Languages

Modern Foreign Languages KS3

This is a bespoke, rolling 3 year course of one lesson a week. Spanish is the main language studied, as that is the subject studied in the GCSE MFL class, but students are given the opportunity to study other languages for short periods, or as taster lessons, such as German, French and Russian.

The emphasis is on communication and understanding with a specific focus on speaking and listening in every lesson. Students also have the opportunity to study written texts in Spanish.

Students are encouraged to recognise links between languages from around the world, including English.

Year 1

Vocabulary based learning and simple information giving and seeking. Name, age, pets, family, where you live, colours, age, birthday, food, clothes.

Year 2

Vocabulary based learning with more emphasis on independent sentence writing. Likes and dislikes with simple opinions. Giving reasons for those opinions. Describing self and others. Sports and hobbies. Other pastimes. Use of the infinitive. Saying what there is in a town/house/bedroom.

Year 3

• Consolidation of written opinions and descriptions. Tenses introduced – present and simple future. Travel and holidays. The environment and problems in a town. Identifying positive and negative viewpoints. School and future plans.
• Students use Linguascope in class and have access to this site for revision.
• Students are also taught about festivals and culture in Spain and Spanish speaking countries, as well as in other countries around the world.

The emphasis is on making linguistic and cultural connections, and broadening horizons, as well as learning a language.

Modern Foreign Languages KS4 – GCSE AQA

Students take Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing papers which are each worth 25% and incorporate the following topics and themes:

Year 10

Theme 1: Identity and culture

• Topic 1: Me, my family and friends
  • Relationships with family and friends
  • Marriage/partnership
• Topic 2: Technology in everyday life
  • Social media
  • Mobile technology
• Topic 3: Free-time activities
  • Music
  • Cinema and TV
  • Food and eating out
  • Sport
• Topic 4: Customs and festivals in Spanish-speaking countries/communities

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest

• Topic 1: Home, town, neighbourhood and region
• Topic 2: Social issues
  • Charity/voluntary work
  • Healthy/unhealthy living
• Topic 3: Global issues
  • The environment
  • Poverty/homelessness
• Topic 4: Travel and tourism

Year 11

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

• Topic 1: My studies
• Topic 2: Life at school/college
• Topic 3: Education post-16
• Topic 4: Jobs, career choices and ambitions

Linguascope is used and students have access to the password for self-study.

CGP AQA Revision guides and workbooks are also available.