Modern Foreign Languages
"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." Nelson Mandela
The MFL department is made up of a team of 4 teachers and a specialist ETA. All members of the department follow up-to-date and detailed schemes of work which include online resources. Most language lessons take place in one of four brand new classrooms situated on the first floor of the school.
A key feature of language learning is developing thinking skills and promoting students’ independence as language learners. This will be achieved through the use of authentic materials, translations and the inclusion of literary texts in the target language.
The Curriculum
Key Stage 3
Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 study French or Spanish over 4 x 60 minute lessons a fortnight.
Key Stage 4
We use the AQA Examination Board course for the new GCSE which covers a variety of themes. Students are taught in mixed ability groups and progress is tracked and monitored by the faculty to provide additional support and intervention. All assessments are taken at the end of Y11 and consist of Listening, Speaking, Writing and Reading examinations. All skills are equally weighted at 25% each.
Achieve
KS4 French Achieve session - every Thursday from 2.45pm-3.45pm in 117
KS4 Spanish Achieve session - every Thursday from 2.45pm-3.45pm in 117
French and Spanish Speaking club - every Friday morning from 8.00am - 8.30am in 116
KS3 MFL Club - every Monday from 2.45pm-3.15pm in 117
Specifications
The specifications for each course can be downloaded from the AQA website using the links below:-
AQA GCSE Spanish (8698) Specification
AQA GCSE French (8658) Specification
Revision and Support
We currently run the following revision and support sessions:-
Thursdays - French and Spanish KS4 Achieve 2.45pm - 3.45pm in 117
Our open door policy means students can arrange support at any time if needed. They just need to speak to their French or Spanish teacher.
Revision Guides
Every student will have been given the opportunity to purchase a revision guide through school. However, they can also be bought online (for example from Amazon or eBay) or at a high street retailer (for example WHSmith) easily yourself.
Revision websites and apps
There is a wealth of revision material on the internet. Apps can be useful as students can revise anytime or anywhere they have their phone with them. We particularly recommend the following:
- Seneca - students can practise the language from the AQA specification
- Duolingo - this is a very popular online way of learning languages which presents information through bite-sized lessons and then keeps re-testing the learner who can track their progress and move up through increasingly challenging levels of difficulty.
- Blooket - a user-generated learning platform which uses games to practise vocabulary and structures.
- Quizlet - also uses flashcards and games as a fun way to practise key vocabulary and structures.
- Languages Online - has lots of ready-made interactive tasks and worksheets.
- Youtube videos - there are lots of revision songs on Youtube.
Quick Revision
Please click on the French and Spanish revision documents in the links at the bottom of this page. The one-page French revision sheets can be self-marked.
French and Spanish "RockStars" Vocabulary Lists
Click on the links at the bottom of this page for "Rock Stars" lists of key vocabulary that appear in the Listening and Reading exams.
Special Assemblies
This year we hope to run another series of workshops for our Y9 students, exploring the links between languages and careers and raising awareness on the importance of studying a modern foreign language and the advantages it can have in the workplace.
Useful links
Students will need to create their own individual accounts for Memrise and Duolingo but will receive instructions on how to do this from their teachers, or can follow instructions online.
Please click the links below to view our curriculum plans.