The MFL Department believes that languages are for life. We see the study of a Modern Foreign Language as an important part of our pupils’ education, as languages are part of the cultural richness of our society and the world in which we live and work. Learning languages contributes to mutual understanding, a sense of global citizenship and personal fulfilment. Pupils learn to appreciate different countries, cultures, communities and people. The ability to understand and communicate in another language is a lifelong skill for education, employment and leisure in this country and throughout the world through an engaging and challenging curriculum, which values the strengths of all and celebrates success. Competency in a foreign language unlocks the technological, enterprise and vocational abilities, which enhance the employability skills of our pupils. We aim to promote cultural awareness and develop our young people into global citizens of the 21st century.
Understanding that the world is wonderfully diverse begins with the learning of a new language. We build firm foundations in the sounds, words and structures. Unlock the world, be curious and explore!
“If you talk to people in a language they understand, that goes to their head. If you talk to them in their own language that goes to their heart.” Nelson Mandela
During the programme of study, students will develop a range of vocabulary across a diverse range of themes, including free time activities, technology, health, activities in the past. Learning will be supported and extended by the consolidation and acquisition of important elements of grammar, including the present tense, the future, and the perfect and imperfect tenses. Emphasis will be placed on developing the structure of sentences to add complexity to the written and spoken work produced, and to enable students to use a wider range of language more flexibly and more confidently.
In summary, students will learn to:
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of vocabulary and structures within the foreign language, supporting comprehension of written and spoken language on the themes covered.
Apply their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary to communicate information and opinions about a diverse range of themes.
Develop their awareness of sounds to improve pronunciation and to enhance their skill in understanding language spoken at speed.
Modern Foreign Languages in KS3 gives students an understanding of the basics of the sounds, vocabulary and structures of the language, which students can then build on in KS4 in preparing for GCSE assessments. All the vocabulary and grammatical elements covered during the KS3 course are relevant at GCSE level and provide a springboard for the more complex material covered in KS4.
Through learning a foreign language in KS3, students acquire an understanding of how languages can be very different from each other, not least in their sounds, their grammar and their sentence formation. Students gain a new perspective of English, too, as they compare English with the foreign language and their proficiency in English frequently improves as a result. Learning about the culture of the foreign country also helps students to realize that there is much to be excited about and to learn from in the culture and way of life of places beyond our shores.
Language learning at A-level improves job and career prospects, and graduate unemployment amongst linguists is very low. Many students go on to study one or more foreign languages at university, often in the context of a combined course with another subject such as History, English Literature, Science, Engineering or Business. Advance knowledge of a foreign language provides many opportunities for work experience, for study and for employment in the international arena.
Universities and employers recognise that those who have studied Modern Languages to an advanced level not only have proven flexibility and capacity to learn languages generally, but also are likely to be more literate, accurate and eloquent through the medium of English too.
Our MFL department is an enthusiastic and dedicated team of linguists who work collaboratively and who encourage students to progress in all four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing, while bringing languages alive through a range of interactive and varied lessons. Intrinsically linked to our Ethos and Values, we encourage students to develop belief in themselves in order to be the best they can be.
In the delivery of the MFL curriculum, our approach incorporates cognitive theory to optimise students' retention of content and promote long-term memory. We achieve this by implementing regular low-stakes testing, revisiting previous content at the beginning and middle of each lesson, and integrating prior knowledge into problem-solving activities related to new concepts.
Our curriculum emphasises the formation of strong conceptual links between previously taught concepts, supporting students in building success. By nurturing a growth mind set, our teachers encourage students to develop a deeper understanding and take calculated risks in their learning. We promote reflection on choices and values, encouraging students to continually improve themselves and positively impact their community.
Language lessons incorporate cultural and creative projects, grammar and translation activities, vocabulary learning games as well as tasks that develop the four skills, to enable students to achieve their potential and become confident independent young linguists. To support and challenge our students, we provide them with additional resources such as vocabulary, grammar, revision and classwork booklets, which develop and extend classwork and homework.
Our approach not only equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary for academic success but also develop a sense of cultural pluralism, openness to and appreciation of other cultures. In a globalised world characterised by international links and intercultural connections, linguistic skills are crucial for employment and career as proficiency in a foreign language enhances career opportunities
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| MFL Curriculum Overview |