Languages

Welcome to Languages

What do we learn about in Languages?

Bienvenue! Bienvenidos! 欢迎

A warm welcome to the Modern Foreign Languages department! Our Year 7 students are given the option to study one of the following languages: French, Spanish or Chinese Mandarin.

Our timetable includes two language lessons per week and we offer many extra-curricular opportunities: clubs, language plays, festival celebrations, day trips, residential trips, just to name a few! In July 2021, we are looking forward to taking our Year 8 Mandarin students on a trip to beautiful China, where they will be attending lessons led by native speakers and also visiting local historic sites and landmarks.

Our teachers are passionate about languages and believe that lessons should be packed with fun, challenging and interactive activities. We strive to develop our students' understanding of the language but also their ability to communicate their ideas confidently.

Languages are often described as a "window to the world" and we use every lesson as an opportunity for students to widen their horizon and discover new cultures. We cannot wait for your child to join us on this exciting journey!

Enjoy

The MFL Curriculum at The Petersfield School aims to enable all learners to develop the knowledge, skills, values and attitude which will widen their horizons and enable them to navigate the world successfully. We believe that languages play a key part on their journey to become game changers of the future. This exciting journey starts in the classroom, where we offer a wide range of fun and engaging activities, which are designed to develop our students’ ability to understand and communicate in their chosen foreign language but also gain an insight into the culture of the country where the language is spoken. Beyond the classroom, students can choose from many extra-curricular activities including trips, enrichment days, plays, competitions, just to name a few!

Respect

As part of our curriculum, students are given the opportunity to learn more about other countries, their people, their culture and traditions. Understanding the wealth of differences in our world can lead to greater respect and empathy - such important key traits for the game changers of tomorrow. This respect is fostered from an early stage in the language classroom where students can make mistakes in a safe environment. These are lifelong skills that promote scope for greater cooperation and collaboration in a global workforce. Respect for other cultures comes to life during opportunities like the Chinese Homestay visit where we welcome students from other countries into our homes. It is often these real-life learning moments that stay with us and really help mould us into global citizens.

Achieve

Our knowledge is composed of three strands which are closely intertwined: phonics, vocabulary and grammar. When these strands are closely interconnected, knowledge becomes stronger and enables students to develop all four skills area - Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. Extensive planned practice enables students to develop an understanding of the language and make sense of the world around them. Practice will also give them the confidence to start manipulating the language to communicate their own ideas, share their views and reach out to others.

All learners are given the opportunity to succeed at their own pace through differentiation and scaffolding. Resilience is also built up over time with strategies which equip them to tackle increasingly challenging resources. This approach fosters an ‘I can do it’ attitude which motivates our learners to take risks and consequently achieve more.

KS3 Topics across all three languages