MFL

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Did you know that on average, those who are able to speak a language earn 8% more money than those that are not able to in their careers? And did you also know that learning a foreign language can improve your memory, better your cognitive processing, deter dementia/Alzheimer's disease, and as a matter of fact improve your English?

Here at Greenwood Academy our students have the fantastic opportunity to learn a Modern Foreign Language - Spanish. Not only are students immediately immersed in the language and the many cultural aspects of the Hispanic world, but they are also able to thoroughly enjoy their hugely interactive lessons and to become engaged by the challenging content very quickly.

In lessons students will focus on four key language learning skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, using a wide range of contexts. As a department we feel very strongly about vocabulary acquisition in order to support and access these key skills, and this is therefore something that students will be expected to develop, both in Spanish and English.

Whilst students are in Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 and 9), they will visit the following topics:

Year 7

- Talking about/describing yourself

- School

- Free time

- Where you live

- Food

- Holidays

- Media

Year 8

- Meeting new people

- Staying in Spain

- Fashion

- Leisure

- Madrid

- Well-being

- Future

- My world

- Spanish speaking countries

Year 9

- Preparing for GCSE (reviewing KS3 topics, and basic GCSE content)

Whilst students are in Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11), they will begin their Spanish GCSE. Our students currently follow the (new) AQA GCSE Specification for Spanish. This is a demanding and rigorous course and students are expected to show a great deal of commitment across their studies.

Students will be assessed on their Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking skills through the following examinations:

PAPER 1 - LISTENING EXAMINATION - 25% OF GCSE

PAPER 2 - SPEAKING EXAMINATION - 25% OF GCSE

PAPER 3 - READING EXAMINATION - 25% OF GCSE

PAPER 4 - WRITING EXAMINATION - 25% OF GCSE

Within these assessments, students will be tested on the following contexts which will have been taught over the duration of the course:

Theme 1: Identity and culture (me, my family and friends; technology in everyday life; free time activities).

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest (home, town, neighbourhood and region; social issues; global issues; travel and tourism).

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment (my studies; life at school/college; education post-16; jobs, career choices and ambitions).

Extra Curricular Opportunities

Each year, our Year 10 students are offered a huge opportunity to visit the majestic city of Barcelona. This usually takes place midway through the Summer Term. This trip has been known to be a life-changing one and has seen many students grow in so many ways as individuals, and as young adults. It provides them with real opportunities to use the skills (particularly Listening and Speaking) that they pick up in class, for real purposes.