Curriculum
Modern Foreign Languages
Why study Modern Foreign Languages?
94% of the planet don’t speak English as their mother tongue and 75% do not speak English at all. English speakers who can communicate in additional foreign languages are much sought after. The study of languages opens pupils’ minds to a whole world of opportunity, enabling pupils to:
- access information about different cultures.
- improve both verbal and written communication and literacy.
- perform well under pressure and grow in self-confidence.
Language learning develops a deep cultural awareness of how linguistic heritage links people of different cultures around the world, enables all pupils to broaden their horizons, converse with other people from different backgrounds, and strengthens pupils’ economic prospects.
How will I study Modern Foreign Languages?
All pupils study their foreign language, either German or Spanish, for at least 2 lessons each week. They learn to:
- understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of carefully selected sources, including authentic audio texts where appropriate.
- speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation.
- read and respond to a wide range of textual sources in each target language, including authentic and literary texts; and to enhance their linguistics knowledge and fluency, an learn more about parts of the world where each language is spoken, through reading for enjoyment from a MFL reading list.
- write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt.
- discover and develop an appreciation of the countries and cultures where the language is used.
What will I study at key stage 3?
Key Stage 3 provides students with a really secure basis for speaking and writing in their language, in a range of contexts including: myself, my family, my school and my interests.
Pupils learn language phonics and start making links between sounds and spelling. They develop their vocabulary and grammar skills and learn how to introduce themselves, their family and pets in the new language. They also learn to read, write, listen and speak about various aspects of their everyday life (school, leisure activities, sports, their house and their town).
Pupils consolidate their language skills, developing further knowledge of phonics, vocabulary and grammar enable them to understand, to talk about and describe more extensively about a range of themes such as holiday, festivals and celebrations, the media, their region and healthy lifestyles.
What will I study at key stage 4?
Pupils study the GCSE syllabus for their language through a wide range of topics blending the familiar with new knowledge (e.g., what makes a good friend, role models, dream holidays, healthy living, further study, the world of work, social issues in the local areas and how to protect the environment).
In the GCSE, pupils will:
- recall high frequency vocabulary and structures and start to draw upon more specific vocabulary.
- revisit topics studied at Key Stage 3 in more depth through the Key Stage 4 GCSE specification.
- know correct verb forms in different tenses and develop more confidence in combining timeframes.
- offer and justify opinions on a range of topics.
- listen and read for gist and detail with increasing stamina.
- speak and write confidently in some detail
- build upon a strong foundation of prior learning to tackle more complex content relating to future plans, healthy lifestyle choices and social and global social issues.
- synthesise learning across topics and recycle language more proficiently from memory.
- know some uses of the simple future tense, subjunctive voice and passive voices.
- communicate competently and confidently in spoken and written German/Spanish and appreciate the culture in different countries around the world
- communicate proficiently in the language verbally and in writing.
- be well-prepared for the rigour of GCSE exams in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.
- have a strong foundation to study A-Level Languages.
What will I study at key stage 5?
For A Level French you will study how French society has been shaped socially and culturally and how it continues to change. Aspects of the social context are studied, together with aspects of the artistic life of France. This continues with further aspects of the social background being covered, this time focusing on matters associated with multiculturalism. Students also study aspects of the political landscape including the future of political life in the Hispanic world by focusing on young people and their political engagement.
For A Level German you will study how German-speaking society has been shaped socially and culturally and how it continues to change. Aspects of the social context are studied, together with aspects of the artistic life of German-speaking countries. This continues with further aspects of the social background being covered, alongside the German political landscape, both in relation to Germany itself and its place in Europe. The past and its role in shaping the present is viewed through the reunification and its consequences while the focus on young people and politics looks forward to shaping the future of German-speaking countries.
For A Level Spanish you will study how Spanish-speaking society has been shaped socially and culturally and how it continues to change. Aspects of the social context are studied, together with aspects of the artistic life of Spanish-speaking countries. This continues with further aspects of the social background being covered, this time focusing on matters associated with multiculturalism. Students also study aspects of the political landscape including the future of political life in the Hispanic world by focusing on young people and their political engagement.
