Modern Foreign Languages
Years 7-9
Rationale
- 75% of the world’s population do NOT speak English.
- A foreign language gives you a competitive edge in the job’s market. It’s a definite advantage to understand more than one language. Lots of universities now offer the opportunity to study abroad for part of their degree and some places even demand it at GCSE for certain degrees.
- People cross continents and language barriers like never before. Technology now enables us to trade on an international level and we need people who can communicate in different languages.
- We’re still part of Europe, and ought to be able to communicate with our neighbouring countries and those further afield. We will still need to use European languages whether we’re part of the EU or not.
- Learning a language is an exciting academic challenge and essential to develop one’s sense of empathy for and understanding of others in a global world.
“Learning a foreign language and the culture that goes with it, is one of the most useful things we can do to broaden the empathy and imaginative sympathy and cultural outlook of children”
Michael Gove
Topics studied in French
Year 7 (Dynamo 1) – Personal Info, Likes & Dislikes, School, Free Time, Family, In town
Films – Les Choristes, Le Petit Nicolas & Les Vacances de Petit Nicolas
Year 8 (Dynamo 2 )– Holidays, Festivals, Leisure, Home & Region, Sport
Films – Tomboy & Les Aventures d’Adèle Blanc-Sec
Year 9 (Expo for GCSE)– TV & Films, Towns, Shopping, Fashion, Healthy Living, The Environment
Films – La Vie en Rose (Edith Piaf Biopic) & Coco Before Chanel (Coco Chanel Biopic).
Curriculum
Students in KS3 are allocated 5-6 hours per fortnight of French which gives students the opportunity to develop their knowledge of French vocabulary and grammar to an excellent standard and lays a solid foundation for they study of French at GCSE level in Year 10 and Year 11. Students also develop essential life skills such as curiosity, tolerance, resilience and enthusiasm for different cultures. Students’ listening, reading, writing and speaking skills are also greatly improved through the study of French and students’ spelling and understanding of English also improves. We are proud that the study of French during KS3 gives our students a much greater understanding of their own place in the world and a greater appreciation of the similarities and differences between life in Church Stretton and in Francophone countries.
Topics studied in Spanish
Year 7 (Viva 1) – Personal Info, Free Time, School, Family & Friends, My Town
Films – Carlitos, Ferdinand
Year 8 (Viva 2)– Holidays, Leisure & Technology, Festivals & Food, Clothes & Going Out, Regions
Films – Coco, The Book of Life
Year 9 (Viva 3))– Likes & Dislikes, World of Work, Healthy Living, The Environment & Global Issues
Films – Pan’s Labyrinth, Voces Inocentes
Curriculum
Students in KS3 are allocated 3 hours per fortnight of Spanish which gives students the opportunity to develop their knowledge of Spanish vocabulary and grammar to an excellent standard and lays a solid foundation for they study of Spanish at GCSE level in Year 10 and Year 11. Students also develop essential life skills such as curiosity, tolerance, resilience and enthusiasm for different cultures. Students’ listening, reading, writing and speaking skills are also greatly improved through the study of Spanish and students’ spelling and understanding of English also improves. We are proud that the study of Spanish during KS3 gives our students a much greater understanding of their own place in the world and a greater appreciation of the similarities and differences between life in Church Stretton and life in Spain and Hispanic countries.
How to support your child
We are sure that you already do many of these things to support your child but here is a useful reminder for you to refer to:
- Ask them what they have learnt today. Get them to teach you!
- Help them to structure revision for tests and assessments. Regular learning of a language is the most effective. Don’t worry if you‘re not confident. They will tell you what/ how to test them.
- Encourage them to go online. Zut.org is a free online resource if used out of school hours and is a really engaging website for both French and Spanish.
- We have a subscription to Linguascope which is also very good to help them learn and make progress. We give them the password in school and they can then access the site at home or on their phone.
Curriculum Overview
Knowledge Organiser
French
Spanish
Web Links
Additional Reading
We have a selection of French reading books pupils can borrow.
Years 10-11
Why do it?
- 75% of the world’s population do NOT speak English.
- A foreign language gives you a competitive edge in the job’s market. It’s a definite advantage to understand more than one language. Lots of universities now offer the opportunity to study abroad for part of their degree and some places even demand it at GCSE for certain degrees.
- People cross continents and language barriers like never before. Technology now enables us to trade on an international level and we need people who can communicate in different languages.
- We’re still part of Europe, and ought to be able to communicate with our fellow members.
- We will still need to use European languages whether we’re part of the EU or not.
What will you do?
- 1 Listening exam. The Foundation paper is 35 minutes. The Higher paper is 45 minutes.
- 1 Reading exam. The Foundation paper is 45 minutes. The Higher paper is 60 minutes.
- 1 Speaking exam. The Foundation exam lasts between 7 – 9 minutes. The Higher exam lasts 10 – 12 mins.
- 1 Writing exam. The Foundation paper is 1 hour and the Higher paper is 90 minutes.
What do you need?
- Communication skills in speaking and writing: The ability to express ideas and thoughts fluently and with a good degree of accuracy is essential not only in your own language, but also when you communicate using a foreign language. You will practise and master all the grammar you know and also learn more complex structures which will develop and enhance your language skills. You will also need to be able to translate into French with accuracy and this skill will be regularly practised.
- Listening and reading skills: Good listening and reading skills are important when learning a foreign language. You will get lots more practice to improve and develop your ability to listen to, read and understand French.
For further details see: Mrs Proffitt, Mrs Hough & Miss Hutton
Subject Exam Board Internal Exam Paper
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
French AQA The speaking exam Listening 25%
is conducted in school by Reading 25%
your teacher and then Speaking 25%
sent away to be marked. Writing 25%
Spanish AQA The speaking exam Listening 25%
is conducted in school by Reading 25%
your teacher and then Speaking 25%
sent away to be marked. Writing 25%
Curriculum Overview
Knowledge Organiser
French
Spanish
How to support your child
We are sure that you already do many of these things to support your child but here is a useful reminder for you to refer to:
- Ask them what they have learnt today. Get them to teach you!
- Help them to structure revision for tests and assessments. Regular learning of a language is the most effective. Don’t worry if you‘re not confident. They will tell you what/ how to test them.
- Encourage them to go online. Zut.org is a free online resource if used out of school hours and is a really engaging website for both French and Spanish.
- We have a subscription to Linguascope which is also very good to help them learn and make progress. We give them the password in school and they can then access the site at home or on their phone.
Web Links
Additional Reading
We have a selection of French and Spanish reading books pupils can borrow.
