Modern Foreign Languages

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Introduction

The focus of the Modern Foreign Languages team here at Loxford School is to develop the ability of our students to communicate successfully and effectively in the target language. We also put great emphasis on independent learning and achieving excellence; therefore, it is the ability to express themselves linguistically, resorting to different ways, which will be assessed in all parts of their course and eventually at GCSE level and AS and A2 Level.

Linguistic Objectives

Our intention is to provide always carefully structured activities and well chosen authentic material designed for both foundation and higher level of achievement in all Attainment Targets. We aim to offer a balanced variety of work and material allowing students to move with enthusiasm from comprehension to creation of their own utterances and written work in the target language. Thus, in our three parts lessons, we aim to cater for all the abilities through the planning of activities which are aimed to suit students’ different learning styles and develop the four auricular skills.

Our KS3, 4 & 5 Schemes of Work, which are regularly reviewed, are designed to include curricular and cross-curricular developments, in order to improve students’ language-learning skills and to provide them with strategies which aim to boost their performance. Literacy and Numeracy, as well as PSCHE orientations, are fundamental parts of our Schemes of Work too, so are regular activities developing skills strategies on how to improve listening and reading, starters requiring students to apply logic and make connections, activities to develop anticipation skills in exam contexts and ongoing opportunities for pair work and regular peer assessment.

In addition to French, Spanish and Italian taught during the school day, here in Loxford High we also offer a range of community languages, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, Italian, Arabic, German and Portuguese which are taught in twilight sessions. These lessons are taught by well experienced teachers and prove to be very popular.

In order to support even further the pupils’ learning, the following extra-curricular activities are offered in our Department:
Homework club: you can get help with your MFL homework at the homework club at lunch times.

KS3

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN - YEAR 7 FRENCH

All students will start off completing an introduction to language learning and will then progress on to a variety of topics to guide them through the foundations of French language.

During the autumn term they will focus on introducing themselves as well as talking about school. During spring term they will cover family relationships and saying what they do in their free time and expressing opinions. In the summer term students will learn to describe their town and local area.

During the Autumn term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 1: La rentrée

To get pupils introducing and talking about themselves. This module also covers any content that pupils might have done in KS2 (numbers, days and months, alphabet, etc.) and introduces pupils to the key French sounds which are revisited throughout the year in Pronunciation features.

Module 2: En classe

To continue to develop what pupils can say about themselves and their use of verbs. To allow pupils to express and justify their opinions using a range of opinion verbs. Also an opportunity for pupils to learn about schools in France as well as about Christmas in Francophone countries to coincide with the end of the autumn term.

During the Spring term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 3: Mon temps libre

To continue to develop what pupils can say about themselves and their use of verbs and adjectives. To allow pupils to express more opinions. Pupils also have the opportunity to learn about different sports in Francophone countries.

Module 4: Ma vie de famille

To expand pupils’ use of verbs into the 3rd person singular and plural and 1st person plural forms. Pupils learn about home-life in Francophone countries as well as about Bastille Day celebrations.

During the Summer term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 5: En ville

To give pupils the opportunity to learn transactional language (in a café) and introduce the verb aller ahead of teaching the near future tense. Pupils learn about popular French snacks and drinks, and they also have the opportunity to explore Paris.

YEAR 7 SPANISH

All students will start off completing an introduction to language learning and will then progress on to a variety of topics to guide them through the foundations of Spanish language.

During the autumn term they will focus on greetings, introducing and describing themselves as well as what they do in their free time. During spring term, they will talk about school and also describe their family. In the summer term students will cover shops, presenting their local area and home.

During the Autumn term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 1: Mi vida

To get pupils introducing and talking about themselves. This module also covers any content that pupils might have done in KS2 (numbers, colours, alphabet, etc.) and introduces pupils to the key Spanish sounds which are revisited throughout the year in Pronunciation features.

Module 2: Mi tiempo libre

To continue to develop what pupils can say about themselves and their use of verbs. To allow pupils to express opinions (me gusta + verb first as easier). Also an opportunity for pupils to learn about Christmas in Spain to coincide with the end of the Autumn term.

During the Spring term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 3: : Mi insti

Module 4: Mi familia y mis amigos

To expand pupils use of verbs into 3rd person singular and plural. Pupils also learn about the carnival in Cadiz and the famous Spanish painting, Las Meninas.

During the Summer term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 5: Mi ciudad

To give pupils the opportunity to learn transactional language (in a café) and introduce the verb ir ahead of teaching the near future tense. Also an opportunity for pupils to learn about typical tapas dishes.

