Modern Foreign Languages

Studying a Modern Foreign Language is a life long skill, whether it is for business or for pleasure. In an ever more globalised society, the need for communication skills and cultural understanding is greater than ever. The overarching principle of learning French, Spanish and German is to develop these and other skills that can complement or be transferred to any chosen career path. Students achieve this by focusing on communicating in and understanding the target language and by introducing elements of the arts, history, traditions and quirks of the Francophone, Hispanic and Germanic communities to ensure the learning is fun and real. ICT, in its many guises, forms an integral part of language learning across all key stages. Self-reflection, independent thinking and student centred-learning underpin work done in the classroom and at home.

Course Outline for Key Stage 3
Pupils entering Year 7 may choose between French and Spanish, regardless of their ability, and they will continue to study their chosen language throughout Key Stage 3. The aims of the French and Spanish courses are to allow the pupils to develop an understanding of how language works and to lay solid grammatical and lexical foundations so that they are able to express themselves clearly and adventurously. The topics covered include family, home, town, healthy lifestyles, hobbies and interests and holidays.

In both languages, the aim is to develop the skills necessary for GCSE, culminating in Speaking and Writing assessments in Year 9 that closely match the GCSE specification. By the end of Key Stage 3, students will have been exposed to the 4 major tenses.

The department places a great emphasis on assessment for learning, promoting the pupils’ self-evaluation and the setting of tangible targets, all of which actively engage the students in the learning process.


Course Outline for GCSE
Students are obliged to study a foreign language at GCSE level and most continue studying their chosen Key Stage 3 language. However, students may also study French, Spanish or German from scratch in Year 10 either in addition to, or instead of, their chosen Key Stage 3 language.

It is our aim that pupils develop a deeper understanding of the elements of culture and language that are appropriate for their age and interests at this level. Topics that must be covered include Healthy Lifestyles, Leisure time, Home and Environment and Work and Education, but this is complemented by extra cultural material to suit the group and individuals in question. By the end of the course, students should be able to converse and write at length on these topics and to display a mastery of a broad range of linguistic structures, tenses and vocabulary.

In each language, the course is delivered with the help of the AQA GCSE textbook series by Nelson Thornes with its comprehensive language-learning website Kerboodle that runs parallel to the course book.

Year 10 French students have the opportunity to participate in a homestay visit in the south of France. They will have the opportunity to learn about French history, gastronomy, culture and daily life through the time spent with their host families and organised excursions. The visit will provide them with ample opportunities to practise their language skills.

Year 10 Spanish students have the opportunity to put their learning into practice with a Homestay Visit to Southern Spain. By day, they visit the beautiful cities of Seville, Granada and Málaga and by night they eat and converse with their Spanish host families, providing a valuable mix of cultural and linguistic enrichment.

In all subjects, students follow the AQA Modern Languages specification; further details of each of the subjects offered may be found by clicking on the following links:

For French: http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/languages/new/french_overview.php?id=11&prev=11

For Spanish:
http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/languages/new/spanish_overview.php?id=11&prev=11

or German:
http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/languages/new/german_overview.php?id=11&prev=11

Course Outline for A Level
We give students the opportunity to develop their linguistic skills and interest in Francophone, Hispanic and Germanic language and culture to a level so that they can develop specialised knowledge of particular topics that we are not familiar with, as well as in-depth knowledge of the topic areas they are required to know; these include the Environment, Multicultural Society and Contemporary Social Issues. Our aim is to create a scenario where teacher and learner roles are blurred, ideas bounce off each other and purposeful higher-order thinking is attained.

This aim can only be achieved once grammatical structures are secure and much of the Year 12 course is spent ensuring that this is the case. In addition, higher-order thinking can only take place if certain skills are developed; these include reading for detail, inference, initiative and structuring an argument and are facilitated by the teachers who tailor this development according to the requirements of the individuals and the group.

Unit 1 presents a variety of verbal and non-verbal tasks that require understanding of a spoken or written task. In addition, the mastery of grammar is tested with a gap-fill question and the final question is a topic-related discursive essay. Much of the preparation for this unit centres on how to build an argument and structure an essay. Unit 2 requires the discussion of all of the key topic areas and starts with the discussion of a stimulus card, which the candidate receives and prepares for 20 minutes before the examination.

Cultural topics, especially literature, but including art, film and politics, form an integral part of what is on offer in a language A Level. Cultural Topics are examined both in the essay part of Unit 3 and for two thirds of the oral examination at Unit 4. It is thus an obligation to study (at least) two different cultural topics from the range of five possibilities. Some Year 12 teaching time is dedicated to introducing Cultural Topics, certainly during the lessons in June of Year 12 (after examinations) as it can be difficult to acquire such high-level skills exclusively in Year 13. The Cultural Topics include a geographical region, a 20th century period of history, an author, a poet or dramatist, a film director, artist, musician or architect.

In Year 12 and Year 13, students of French will have one hour of French conversation per week. This will not only enable them to increase their oral confidence and competence in a secure and nurturing environment but it will also give them a deeper insight into the Francophone world through a uniquely French perspective.

Further details of the A Level courses may be found by following the links below:

For French:
http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/languages/french_noticeboard.php

For Spanish:
http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/languages/spanish_noticeboard.php