Modern Foreign Languages

French

Students should develop a competency across the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, achieved through a foundation of grammar, vocabulary and phonics. This allows them to express their own opinions on a range of different topics that is relevant to their lives. Students should be curious about the world around them which is developed through cultural aspects of learning a language.

German

Our curriculum aims is to create curious linguists, who can confidently recognise and apply the fundamental skills in a range of topics that relate to themselves and their own world. This is underpinned by the cultural elements, ranging from German festivals and traditions to comparing daily life in the UK to the German-speaking world. We feel that it is important to assess students throughout the year on different skills to consolidate their productive and receptive skills. This means that at KS3 and KS4, students will complete a variety of tasks within lessons and will be periodically assessed in reading, writing and translation, reading and speaking.

Subject Glossary

To support our students to develop their disciplinary literacy we have created glossaries for each subject. Our Subject Glossaries identify and explain the key terms that are used in that subject.

MFL Subject Glossary

Year 7

French	In Year 7 students will study French with 5 lessons per fortnight. Students should be able to use the regular present tense in singular paradigms, describe themselves and elements of their lives using adjectives and giving opinions.
German	In Year 7 students study German after starting French and they have 5 lessons per fortnight. They are taught in form groups and the basics of a language are covered. We start with introducing yourself, then move onto family members and pets and finishing with free time activities. Throughout these topics, students will be introduced to key grammatical structures, such as the regular present tense in the singular paradigm and practise the phonics of the key sounds in German. They will also learn how to express positive and negative opinions within these topics, which will be transferable to their further studies. Students learn these through the core skills of MFL: reading, writing and translation, listening and speaking. Each lesson will contain a range of these skills, with students learning specific techniques to help them within the skills.

French

In Year 7 students will study French with 5 lessons per fortnight. Students should be able to use the regular present tense in singular paradigms, describe themselves and elements of their lives using adjectives and giving opinions.

German

In Year 7 students study German after starting French and they have 5 lessons per fortnight. They are taught in form groups and the basics of a language are covered. We start with introducing yourself, then move onto family members and pets and finishing with free time activities. Throughout these topics, students will be introduced to key grammatical structures, such as the regular present tense in the singular paradigm and practise the phonics of the key sounds in German. They will also learn how to express positive and negative opinions within these topics, which will be transferable to their further studies. Students learn these through the core skills of MFL: reading, writing and translation, listening and speaking. Each lesson will contain a range of these skills, with students learning specific techniques to help them within the skills.

Year 8

French	In Year 8 students will study 3 lessons of French per fortnight. Students should be able to use reflexive verbs and some modal verbs in at least the singular paradigm, as well as give opinions on further topics, building upon what they have learned in Year 7.
German	Students will study German for 3 lessons per fortnight, alongside a second language. Students will revisit the regular present tense and throughout the year, learn to apply this in many different contexts, as well as being introduced to further grammatical structures, such as subordinating conjunctions and word order, the past tense and modal verbs. This is done through the topics of school, local area, identity, travel and holidays. These are all building blocks for creating confident linguists, and these topics are linked to the five themes covered over the GCSE course, so this is an introduction into the starting vocabulary and grammatical skills. For example, within identity, film, TV and reading are covered in Year 8 for expressing opinions, equipping students to later express more complex opinions on the topics at GCSE. Phonics is also taught continually to ensure accurate pronunciation. Students learn these through the core skills of MFL: reading, writing and translation, listening and speaking. Each lesson will contain a range of these skills, with students learning specific techniques to consolidate applying language to these skills. At the end of Year 8, students are given the opportunity to continue studying both languages or to focus one just one in Year 9. We feel this allows us to challenge students as linguists who continue with both, but also gives support to those who need it and make MFL more accessible to students of all ability levels.

French

In Year 8 students will study 3 lessons of French per fortnight. Students should be able to use reflexive verbs and some modal verbs in at least the singular paradigm, as well as give opinions on further topics, building upon what they have learned in Year 7.

