Modern Languages
Head of Department
Mrs V Harvey
In our ever-expanding world where the ability to communicate in a foreign language has never been more important, it is our duty to equip our students with skills which will make them not only highly employable but also global citizens. We also firmly believe that, by studying a foreign language, students become more aware of their own language and as a consequence, their proficiency in literacy and communication in English (and/or in their own native tongue) also improves greatly. Furthermore, colleges, universities and companies all highly regard an additional language.
French Learning Journey - click for details
Key Stage 3 - All students currently study French in Years 7, 8 and 9.
Students are regularly assessed in their Speaking, Reading, Listening and Writing skills. At the end of Year 9, in order to gain the English baccalaureate qualification, students are strongly recommended to opt for a language at GCSE level.
Key Stage 4 - French
All students follow the new AQA GCSE course. This involves examinations in Reading and Listening Speaking and Writing skills at the end of the two-year course. Each skill is worth 25% of the GCSE.
Students study the themes of Identity and Culture, Local, national, international and global areas of interest and Current and future study and employment through the foreign language. The GCSE course prepares students well for further study at AS and A2 level.
Pupils are well supported thanks to regular after-school Aiming Higher sessions, ad hoc revision sessions in their last term and Easter revision classes.
Modern Foreign Languages Links
BBC Bitesize MFL: https://www.bbc.com/education/subjects/zhsvr82
Conjuguemos: https://conjuguemos.com/
Languages Online: http://www.languagesonline.org.uk/Hotpotatoes/Index.htm
Lingolia: https://www.lingolia.com/en/
Memrise: https://www.memrise.com/
SENECA : https://senecalearning.com/
WordReference: http://www.wordreference.com/
GCSE Listening skills boost:
SHORT NEWS, CURRENT AFFAIRS AND TOPIC RELATED CLIPS
1 Jour 1 Actu - News website with colourful short videos about many different current affairs topics
https://www.1jour1actu.com/infos-animees/
Ilini – Short News clips and songs – beginner, intermediate and advanced options
Coffee Break French – short podcasts on many topics related to holidays, fruit, veg, food etc with French and English to set the scene
https://radiolingua.com/category/podcast/coffee-break-french/
Audio Lingua – topic and level related clips, A1 = beginner / B1 = intermediate
https://www.audio-lingua.eu/spip.php?rubrique1&lang=fr
Easy French – short videos on many topics such as talking about the past, breakfast etc – lots of videos down the right hand side
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F8J3IuOrrk
INTERACTIVE SONG ACTIVITIES
Lyrics Training - French songs with interactive gap filling activities with different levels of difficulty:
https://lyricstraining.com/fr/
OTHER IDEAS
Collins French Revision - Book with many activities on topics
https://www.amazon.co.uk/GCSE-French-Revision-Practice-Collins/dp/0008166307