Grammar is taught and reviewed as an on-going priority in lessons. The new GCSE has a strong focus on grammar so students need to be well prepared. Translation (both ways) is an integral part of the lesson by lesson teaching as it features in the new GCSE together with the photo description task. It is another way of reinforcing grammar as well as vocabulary. Pupils are also encouraged to develop a rich cultural appreciation of the French-speaking world through exposure to materials such as short stories, poems, films, art and music. Each unit of work is approximately 12 lessons, based on a 2 lesson per week basis.

YEAR 8 FRENCH

During the Autumn term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 1: Vive les vacances!

To allow pupils to talk about the summer they have just had and to introduce them to the perfect tense and using the perfect and present tenses together.

Module 2: J’adore les fêtes!

To develop what pupils can say about their lives and their likes/dislikes and expand their transactional language in context of buying food at a market. To allow them to revise the present and near future tenses and continue to practise the perfect tense. Pupils learn about festivals and celebrations in the Francophone world and they are introduced to traditional French cuisine.

In the Spring term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 3: À loisir

To allow pupils to express their opinions around TV and digital technology and further develop their transactional language in context of arranging to go out. To introduce pupils to using three tenses together. Pupils also learn about leisure activities in different Francophone countries.

Module 4: Le monde est petit

To continue to develop what pupils can say about their lives and how they express and justify their opinions. To develop their use of different persons of the verb and to introduce modal verbs as well as reflexive verbs in context of daily routine. Further practice with three tenses. Pupils learn about geographical aspects of France and Francophone countries as well as about famous French painters and their works of art.

In the summer term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 5: Le sport en direct

To continue to develop what pupils can say about their lives and their likes/ dislikes, including comparatives. To introduce the imperative for asking directions and give further practice with transactional language in context of talking to the doctor. Pupils also learn about some famous sportspeople in the Francophone world.

YEAR 8 SPANISH

During the Autumn term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 1: Mis vacaciones

To allow pupils to talk about the Summer they have just had and to introduce them to the preterite tense and using the preterite and present tenses together.

Module 2: Todo sobre mi vida

To continue to develop what pupils can say about their lives and their likes/ dislikes, including comparatives. To allow them to revise the present tense and continue to practise the preterite.

In the Spring term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 3: ¡A comer!

To allow pupils to express likes/dislikes around food and learn transactional language relating to eating out (including usted(es)). To introduce pupils to using 3 tenses together. Pupils are also shown some typical Spanish menus and learn about traditional foods of Central and South America.

Module 4: ¿Qué hacemos?

To introduce me/te gustaría in context of arranging to go out and reflexive verbs in context of getting ready to go out. Further practice with three tenses.

In the Summer term, the following topics will be covered:

Module 5: Operación verano

To develop use of comparative and introduce the superlative in context of holiday homes/activities. To introduce imperative for asking directions. Pupils also learn about the Spanish holiday destination of Mallorca.

Year 8

Year 9

All French and Spanish topics have a focus on listening, speaking, reading and writing, increasing vocabulary and knowledge and application of grammar. The Year 9 course aims to widen pupils' communicative skills through the acquisition and consolidation of new or previously learnt language. The course book and SoW that we use meet the needs of the range of pupils in Year 9. They are preparing pupils for GCSE style questions and exam papers through a varied range of carefully planned lessons.

YEAR 9 FRENCH

In Year 9, students of French will cover the following topics each term:

Autumn Term:

Module 1: Mon monde à moi

Pupils able to talk about their lives and their likes/dislikes using a wider variety of language. Pupils revise all three main tenses (present, near future and perfect).

Module 2: Projets d’avenir

Pupils able to talk about their plans and hopes for the future. Pupils are introduced to the (simple) future tense and go on to practise and consolidate their knowledge of three tenses, asking and answering questions in context of an interview with French inventor, Bertin Nahum.

Spring Term:

Module 3: Ma vie en musique

To allow pupils to express their musical tastes, justifying their opinions with reasons. Also an introduction to the imperfect tense in context of comparing life past and present. Pupils consolidate their knowledge of the present, perfect and imperfect tenses.

Module 4: Le meilleur des mondes

Pupils continue to develop their command of the present, perfect and imperfect tenses, as well as being introduced to the conditional in context of creating a better world. Pupils are introduced to, and practise using, superlatives. Further practice with three time frames (present, past, conditional).

