Modern Foreign Languages

Curriculum Information about Modern Foreign Languages at King James I Academy

Teaching Staff

  • J Stephenson (Director of Learning)
  • P Grand

MFL Curriculum Intent

Learning a foreign language gives students a wide range of skills which can be used in a variety of contexts. Learning is themed around real world topics and issues which gradually introduces increasingly complex levels of language to stretch and challenge students.

By studying French/Spanish, students

  • Are provided with opportunities to become resilient and independent learners;
  • Develop a strong awareness of the culture of French or Spanish-speaking countries and benefit from opportunities to experience aspects of the culture through the regular use of authentic materials;
  • Learn how to communicate in another language using the four skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing
  • Are encouraged to be inquisitive linguists, developing an understanding of etymology, grammar and how languages are interlinked;
  • Students are able to achieve and be successful in lessons. We celebrate the achievements of our linguists because learning a language is a great achievement.

 

Department Information

The MFL department aim to create and develop enthusiastic and independent learners. We are committed to establishing a learning environment that encourages students to feel confident about taking risks and developing informed opinions about the world around them. Our curriculum focuses on acquiring the skills needed to understand and use another language in real-life situations; we want students to reflect on and enhance their skills, ask questions and enjoy challenge, thereby making progress.

We have established pen pal links with schools in France, Spain and Mexico and students across the year groups regularly exchang letters with a French or Spanish-speaking student.

 

Key Stage 3

 

Year 7

Students study either French or Spanish and will continue with that language throughout Key Stage 3. Basic knowledge in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing skills is acquired in Year 7 so students are able to understand and use language to talk about themselves, their families, where they live, what they like to do in their free time. There is an emphasis on active listening and speaking skills and a range of resources including authentic materials are used.

 

Year 8

Students in year 8 build on prior knowledge from year 7 in order to develop the four skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing incorporating more complex language and they will learn how to use different tenses.

There are five main areas of study: Leisure Activities, Fashion, Holidays, Town and Future Plans. We use a variety of source materials in French and Spanish to support the learning throughout the year.

 

Year 9

Students in Year 9 build on and extend their knowledge from the previous two years of language learning. They will be able to use the past, present and future tenses in their work. They will also be able to take part in conversations and write longer pieces of French or Spanish about the environment, health, films and TV, the world of work and the French/Spanish-speaking world. 

MFL Department: Overview of Key Stage 3 French Scheme of Work 2023-2024

 

Half-term

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Autumn Term 1

Tout sur moi!

Introductory unit covering language awareness, greetings, numbers, descriptions, likes and dislikes and the French-speaking world.

Introduction to phonics

Comment tu t-amuses?

Saying what you like doing in your free time, saying how often you do things, who with and giving an opinion. Introduction to the weather

En pleine forme!

Describing a healthy lifestyle and giving advice on how to be healthy

Revising sports/leisure activities and food

Autumn Term 2

Mon monde perso

Describe personality, talk about family and friends, opinions of school subjects, home and family life

En Ville

Describing your town and what you can do there, giving and understanding directions, arranging to meet up

Accro à la technologie

Talking about different types of technology, how it is used and the advantages and disadvantages of being online)

Spring Term 1

Autour de moi

Talk about school and where you live, leisure activities and personal possessions, describing animals

Ca, c’est mon truc!

Talking about clothes and say what style you like and what you wear on different occasions

Saying when/how often you do activities depending on the weather

Talking about weekend activities

Talking about music preferences and national events

Un métier, un rêve

Jobs and qualities needed for certain professions, ideal jobs and ambitions, part-time jobs.

Spring Term 2

A table

Eating, drinking and mealtimes, opinions on food and drink, eating out in a café, understanding recipes.

Le monde des médias

TV programmes, musical genres, reading and celebrity culture

Chez moi

Types of home, rooms, describing a bedroom, ideal home and give reasons

Summer Term 1

Mon quartier

Describe a town, say what you can do at different places, directions, going out and meeting up

En Vacances

Talking about usual holidays and preferred holidays

Talking about items you take on holiday

Talking about your ideal holiday

Describing a past holiday, where you went and what you did

Talking about festivals

SOS Terre!

Global and social issues: the environment, homelessness, poverty

Summer Term 2

Ca, c’est mon truc

Talking about clothes and say what style you like and what you wear on different occasions

Saying when/how often you do activities depending on the weather

Talking about weekend activities

Talking about music preferences and national events

C’est quoi, la France?

Comparing France and Britain, describing a country, transport, Francophone cartoon characters

Autour du monde

Means of transport, planning a holiday, talking about a past holiday

 

Overview of Key Stage 3 Spanish Scheme of Work 2023-2024

MFL Department

 

Half-term

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Autumn Term 1

Me presento

Introductory unit in which pupils present themselves, learn numbers and classroom instructions, say what they like and dislike

Introduction to phonics

En mi tiempo libre

Saying what you like doing in your free time, saying how often you do things, who with and giving an opinion.

 

Mantenerse en forma

Describing a healthy lifestyle and giving advice on how to be healthy

 

Autumn Term 2

Mi burbuja

Introducing and describing members of your family, revisiting numbers, age. Using physical descriptions and characteristics. Describing pets

 

En mi pueblo

Describing your town and what you can do there, asking for and giving instructions

 

Al trabajo

Describing jobs and professions and talking about future plans, including writing a CV and applying for a job.

Spring Term 1

Mis pasatiempos

Talking about hobbies and sports, giving detailed opinions, using weather expressions, talking about Spanish sports celebrities

¿Qué vas a llevar?

Talking about clothes and say what style you like and what you wear on different occasions

Saying when/how often you do activities depending on the weather

Talking about weekend activities

Aqui mando yo

Discussing the Internet and social media.

Advantages and disadvantages of using technology

Creating an online profile

 

Spring Term 2

Todo sobre mi vida

Revisit TL from Year 7, films, TV programmes and opinions. Music and Spanish-speaking film/tv/music celebrities

El medioambiente

Describing ways to protect the environment including global issues

 

Summer Term 1

Mi Casa

Talking about where you live, different types of house, rooms and describing bedrooms.

 

Por fin de vacaciones

Transport and holiday travel

Holiday activities

Describing a past holiday

De paseo por el mundo hispano

Discovering Texan culture

Comparing Madrid and Barcelona

Mexico City

Peru

Cuba

Planning a trip across South America

Summer Term 2

En mi ciudad

Places in a town, where you go, directions and plans for the weekend.

 

Learning Journeys

French

Year 7 Learning Journey Year 7 French 2023-2024.pdf
Year 8 Learning Journey Year 8 French 2023-2024.pdf
Year 9 Learning Journey Year 9 French 2023-2024.pdf

 Spanish

Year 7 Learning Journey Year 7 Spanish 2023-24.pdf
Year 8 Learning Journey Year 8 Spanish 2023-24.pdf
Year 9 Learning Journey Year 9 Spanish 2023-24.pdf