Modern Foreign Languages
In MFL, we aim to develop life-long language learners, through teaching that is creative and engaging, and strives to challenge and inspire all students. The study of a language is an essential component in preparing young people for life in the twenty-first century. It develops a range of transferrable skills that will enable students to become successful in any chosen field, including communication, listening, understanding, adaptability, problem solving and analytical thinking. Students will learn to communicate with people from another country and culture, and in so doing develop global understanding and international mindedness.
We believe that all students should be able to achieve exceptional outcomes irrespective of their starting point, and that learning should be accessible to all. The high level of collaboration between staff means that students have the same learning experience regardless of the class they are in.
In KS3 we aim to:
- Develop an interest in learning other languages and stimulating curiosity about other languages
- Encourage students’ confidence in another language
- Develop students’ awareness of cultural differences in other countries
In KS4 we additionally aim to:
- Equip students with the tools to communicate in a variety of contexts, beyond those explicitly taught
- Deepen students’ understanding of the target language culture
In KS5 we additionally aim to:
- Develop fluency in the target language
- Introduce greater cultural, political and historical understanding through the study of literature and film
We achieve this by:
- Teaching languages in a way that is enjoyable and stimulating
- Immersing students in a target language classroom
- Rewarding efforts to communicate spontaneously in the target language
- Developing students’ listening, speaking, reading and writing skills
- Fostering students’ ability to work independently
- Preparing students for the next stage in language learning at all levels
These aims are delivered through classroom teaching and learning, but in addition we aim to offer all students the opportunity to visit either France or Spain at least once in their school careers, giving them access to learning experiences in an authentic context.
KEY STAGE 3
In Year 7, students are offered the choice of studying French, Spanish. They can also attend Bengali club after school, to prepare them to choose it as an option at GCSE, should they so wish.
Successful language learning has always stemmed from a wide knowledge base of vocabulary and grammatical structures. Our schemes of work focus on developing the breadth and depth of pupils’ competence in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Pupils will be able to understand and communicate personal and factual information that goes beyond their immediate needs and interests, developing ideas and justifying points of view orally and in writing. We aim to develop students’ spontaneity, independence and accuracy.
The ability to apply and manipulate this knowledge is fundamental to students’ achievement. Student knowledge will be assessed in lessons using formative assessment and formally at the end of each unit of work using summative tests.
Grammar and vocabulary
- use of a variety of tenses (Present, past, future)
- giving and justifying opinions
- accuracy in grammar and spelling
Linguistic competence
- understand a variety of spoken and written original or adapted material
- initiate and develop conversations and cope with unfamiliar language
- speak coherently and confidently
KEYSTAGE 3 OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENT FRENCH-SPANISH
| TERM & THEME | YEAR 7 |
|---|---|
|
Autumn Term 1 and 2 All about me |
Assessment Listening, reading, writing, speaking assessments taking places in line with GCSE requirements. |
|
Spring Term and 2
|
Description
Assessment Listening, reading, writing, speaking assessments taking places in line with GCSE requirements. |
|
Summer Term 1 and 2 Film Project |
Film project
|
| TERM & THEME | YEAR 8 |
|---|---|
|
Autumn Term 1 and 2 Free-time activities |
Assessment Listening, reading, writing, speaking assessments taking places in line with GCSE requirements |
|
Spring Term 1 and 2 Holidays |
Assessment Listening, reading, writing, speaking assessments taking places in line with GCSE requirements |
|
Summer Term 1 and 2 School |
Assessment Listening, reading, writing, speaking assessments taking |
| TERM & THEME | YEAR 9 |
|---|---|
|
Autumn Term 1 and 2 My Area |
Assessment Listening, reading, writing, speaking assessments taking |
|
Spring Term 1 and 2 Jobs |
Assessment Listening, reading, writing, speaking assessments taking places in line with GCSE requirements |
|
Summer Term 1 and 2 Film Project |
|
ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT KEYSTAGE 3
- Y7 and 8 trip to Boulogne
- Real lives exams for Year 9 students
- E-twining opportunity for students in Year 8/9
- Languages ambassadors programme
- French / Spanish touring play
USEFUL WEBSITES, RESOURCES, REVISION MATERIALS AND EXEMPLAR WORK
- Linguascope: https://www.linguascope.com (choose ‘Beginner’ level)
- Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/en-gb (search for the topic you are revising, or make your own flash cards)
KEY STAGE 4
KS4 revisits many of the topics seen at KS3, but in greater depth. These topics draw on the students’ immediate experience of their daily lives. Revisiting topics in this way encourages retention of the vocabulary and structures and a greater ease of manipulation of language. In KS4 students revisit the key grammar of KS3 (present, perfect and near future tenses) but with a wider range of infinitives, and in addition further tenses are taught. Students meet a number of further complex structures receptively, which are then taught productively at KS5.