German

Students will study German for 3 lessons per fortnight, alongside a second language. Students will revisit the regular present tense and throughout the year, learn to apply this in many different contexts, as well as being introduced to further grammatical structures, such as subordinating conjunctions and word order, the past tense and modal verbs. This is done through the topics of school, local area, identity, travel and holidays. These are all building blocks for creating confident linguists, and these topics are linked to the five themes covered over the GCSE course, so this is an introduction into the starting vocabulary and grammatical skills. For example, within identity, film, TV and reading are covered in Year 8 for expressing opinions, equipping students to later express more complex opinions on the topics at GCSE. Phonics is also taught continually to ensure accurate pronunciation. Students learn these through the core skills of MFL: reading, writing and translation, listening and speaking. Each lesson will contain a range of these skills, with students learning specific techniques to consolidate applying language to these skills. At the end of Year 8, students are given the opportunity to continue studying both languages or to focus one just one in Year 9. We feel this allows us to challenge students as linguists who continue with both, but also gives support to those who need it and make MFL more accessible to students of all ability levels.

Year 9

French	Students who continue with two languages will have 3 lessons per fortnight of German, or 6 per fortnight if they study just German. Students continue to study topics linked with 4 of the key GCSE themes – school, local area, identity, travel and holidays. Students are introduced to the future tense, as well as consolidating their knowledge and application of the past tense, present tense and further use of modal verbs and more complex structures, for example um…zu. Students will continue towards further consolidation of the core skills of MFL: reading, writing and translation, listening and speaking. Phonics is consolidated through regularly revisiting the key sounds and spellings associated with this. Students start the first GCSE topic, school, which links to prior learning in Year 9 and Year 7, building upon their prior knowledge.
German	In Year 9 of students will either study 3 lessons of French per fortnight if they continue with both languages, or 6 hours per fortnight if they are studying a single language. The work in Year 9 builds on what they'v developed in Year 7 and 8. Students should now be able to use 3 tenses to ask and answer questions on a range of topics. They should be able to recognise and use some irregular and reflexive verbs in the past and present tenses.

French

Students who continue with two languages will have 3 lessons per fortnight of German, or 6 per fortnight if they study just German. Students continue to study topics linked with 4 of the key GCSE themes – school, local area, identity, travel and holidays. Students are introduced to the future tense, as well as consolidating their knowledge and application of the past tense, present tense and further use of modal verbs and more complex structures, for example um…zu. Students will continue towards further consolidation of the core skills of MFL: reading, writing and translation, listening and speaking. Phonics is consolidated through regularly revisiting the key sounds and spellings associated with this. Students start the first GCSE topic, school, which links to prior learning in Year 9 and Year 7, building upon their prior knowledge.

German

In Year 9 of students will either study 3 lessons of French per fortnight if they continue with both languages, or 6 hours per fortnight if they are studying a single language. The work in Year 9 builds on what they'v developed in Year 7 and 8. Students should now be able to use 3 tenses to ask and answer questions on a range of topics. They should be able to recognise and use some irregular and reflexive verbs in the past and present tenses.

GCSE (Year 10 and 11)