Summer Term:

Module 5: Le monde francophone (Grammaire)

Further practice and consolidation of key grammatical structures and tenses. Pupils operate in three time frames using a wide variety of tenses in context of travel and popular culture in the Francophone world. Also an opportunity for pupils to practise transactional language in the formal register

YEAR 9 SPANISH

In Year 9, students of Spanish will cover the following topics each term:

Autumn Term:

Module 1: Somos así

Pupils able to talk about their lives and their likes/dislikes using a wider variety of language. Pupils revise all three main tenses

Module 2: ¡Oriéntate!

Pupils able to talk about their hopes for the future, to coincide with options evenings time of year. Emphasis put on the importance of languages for future careers.

Spring Term:

Module 3: En forma

To allow pupils to discuss the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Introduction to talking about wider issues and an opportunity to introduce some new verbs.

Module 4: : Jóvenes en acción

An opportunity ahead of GCSE to talk about wider, global issues and to develop language for expressing their beliefs. Also an introduction to the imperfect. Plus opportunity to read two poems by the Spanish poet, Gloria Fuertes and a traditional Peruvian folk tale.

Summer Term:

Module 5: Una aventura en Madrid

To develop language they would need for arriving in Spain and to learn more about Spain’s capital city. Also an introduction to the simple future.

KS4

From 2024, the DfE has announced that GCSE students studying French, German, and Spanish will be assessed differently. These changes are set to affect students currently in Year 10 and below.

Aimed at making languages ‘more accessible for students’, the new specifications could significantly impact MFL exams from 2026 onwards.

Here are some of the most significant changes to the MFL GCSE curriculum:

Subject content will mostly focus on vocabulary, grammar, and phonics
Comprehension-oriented questions and rubrics will be written or asked in English
Assessment objectives are changing, with weighting to be consolidated into a joint evaluation to reflect the importance of all four language skills
The new curriculum will encourage students to use their language skills interchangeably
The new assessment will involve a reading-aloud task to test students’ sound-symbol correspondences. They will also have to participate in dictation exercises
Students will be assessed on between 1,200 and 1,700 word families, based on their tier of study. A minimum of 85 per cent of these will be chosen from the 2,000 most commonly used words in a language

GCSE Results 2023

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on achieving

57% grades 9-4 in French

53% grades 9-4 in Spanish

GCSE Results 2022

Congratulations to the Year 11 students on another successful year

Future Careers for Modern Foreign Languages:

Language skills can be used in almost any career, and particularly in businesses that trade internationally.

Some modern language graduates work on a self-employed basis as interpreters or translators. However, many others are employed by companies who trade or offer services internationally, or to non-English speaking customers and suppliers.

Secondary education teaching professional is the top job held by graduates in employment in the UK. Other jobs in the top ten include marketing associate professional, PR professional, business sales executive, admin, human resources and industrial relations officer, business and related associate professional, business and financial project management professional and finance investment analyst and adviser.

Extra Curricular

EXTRA CURRICULAR

In order to support even further the pupils’ learning, the following extra-curricular activities are offered in our Department:

Homework club: you can get help with your MFL homework at the homework club at lunch times.

Study support club: aimed mostly at KS4 students, this informal space allows students to go over and consolidate their learning either at lunchtime or after school. These sessions have been particularly successful this year where students have highlighted the benefits of having teachers available to answer their questions and clear any misunderstanding they might have had.

Google Classroom: KS3 & 4 students benefit from the use of this fantastic and exciting Managed Learning Environment, an online school building with different rooms inside. Students can only access Google Classroom using their personal username and password and are only allowed to see rooms they have been made a member of.

Beyond the classroom

Trip to the “Institut Français”

We took a group of Year 8 students to the Institut Français in South Kensington. The Institut Français promotes French language and culture and encourages cross-cultural exchanges from both sides of the Channel.

In the words of the students who took part, “the trip was fun and exciting as they were learning new vocabulary with their friends. Before watching the film called Tempête, they studied the words and phrases so that they could retain new information and understand the film more clearly.” “The film was nice and entertaining; it had a good storyline, teaching us not to give up on our dreams, no matter what obstacles are put in our way”.

The trip was successful with the cherry on the cake being the Institut staff commenting on the high level of French of our students, which is testament to how they are taught in class.

Trips abroad

Going on a language trip is a great way to boost your language skills, get experience abroad and meet new friends. The MFL Department is keen to provide students with the chance to visit the country where the language they study is spoken. Each year we aim to take at least one trip abroad, especially now that restrictions on travel are all lifted.

This year, we are thrilled to offer our students a residential stay in Southern France in October. Previous trips to France and Spain have been highly successful and we hope that parents will support their children in making the most of these opportunities.