As at KS3, student knowledge will be assessed in lessons using formative assessment and formally at the end of each unit of work using topic based tests or past papers.
Grammar and vocabulary
- use of a variety of tenses (Present, perfect, near future, simple future, imperfect.)
- describing and narrating events
- increasing accuracy in grammar and spelling
Linguistic competence
- understand a variety of spoken and written original or adapted material, including literary texts
- initiate and develop conversations with spontaneity
- speak coherently and confidently, and at increasing length
KS4 OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENTS
| KS4 FRENCH | YEAR 10 | YEAR 11 |
|---|---|---|
|
Autumn Term 1
|
Who am I?
|
Holidays
|
|
Autumn Term 2
|
Who am I?
|
School Life
|
|
Spring Term 1
|
Free Time
|
The world of work
|
|
Spring Term 2
|
Festivals and Celebrations
|
Wider world
|
|
Summer Term 1
|
My Area
|
Revision |
|
Summer Term 2
|
My Area
|
EXAMINATION BOARD AND WEIGHTINGS
Edexcel French GCSE
- Listening – 25%
- Reading – 25%
- Writing – 25%
- Speaking – 25%
| KS4 SPANISH | YEAR 10 | YEAR 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term 1 |
Holidays
|
My area
|
| Autumn Term 2 |
Holidays
|
Festivals and Celebrations
|
| Spring Term 1 |
School
|
The world of work
|
| Spring Term 2 |
Friends and family
|
Wider world
|
| Summer Term 1 |
Free time
|
Revision |
| Summer Term 2 |
Free time
|
EXAMINATION BOARD AND WEIGHTINGS
Edexcel Spanish GCSE
- Listening – 25%
- Reading – 25%
- Writing – 25%
- Speaking – 25%
| KS4 BENGALI | YEAR 10 | YEAR 11 |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term 1 |
Who am I?
Describing your family
In addition, You will learn all the letters of the Alphabet and use of vowel signs and some general vocabulary during this term |
Holidays
Learn the use of joint letters |
| Autumn Term 2 |
Who am I?
Describing your family
In addition, You will learn all the letters of the Alphabet and use of vowel signs and some general vocabulary during this term |
My area
|
| Spring Term 1 |
Free time
Modern Technology in everyday life
|
School Life School
The world of work
|
| Spring Term 2 |
Festivals and Celebrations
|
Wider world
|
| Summer Term 1 |
Healthy/unhealthy living lifestyle
|
Revision |
| Summer Term 2 |
Healthy/unhealthy living lifestyle
|
EXAMINATION BOARD AND WEIGHTINGS
- Listening – 25%
- Reading – 25%
- Writing – 25%
- Speaking – 25%
ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT KEYSTAGE 4
- Residential trip to Paris
- Bangla drama visits
- Languages Ambassadors programme
- E-twining opportunity for students in Year 10
USEFUL WEBSITES, RESOURCES, REVISION MATERIALS AND EXEMPLAR WORK
French/Spanish
- Active Learn (students are given a personal log-in to this website and are assigned tasks by their teacher)
- GCSE Bitesize (useful site to practise listening and reading tasks)
- Linguascope
Bengali
- Quizlet for vocabulary practice:
www.quizlet.com/MrsShamsad and www.quizlet.com/CFGSBengali
KEY STAGE 5
The A-level specification builds on the knowledge, understanding and skills gained at GCSE. It constitutes an integrated study with a focus on language, culture and society. It fosters a range of transferable skills including communication, critical thinking, research skills and creativity, which are valuable to the individual and society. The content is suitable for students who wish to progress to employment or further study, including a modern languages degree.