French	In Year 10 and Year 11 students will study 5 lessons per fortnight. Students should be working towards confidence in their exam techniques and consolidating the grammar learnt throughout Key Stage 3. They should be able to use 3 tenses to narrate and give opinions (negative and positive with justifications) on key themes in spoken and written language, as well as recognise tense indicators when completing listening and reading comprehension.
German	Students have 5 lessons per fortnight at GCSE and our exam board is Edexcel. In Year 10, students recap their first chapter studied in Year 9 (school) in order to check for any gaps in knowledge and address any misconceptions. They will then work through units 2-5 in Year 10, with assessments at the end of each unit. Assessments cover the exam skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking at appropriate points to build confidence in exam techniques. At the end of Year 10, students will do assessments of units 1-5 and cover all exam skills. This allows us to recap what we have learned so far, as well as find areas of strengths and areas for improvement for each student. The themes covered within these units are school, identity and holiday and local area. Within these themes, students continue to deepen their understanding of grammatical structures and the 3 tenses and apply them in different contexts, as well as learning more complex structures and different moods, such as the subjunctive mood. In Year 11, students continue with 5 lessons per fortnight, and continue with the final 3 units of the course, which cover the final two themes, the world of work and the global aspect. Students study unit 6 in the first half term, then move onto revision of units 1-5 ahead of trial exams which take place in December. This allows us to make use of feedback and target our intervention strategies in the lead up to past papers completed in lessons and their final exams. Most grammatical structures have now been taught, which allows students to practise and master the key elements of using language accurately. Students aiming for a grade 9 will ensure they are highly accurate and demonstrate their understanding and accurate application of the case system and a range of tenses, moods and voices. Speaking exams take place in April or May, then revision continues for their final exams in reading, writing and listening.

French

In Year 10 and Year 11 students will study 5 lessons per fortnight. Students should be working towards confidence in their exam techniques and consolidating the grammar learnt throughout Key Stage 3. They should be able to use 3 tenses to narrate and give opinions (negative and positive with justifications) on key themes in spoken and written language, as well as recognise tense indicators when completing listening and reading comprehension.

German

Students have 5 lessons per fortnight at GCSE and our exam board is Edexcel. In Year 10, students recap their first chapter studied in Year 9 (school) in order to check for any gaps in knowledge and address any misconceptions. They will then work through units 2-5 in Year 10, with assessments at the end of each unit. Assessments cover the exam skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking at appropriate points to build confidence in exam techniques. At the end of Year 10, students will do assessments of units 1-5 and cover all exam skills. This allows us to recap what we have learned so far, as well as find areas of strengths and areas for improvement for each student. The themes covered within these units are school, identity and holiday and local area. Within these themes, students continue to deepen their understanding of grammatical structures and the 3 tenses and apply them in different contexts, as well as learning more complex structures and different moods, such as the subjunctive mood. In Year 11, students continue with 5 lessons per fortnight, and continue with the final 3 units of the course, which cover the final two themes, the world of work and the global aspect. Students study unit 6 in the first half term, then move onto revision of units 1-5 ahead of trial exams which take place in December. This allows us to make use of feedback and target our intervention strategies in the lead up to past papers completed in lessons and their final exams. Most grammatical structures have now been taught, which allows students to practise and master the key elements of using language accurately. Students aiming for a grade 9 will ensure they are highly accurate and demonstrate their understanding and accurate application of the case system and a range of tenses, moods and voices. Speaking exams take place in April or May, then revision continues for their final exams in reading, writing and listening.

A Level (Year 12 and 13)

