Modern Foreign Languages

Language Assistants

Key stage 3

What we study:

Year 7 We learn to read, listen, talk and write about ourselves, where we live, our school, the things we like to do in our free time and how we like to spend our holidays. We learn to conjugate verbs in the present tense and how to make simple sentences in French. We start to learn about another culture.

Year 8 We start to learn more about tenses in French. We are introduced to the past and future tenses. We learn more about free time activities and describing things.

Year 9 We consolidate our knowledge of the present, past and future tenses within the topics of social media, sport and healthy living. We also begin to study a second foreign language - either German or Spanish with a view to taking one or two of these languages at GCSE level. In Year 9 we have the opportunity of doing an exchange with a French school in Normandy.

How we study:

We have three lessons of MFL each week during which we use textbooks, listen to recordings, complete grammar exercises and practise speaking to each other in the target language.

We also regularly use online resources. We are given independent study twice a week - very often vocabulary learning or something to prepare for the next lesson, either a written piece to be handed in for marking or a role play to be practised.

Key stage 4

Students have the opportunity to study either French or Spanish or German at GCSE in core MFL lessons. Students opting to study Spanish or German GCSE should be aware that these courses are taught at a slightly faster pace than French because of limited prior knowledge of the language and for this reason students should have shown a reasonable aptitude for languages at KS3.

If students choose to study Spanish or German they may also study French by choosing it as one of their option subjects.

The specification for languages at GCSE follows logically from the work covered in Key Stage 3. A thematic approach to developing the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing continues throughout Years 10 and 11 in each language.

Grammatical concepts are incorporated with particular emphasis on the past, present and future tenses. Some of the main GCSE examination topics include Friends and Relationships, Life in the Home, Local Area, Sport, Healthy Living, Socialising, Special Occasions and Festivals, TV, Films and Music, Holidays and Exchanges, Environmental Issues, School Life and Future Plans.

The Modern Languages Department is a successful and thriving section of the school in which all students working soundly can expect to gain at least one GCSE grade in the 9 – 4 range.

Course Content:

The specification for all languages at GCSE follows logically from the work covered in Key Stage 3. A thematic approach to developing the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing continues throughout Years 10 and 11.

How we study:

There are three lessons of MFL each week during which we use textbooks, listen to recordings, complete grammar exercises and practise speaking to each other in the target language. We regularly use online resources. Independent study is given twice a week.