please note: Universities are increasingly insisting on a GCSE in a language as an entry requirement. Languages are compulsory in primary schools and, therefore, an essential skill for anyone considering such a career. You must study French at GCSE if you want to study it at ‘A’ Level
French Reading List
Key Stage 4 Curriculum
EDEXCEL GCSE SPANISH
Exam Board Website: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/spanish-2024.html
Course Content
GCSE Spanish allows students to explore a new language whilst drawing on the skills and knowledge of language learning developed through learning French. You will develop your listening, reading, speaking, writing and translation skills so that you can communicate fluently and effectively. You will develop your ability to speak spontaneously, understand authentic texts including literary texts, translated into Spanish and English and apply new language and structures independently.
The six following thematic contexts are studied:
• My personal world
• Lifestyle and wellbeing
• My neighbourhood
• Media and technology
• Studying and my future
• Travel and tourism
Assessment Details
Examinations can be taken at Higher or Foundation level. You must take the same level in all the papers.
There are 4 papers:
· Listening,
· Reading,
· Speaking
· Writing.
Each paper is worth 25% of the total grade.
Why study this course?
Developing your communication skills in both Spanish and English, becoming an independent learner and learning about other cultures. Linguists are highly valued in almost every career as every company requires articulate employees with good communication skills. In addition, most companies work with organisations abroad and/or speakers of other languages in this country. Languages are particularly useful in Business, Management, Law, Marketing, Administration, Medical careers, and Journalism. Britain has a national shortage of employees at all levels with language skills.
Please note: Universities are increasingly insisting on a GCSE in a language as an entry requirement. Languages are compulsory in primary schools and, therefore, an essential skill for anyone considering such a career. You must study Spanish at GCSE if you want to study it at ‘A’ Level