French	In Year 12 students will study 8 lessons per fortnight. They should be able to give a range of opinions on a range of different aspects of the German-speaking world (such as art and cinema). They should be building upon the grammar studied through KS3 and KS4 to help deepen their responses in spoken and written language. They should be able to recognise and use more complex grammatical structures, such as understanding when the case system is used. In Year 13 students will study 8 lessons per fortnight. They should be able to give a range of opinions on a range of different aspects of the French-speaking world (such as immigration and politics). They should be building upon the grammar studied through KS3 and KS4 to help deepen their responses in spoken and written language. They should be able to write exam-style essays on the chosen literature and film studied, analysing different key themes and aspects of these works. By Year 12 and Year 13, students will have studied in-depth grammatical structures, increasing in complexity and ensuring accuracy in spoken and written language, for example, students start learning key verbs in a range of tenses in KS3 and KS4 and then these are developed at KS5, and continue to learn and practise this for accuracy throughout KS4 and KS5.
German	Students have 8 lessons per fortnight with two class teachers. The exam board for A Level is AQA, which allows students to study a wide range of topics, which are related to the wider German-speaking world. Each class teacher teaches set topics, covering the first year of the course, which includes the changing of family units and festivals and traditions in the German-speaking world. Students also begin their literature and film studies – we have chosen ‘der Vorleser’ and ‘Lola Rennt’. ‘Der Vorleser’ includes exploring themes such as national and collective guilt, whereas ‘Lola Rennt’ explores the butterfly effect and the theme of time. Students are assessed at the end of every two units, with a mixture of exam style questions to build confidence and accuracy in their exam skills. At the end of Year 12, students are assessed on all of the Year 1 course through AS exam past papers across speaking, listening, reading and writing, and writing. This allows us to make use of intervention strategies early and ensure students know where their strengths and areas for improvement are. In Year 13, students study social issues in the German-speaking world, such as politics, Germany and the EU and racism. As in Year 12, students are assessed after every two units studied where two per half-term are covered, and complete AS Level papers in the trial exam period in December. Students are expected to undertake their independent research project, which allows them to choose a topic of interest pertaining to the German-speaking world and improve their independent study skills, preparing them for further education. After the December trials, students continue with the final units of the Year 2 course. Further past papers are completed in February or March (dependent on the whole school trial exam timetable) to track progress and update our intervention strategies. The speaking assessments take place in April/May, before their final listening, reading and writing and writing exams in May/June.

French

In Year 12 students will study 8 lessons per fortnight. They should be able to give a range of opinions on a range of different aspects of the German-speaking world (such as art and cinema). They should be building upon the grammar studied through KS3 and KS4 to help deepen their responses in spoken and written language. They should be able to recognise and use more complex grammatical structures, such as understanding when the case system is used.

In Year 13 students will study 8 lessons per fortnight. They should be able to give a range of opinions on a range of different aspects of the French-speaking world (such as immigration and politics). They should be building upon the grammar studied through KS3 and KS4 to help deepen their responses in spoken and written language. They should be able to write exam-style essays on the chosen literature and film studied, analysing different key themes and aspects of these works.

By Year 12 and Year 13, students will have studied in-depth grammatical structures, increasing in complexity and ensuring accuracy in spoken and written language, for example, students start learning key verbs in a range of tenses in KS3 and KS4 and then these are developed at KS5, and continue to learn and practise this for accuracy throughout KS4 and KS5.

German

Students have 8 lessons per fortnight with two class teachers. The exam board for A Level is AQA, which allows students to study a wide range of topics, which are related to the wider German-speaking world. Each class teacher teaches set topics, covering the first year of the course, which includes the changing of family units and festivals and traditions in the German-speaking world. Students also begin their literature and film studies – we have chosen ‘der Vorleser’ and ‘Lola Rennt’. ‘Der Vorleser’ includes exploring themes such as national and collective guilt, whereas ‘Lola Rennt’ explores the butterfly effect and the theme of time. Students are assessed at the end of every two units, with a mixture of exam style questions to build confidence and accuracy in their exam skills. At the end of Year 12, students are assessed on all of the Year 1 course through AS exam past papers across speaking, listening, reading and writing, and writing. This allows us to make use of intervention strategies early and ensure students know where their strengths and areas for improvement are. In Year 13, students study social issues in the German-speaking world, such as politics, Germany and the EU and racism. As in Year 12, students are assessed after every two units studied where two per half-term are covered, and complete AS Level papers in the trial exam period in December. Students are expected to undertake their independent research project, which allows them to choose a topic of interest pertaining to the German-speaking world and improve their independent study skills, preparing them for further education. After the December trials, students continue with the final units of the Year 2 course. Further past papers are completed in February or March (dependent on the whole school trial exam timetable) to track progress and update our intervention strategies. The speaking assessments take place in April/May, before their final listening, reading and writing and writing exams in May/June.

Modern Foreign Languages

French

German

Subject Glossary

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

GCSE (Year 10 and 11)

A Level (Year 12 and 13)

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