Head of Department: Mrs T Bevan

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Lower School

Outline of Subject

Languages open up a world of opportunity and helps you to better understand you own language.  Students study French, German or Spanish as their first foreign language within tutor groups in Year 7 before being loosely set in Year 8.  In Year 9, some students in the higher sets will have the opportunity to begin a second foreign language to study alongside their first, prior to choosing to take one or both through to GCSE level.  Language lessons focus on four skill areas; listening, speaking, reading and writing.  Students become familiar with the sounds, written form and some grammatical rules.

Learning Content

Topic Title

Year	French	German	Spanish	Key Grammar and Skills
7	personal identity school hobbies town Fauves (art)	introductions school family hobbies home Klee (art)	introductions school family home free time Miró (art) creative writing	NB - key ones only across all 3 languages orthographical features and phonics articles, word order, gender, pluralisation alphabet questioning pronunciation key rules - phonics formation of negatives present and future tenses opinions and justifying them memorising vocabulary adjectival agreement and position photo cards for orals countries where languages are spoken numbers and time cultural differences eg festivals, schooling using patterns to predict grammar using reference materials listening, reading, speaking and writing skills
8	media Paris fashion home food creative writing culture	holidays food healthy living free time (TV, sport) going out clothes creative writing	my life going out holidays food fashion creative writing	extending sentences reading strategies - working out meaning comparisons, superlatives expressions of frequency present, past, future tenses - combining them complex structures transferral of vocabulary role play for orals different forms of you question words modal verbs extend range of negatives more detailed opinions cultural knowledge eg food, history listening, reading, speaking and writing skills phonics
9	social life,  music healthy living French speaking world Fair Trade environment holidays rights, responsibilities and future plans literary texts hosting	media future plans Fair Trade environment German speaking world childhood literary texts	media school healthy living future plans Spanish speaking world Fair Trade environment literary texts hosting	combining tenses conditional and imperfect tenses pronouns how long done something for eg depuis, desde hace decoding strategies prepositions more complex structures conversation questions for orals impersonal verbs cultural knowledge eg other countries where languages spoken listening, reading, speaking and writing skills phonics

French

Head of French and 2i/c MFL - Mrs B Newton

Skill Development

Integral to successful language learning is an understanding of and an ability to apply grammar.  In the lower school, students gradually acquire different tenses and structures to enable them to speak and write increasingly independently.  We also focus on pronunciation and intonation along with developing listening and reading skills.  Translation to and from French will be practised in light of the demands of the current GCSE specification.  Different aspects of French culture and history are also explored.

Assessment Styles

Teachers assess student progress as part of the normal teaching process.  Additionally, there will be more formal testing at the end of some units of work.  We encourage students to address their weaknesses through the setting of targets.  Home learning tasks include learning vocabulary and grammar, written work, reading activities and using the internet to research information / consolidate and enhance learning through the use of recommended websites.

Additional Information

Access to a dictionary is useful.  Additional practice on the websites we subscribe to are always beneficial.  There is also an opportunity to take part in an Exchange to the Dordogne in Year 9.

German

Head of Lower School German - Mrs S Thompson

Skill Development

Integral to successful language learning is an understanding of and an ability to apply grammar.  In the lower school, students gradually acquire different tenses and structures to enable them to speak and write increasingly independently.  We also focus on pronunciation and intonation along with developing listening and reading skills.  Translation to and from German will be practised in light of the demands of the current GCSE specification.  The cultures of German speaking countries are also explored.

Assessment Styles

Teachers assess student progress as part of the normal teaching process.  Additionally, there will be more formal testing at the end of some units of work.  We encourage students to address their weaknesses through the setting of targets.  Home learning tasks include learning vocabulary and grammar, written and reading activities and using the internet to research information / consolidate and enhance learning through the use of recommended websites.

Additional Information

Access to a dictionary is useful.  Additional practice on the websites we subscribe to is always beneficial.  There is an opportunity to go on an exchange trip to the Stuttgart area in Year 9.

Spanish

Head of MFL and Head of Spanish - Mrs T Bevan

Skill Development

Integral to successful language learning is an understanding of and an ability to apply grammar.  In the lower school, students gradually acquire different tenses and structures to enable them to speak and write increasingly independently.  We also focus on pronunciation and intonation along with developing listening and reading skills.  Translation to and from Spanish will be practised in light of the demands of the current GCSE specification.  Different Hispanic cultures are also explored.

Assessment Styles

Teachers assess student progress as part of the normal teaching process.  Additionally, there will be more formal testing at the end of some units of work.  We encourage students to address their weaknesses through the setting of targets.  Home learning tasks include learning vocabulary and grammar, written and reading activities and using the internet to research information / consolidate and enhance learning through the use of recommended websites.

Additional Information

Access to a dictionary is useful. Additional practice on the websites we subscribe to us always beneficial.  There is an opportunity to go on a residential trip to Barcelona in Year 9 with the trip being launched at the end of Year 8.

