MFL Curriculum Overview

IMPLEMENTATION: 

Key stage 2 deals with curriculum content which aims to establish the basics in language acquisition. Pupils are exposed to interactive authentic sources in both French and Spanish, and respond in lessons in the target language, both orally and in writing. Pupils learn grammatical structures as well, such as verbs in the present tense, to be able to talk about themselves and their interests.

Key Stage 3 builds on the foundations of foreign language learning that have been taught at Key Stage 2. Students can relate easily to discussing about themselves, their family, school, leisure pursuits, holidays, technology, and town. These topics provide opportunities for free expression and creativity together with activities that motivate and stimulate learners in an engaging and fun way. There is also opportunity to begin to examine the differences in the languages, both culturally and linguistically. Furthermore, these topics are studied in more detail at GCSE.

At Key Stage 4 the Department follows the IGCSE Edexcel course books, which are centred around the consolidation of the vocabulary and topics acquired in Key Stage 3 in a more advanced way with a greater emphasis on authentic language through different materials and sources. The topics indeed run thematically and become more challenging throughout the course. The students will sit the IGCSE Edexcel examination, which comprises three papers: a listening paper (25% of the total IGCSE), a reading and writing paper (50% of the total IGCSE) and a speaking test (25% of the total IGCSE). These four basic skills are therefore developed in lessons using a range of authentic materials: written articles, film extracts, short video clips and a range of audio materials. The purpose is for students to take an active part in everyday situations, talking about personal interests, sharing opinions and experiences, as well as writing short essays. Lessons are varied, interactive, and aim to develop a wide range of positive language-learning habits, tailored according to students’ strengths and abilities.

IMPACT:

• Key Stage 2

Teaching focuses on enabling pupils to make substantial progress in a foreign language, and provides an appropriate balance of spoken and written language. At the end of Year 6, students achieve the foundations for further foreign language teaching at key stage 3. It should enable pupils to understand and communicate ideas, facts and feelings in speech and writing, focused on familiar and routine matters, using their knowledge of phonology, grammatical structures, and vocabulary. The focus of study in modern languages will be on practical communication.

• Key Stage 3

Students are encouraged to regularly learn key vocabulary and are given vocabulary tests every two weeks. To do so, different online tools and platforms are used by the students and the teacher to check students’ progress, such as Quizlet, Memrise, Duolingo Class, and Quizizz.

By the end of year 7, students will be able to use the present tense with regular and key irregular verbs. Pupils need to know a range of basics well including numbers, days, months, time, opinions and reasons and can confidently talk about themselves in detail.

By the end of year 8 students will have a good knowledge of how to form the near future and basic perfect tense. They will be able to discuss holidays and how to describe a future and past trip. Pupils will also be able to discuss technology and how they pass their time with their friends. They begin to be able to speak French and Spanish in more authentic settings e.g. directions, ordering in a shop and tourist information.

By the end of year 9, students begin to understand some of the key skills examined at GCSE level including the role play, picture cards, translation and writing tasks. Pupils build on their basic knowledge of the tenses and can use 3 tenses more confidentially. They can apply their knowledge to family, leisure pursuits, festivals, and town.

• Key Stage 4

KS4 students are encouraged to memorize sets of new words in order to sit a vocabulary tests on a weekly basis.

By the end of year 10, pupils have completed their first full GCSE mock papers. They understand fully the full range of exams they will sit and they have begun to develop strategies to complete these tasks with confidence.

By the end of year 11, pupils will have completed the course and be fully prepared to sit their IGCSEs. They will have embedded key vocab, grammar, and skills to complete the four skills successfully.

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