Assessment at key stage 4
GCSE German AQA 8668/GCSE Spanish AQA 8698 GCSE French AQA 8658 (Legacy, current Yr11s only)
Paper 1: Listening
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This paper consists of multiple-choice, short open response, open response and extended open response questions. The paper is divided in to two sections. Section A: Questions in English to be answered in English. Section B: Questions in Target Language to be answered in Target Language. |
Paper 2: Speaking
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The test consists of three parts: Role-play (15 marks) Approx. 2 minutes Photo card (15 marks) Approx 2-3 minutes General conversation (30 marks) 5-7 minutes |
Paper 3: Reading
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This paper consists of multiple-choice, short open response and open response questions. The paper is divided in to three sections. Section A: Questions in English to be answered in English. Section B: Questions in Target Language to be answered in Target Language. Section C: Translation from Target Language into English. |
Paper 4: Writing
| Overview | Focus |
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Higher Tier: This exam consists of three questions. Q1: A structured 90 word writing task Q2: An open-ended, 150 word writing task Q3: A translation from English into Target Language. Foundation Tier: This exam consists of four questions. Q1: A photocard description task Q2: A structured 40 word writing task Q3: Sentences to translate into Target Language Q3: A structured 90 word writing task |
Assessment at key stage 5
A Level German AQA (7662)/A Level Spanish AQA (7692)/A Level French AQA (7652)
Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing
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Listening and responding to spoken passages from a range of contexts and sources covering different registers and adapted as necessary. Material will include complex factual and abstract content and questions will target main points, gist and detail. Studio recordings will be used and students will have individual control of the recording. All questions are in the target language, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in target language (30 marks) Reading and responding to a variety of texts written for different purposes, drawn from a range of authentic sources and adapted as necessary. Material will include complex factual and abstract content and questions will target main points, gist and detail. All questions are in target language, to be answered with non-verbal responses or in target language (50 marks) Translation into English; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks) Translation into target language; a passage of minimum 100 words (10 marks). No access to a dictionary during the assessment. |
Paper 2: Writing
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Either one question in target language on a set text from a choice of two questions and one question in target language on a set film from a choice of two questions or two questions in target language on set texts from a choice of two questions on each text. All questions will require a critical appreciation of the concepts and issues covered in the work and a critical and analytical response to features such as the form and the technique of presentation, as appropriate to the work studied (eg the effect of narrative voice in a prose text or camera work in a film). No access to texts or films during the assessment. No access to a dictionary during the assessment. |
Paper 3: Speaking
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Discussion of a sub-theme with the discussion based on a stimulus card (5–6 minutes). The candidate studies the card for 5 minutes at the start of the test (25 marks). Presentation (2 minutes) and discussion (9–10 minutes) of individual research project (35 marks). No access to a dictionary during the assessment (including 5 minutes preparation). |
Careers
There are a range of career opportunities for pupils if they study modern foreign language to a higher level. The majority of employers prefer to recruit people with languages skills. Having a good GCSE or A Level grade in a foreign language and any degree will enable pupils to work for an international company anywhere around the world. A good GCSE grade in a modern foreign langauage will allow pupils to study the language further or to combine with other degree subjects. This can then lead to careers in fields such as interpreting, teaching, languages and community services. Universities and employers value strong language qualifications.
Useful Resources and Revision Support
- Pupils should have access to a dual-language dictionary for each language they study.
- Pupils can benefit from watching cartoons, youtube clips and TV programmes/films in the Target Language.
- Pupils can prepare for assessments using topic-based revision mats, vocabulary booklets and listening materials provided by language teachers.
- Pupils are able to review lesson Powerpoints and access additional materials via MS Teams.
- languagenut.com Subscription site for MFL Pupils
- Secondary Homework Help | Online subjects – BBC Bitesize for revision, listening and reading practice
- https://www.duolingo.com/ learn, read stories and interact via the multilingual forum
- https://www.memrise.com/ for vocabulary retrieval practice