Upper School

Course Content

Year	French	German	Spanish	Key Grammar and Skills
10 & 11	personal relationships free time festivals new technologies shopping school and future plans travel and transport holidays environment town and home healthy living social issues	personal relationships school and future plans festivals free time town and home healthy living social issues new technologies holidays shopping travel and transport shopping	personal relationships town and home school and future plans festivals free time new technologies food and shopping environment holidays healthy living travel and transport social issues	all of the above and…. more past tenses and use of subjunctive more complex structures oral exam preparation exam skills across listening and reading eg decoding, literary texts writing skills including awareness of mark schemes translation phonics

French

Head of French and 2i/c MFL - Mrs B Newton

Exam Board: AQA

Outline of Subject

You will continue to develop your foreign language knowledge and skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.  You will also increase your knowledge of grammar, enabling you to be more creative with language and learn more about countries where French is spoken.  This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to continue to study the language at a higher level e.g. as an AS / A level.  There are many university degree courses in which a language can be combined with a wide range of other subjects.  Even if you do not choose to pursue your language studies beyond GCSE, your knowledge of a foreign language should make any visit to a country where it is spoken a more enjoyable and satisfying experience.

Skill Development

Learning a language encompasses a wide variety of skills.  You will improve your memory and communication techniques.  You will develop analytical skills and extend your knowledge of how to apply rules.  You will also improve your abilities to complete various different types of listening, speaking, reading and writing tasks, including translation.

Assessment

All four skill areas will be assessed at the end of Year 11.  Students will be entered at either Foundation or Higher Tier. Please be aware that they cannot mix tiers of entry across the skill areas.

Foundation Tier exams (Higher Tier in italics)

Listening: 35 minutes (45 minutes) with questions in English and the target language

Speaking: 7-9 minutes (10-12 minutes) + 12 minutes of preparation time

Reading: 45 minutes (60 minutes) with questions in English and the target language + translation from the target language

Writing: 60 minutes (four sentences about a photo, short passage, translation into the target language, written task of approximately 90 words with a choice of two questions) (75 minutes) (written task of approximately 90 words with a choice of two questions, written task of approximately 150 words with a choice of two questions, translation into the target language)

Additional Information

Additional Information

* Students will be offered the opportunity to take part in a residential trip to Paris.

* Students will be provided with a complete list of vocabulary and grammar to assist them in their independent learning.  

* Access to a bilingual dictionary is highly beneficial.

German

Head Of Department (German) Mrs S Thompson

Exam Board: AQA

Outline of Subject

You will continue to develop your foreign language knowledge and skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.  You will also increase your knowledge of grammar, enabling you to be more creative with language and learn more about countries where German is spoken.  This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to continue to study the language at a higher level e.g. as an AS / A level.  There are many university degree courses in which a language can be combined with a wide range of other subjects.  Even if you do not choose to pursue your language studies beyond GCSE, your knowledge of a foreign language should make any visit to a country where it is spoken a more enjoyable and satisfying experience.

Skill Development

Learning a language encompasses a wide variety of skills.  You will improve your memory and communication techniques.  You will develop analytical skills and extend your knowledge of how to apply rules.  You will also improve your abilities to complete various different types of listening, speaking, reading and writing tasks, including translation.

Assessment

All four skill areas will be assessed at the end of year 11.  Students will be entered at either Foundation or Higher tier but cannot mix tiers of entry across the skill areas.

Foundation tier exams Higher tier in italics

Listening 35 minutes 45 minutes with questions in English and the target language

Speaking 7-9 minutes 10-12 minutes + 12 minutes preparation time

Reading 45 minutes 60 minutes with questions in English and the target language and translation from the target language

Writing 60 minutes (four sentences about a photo, short passage, translation into the target language, written task of approximately 90 words with a choice of two questions) 75 minutes (written task of approximately 90 words with a choice of two questions, written task of approximately 150 words with a choice of two questions, translation into the target language)

Additional Information

There is the opportunity to take part in the trip to Cologne and the Rhineland in Year 10 or 11. Our visit to Germany overlaps with the Easter holidays. Students will be provided with a complete list of vocabulary and grammar to assist them in their independent learning.   Access to a bilingual dictionary is highly beneficial.

Spanish

Head Of Department Mrs T Bevan

Exam Board: AQA

Outline of Subject

You will continue to develop your foreign language knowledge and skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing.  You will also increase your knowledge of grammar, enabling you to be more creative with language and learn more about countries where Spanish is spoken.  This course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to continue to study the language at a higher level e.g. as an AS / A level.  There are many university degree courses in which a language can be combined with a wide range of other subjects.  Even if you do not choose to pursue your language studies beyond GCSE, your knowledge of a foreign language should make any visit to a country where it is spoken a more enjoyable and satisfying experience.

Skill Development

Learning a language encompasses a wide variety of skills.  You will improve your memory and communication techniques.  You will develop analytical skills and extend your knowledge of how to apply rules.  You will also improve your abilities to complete various different types of listening, speaking, reading and writing tasks, including translation.

Assessment

All four skill areas will be assessed at the end of year 11.  Students will be entered at either Foundation or Higher tier but cannot mix tiers of entry across the skill areas.

Foundation tier exams Higher tier in italics

Listening 35 minutes 45 minutes with questions in English and the target language

Speaking 7-9 minutes 10-12 minutes + 12 minutes preparation time

Reading 45 minutes 60 minutes with questions in English and the target language and translation from the target language

Writing 60 minutes (four sentences about a photo, short passage, translation into the target language, written task of approximately 90 words with a choice of two questions) 75 minutes (written task of approximately 90 words with a choice of two questions, written task of approximately 150 words with a choice of two questions, translation into the target language)

Additional Information

There is the opportunity to take part in the Spanish exchange in Year 10.  (Our visit to our exchange school, in San Sebastian, may overlap with May half-term or Year 11 work experience)

Students will be provided with a complete list of vocabulary and grammar to assist them in their independent learning.   Access to a bilingual dictionary is highly beneficial.