Teaching Staff

• J Stephenson (Director of Learning)
• J Turner

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, students

• Are provided with opportunities to become resilient and independent learners;
• Develop a strong awareness of the culture of French-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.

Students are offered a range of extra learning activities throughout the year. In the Spring Term, students will take part in activities run through the North East Festival of Languages; in the Summer Term, there is the Languagenut Global competition and Year 8 and 9 have the opportunities to visit Normandy as part of a student visit in the Summer Term.

Key Stage 4

AQA French

Paper 1: Listening and responding                            25% of final grade

Paper 2: Speaking exam                                          25% of final grade

Paper 3: Reading and translation                              25% of final grade

Paper 4:  Writing and translation                               25% of final grade

Year 10

The AQA French GCSE course will enable students to:

• develop their ability to communicate confidently and coherently with native speakers in speech and writing, conveying what they want to say with increasing accuracy
• express and develop thoughts and ideas spontaneously and fluently
• listen to and understand clearly articulated, standard speech at near normal speed
• deepen their knowledge about how language works and enrich their vocabulary to increase their independent use and understanding of extended language in a range of contexts
• acquire new knowledge, skills and ways of thinking through the ability to understand and respond to authentic spoken and written material, adapted and abridged, as appropriate, including literary texts
• develop awareness and understanding of the culture and identity of the countries and communities where French is spoken
• make appropriate links to other areas of the curriculum to enable bilingual and deeper learning, where the language may become a medium for constructing and applying knowledge
• develop language learning skills both for immediate use and prepare them for further language study in school, higher education or employment
• develop language strategies, including repair strategies.

Year 11

In Year 11, students deepen their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary and use them in different contexts so that they can become more independent in how they use language. They will continue to build on the skills from Year 10 as detailed above.

Curriculum Learning Journey