The approach is a focus on how French-speaking society has been shaped, socially and culturally, and how it continues to change.
In the first year, aspects of the social context are studied, together with aspects of the artistic life of French-speaking countries. In the second year further aspects of the social background are covered, this time focusing on issues such as life for those on the margins of French-speaking society as well as looking at the positive influences that diversity brings.
Students also study aspects of the political landscape in a French-speaking country, looking at immigration from the political perspective and at the way in which political power is expressed through action such as strikes and demonstrations. Teenagers and the extent to which they are politically engaged looks towards the future of political life in French-speaking society. Students will develop their knowledge and understanding of themes relating to the culture and society of countries where French is spoken, and their language skills. They will do this by using authentic spoken and written sources in French.
Students will develop their language knowledge, understanding and skills through:
• using language spontaneously to initiate communication; ask and answer questions; express thoughts and feelings; present viewpoints; develop arguments; persuade; analyse and evaluate in speech and writing, including interaction with speakers of French
• applying knowledge of pronunciation, morphology and syntax, vocabulary and idiom to communicate accurately and coherently, using a range of expression – including grammar
• using language-learning skills and strategies, including communication strategies such as adjusting the message, circumlocution, self-correction and repair strategies
• listening and responding to spoken passages including some extended passages from a range of different contexts and sources, adapted as necessary, covering different registers and types, including authentic communication involving one or more speakers
• reading and responding to a variety of texts including some extended texts written for different purposes and audiences drawn from a range of authentic sources, including contemporary, historical and literary, fiction and non-fiction texts, adapted as necessary
• understanding the main points, gist and detail from spoken and written material
• inferring meaning from complex spoken and written material, including factual and abstract content
• assimilating and using information from spoken and written sources
• summarising information from spoken and written sources, reporting key points and subject matter in speech and writing
• translating an unseen passage from French into English
Students must also study either one book and one film or two books. They must appreciate, analyse and be able to respond critically in writing in French to the work they have studied.
In addition, students will:
• develop research skills in French, demonstrating the ability to initiate and conduct individual research on a subject of personal interest, relating to the country or countries where French is spoken
• identify a key question or subject of interest and select relevant information in French from a range of authentic sources, including the internet
• use information to illustrate knowledge and understanding of the research subject
• analyse and summarise research findings, elaborating on key points of interest, as appropriate, through oral presentation and discussion.
• translating an unseen passage from English into French.
KS5 OVERVIEW AND ASSESSMENTS
| KS5 FRENCH | YEAR 12 | YEAR 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term 1 |
Aspects of French-speaking society: current trends
|
Aspects of French-speaking society: current issues
|
| Autumn Term 2 |
Film study: La Haine |
Book study:
|
| Spring Term 1 |
Artistic culture in the French-speaking world To discuss a culture proud of its heritage
|
Aspects of political life in the French-speaking world
|
| Spring Term 2 |
Artistic culture in the French-speaking world To discuss a culture proud of its heritage
|
Independent Research Project: Students will have to choose a topic and produce a presentation based on their independent research as part of their speaking exam. Time will be allocated weekly to do so. |
| Summer Term 1 |
Grammar:
|
|
| Summer Term 2 |
Beginning of book study:
|
EXAMINATION BOARD AND WEIGHTINGS
AQA
- Paper 1: Listening/Reading/Writing – 50%
- Paper 2: Writing -20%
- Paper 3: Speaking -30%
USEFUL WEBSITES, RESOURCES, REVISION MATERIALS AND EXEMPLAR WORK
Please contact us at - MFL@central.towerhamlets.sch.uk
WHO IS IN THE TEAM?
All the teachers are dynamic teachers and languages specialists with native fluency.
Ms. L. Berson, Key Stage Coordinator for MFL/ Joint Head of MFL Faculty
Ms. E. Macpherson, Joint Head of MFL Faculty
Ms. C. Luino , Teacher of MFL
Ms. R. Ramirez - Riley, Teacher of Spanish
Ms. S. Shamsad, Teacher of Bengali
Mr. J-F Darmon-Shimamori, Teacher of French and Spanish
Ms. L. Coriolles, Teacher of French and Spanish
Ms. J. Imanache-Winslow, Teacher of French and Spanish