MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES

Why study Modern Foreign Languages?

94% of the planet don’t speak English as their mother tongue and 75% do not speak English at all. English speakers who can communicate in additional foreign languages are much sought after. The study of languages opens pupils’ minds to a whole world of opportunity, enabling pupils to:

• access information about different cultures.
• improve both verbal and written communication and literacy.
• perform well under pressure and grow in self-confidence.

Language learning develops a deep cultural awareness of how linguistic heritage links people of different cultures around the world, enables all pupils to broaden their horizons, converse with other people from different backgrounds, and strengthens pupils’ economic prospects.

How will I study Modern Foreign Languages?

All pupils focus on studying one foreign language for two lessons each week. They learn to:
• understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of carefully selected sources, including authentic audio texts where appropriate.
• speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation.
• read and respond to a wide range of textual sources in each target language, including authentic and literary texts; and to enhance their linguistics knowledge and fluency, an learn more about parts of the world where each language is spoken, through reading for enjoyment from a MFL reading list.
• write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt.
• discover and develop an appreciation of the countries and cultures where the language is used.

What will I study at Key Stage 3?

Key Stage 3 provides students with a really secure basis for speaking and writing in each language, in a range of contexts including: myself, my family, my school and my interests.
Initially, pupils learn language phonics and start making links between sounds and spelling. They develop their vocabulary and grammar skills and learn how to introduce themselves, their family and pets in the new language. They also learn to read, write, listen and speak about various aspects of their everyday life (school, leisure activities, sports, their house and their town).
Then, pupils consolidate their language skills. Their developing knowledge of phonics, vocabulary and grammar enable them to understand, to talk about and describe more extensively about a range of themes such as holiday, festivals and celebrations, the media, their region and healthy lifestyles.
Finally, towards the end of KS3, as pupils become more confident in using a variety of vocabulary and a greater range of grammatical tenses, they explore themes linked to their lives as teenagers, their future plans, their individual tastes in culture and their views on environmental issues. They also have the opportunity to explore specific cultural and geographical aspects of the French-speaking world.

What will I study at Key Stage 4?

Pupils study the GCSE syllabus for each language through a wide range of topics blending the familiar with new knowledge (e.g., what makes a good friend, role models, dream holidays, healthy living, further study, the world of work, social issues in the local areas and how to protect the environment).
In the first year of GCSE, pupils will:
• recall high frequency vocabulary and structures and start to draw upon more specific vocabulary.
• revisit topics studied at Key Stage 3 in more depth through the Key Stage 4 GCSE specification.
• know correct verb forms in different tenses and develop more confidence in combining timeframes.
• offer and justify opinions on a range of topics.
• listen and read for gist and detail with increasing stamina.
• speak and write confidently in some detail

In the final year of GCSE, pupils will:
• build upon a strong foundation of prior learning to tackle more complex content relating to future plans, healthy lifestyle choices and social and global social issues.
• synthesise learning across topics and recycle language more proficiently from memory.
• know some uses of the simple future tense, subjunctive voice and passive voices.
• communicate competently and confidently in spoken and written French and appreciate francophone culture in different countries around the world
• communicate proficiently in the language verbally and in writing.
• be well-prepared for the rigour of GCSE exams in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.
• have a strong foundation to study A-Level Languages.

Curriculum Overview – Arabic

Curriculum Overview – French

Curriculum Overview – Urdu

Assessment at Key Stage 3

Internal assessments take place every half-term.

Assessment at Key Stage 4

Paper 2: Speaking in Arabic (1AA0/2F and 2H)

Paper 3: Reading and understanding in Arabic (1AA0/3F and 3H)

Paper 4: Writing in Arabic (1AA0/4F and 4H)

GCSE French AQA 8658/GCSE Urdu AQA 8648

Paper 1: Listening

Paper 2: Speaking

Paper 3: Reading

Paper 4: Writing

KS4 Exam Board Specification (Arabic): Edexcel GCSE Arabic (1AA0)
KS4 Exam Board Specification (French): AQA GCSE French (8658)
KS4 Exam Board Specification (Urdu): AQA GCSE Urdu (8648)

Enrichment

A wide range of extra-curricular opportunities are offered to pupils, catering for multiple languages across all Key Stages. Currently, we provide additional sessions including Creative writing Club; and we are launching an Around the world Bake Off club to explore more about the francophone cuisine and planning field trips to experience the culture of the language they are learning.
The MFL Faculty also organizes whole school language-related events:
• In September, European Day Languages is marked with languages writing competitions for European Day of Language writing competition.
• We also entered our Arabic students for the Qatar Foundation International Welcome to the Arab World competition which included writing, calligraphy, and sensory activities to experience
• In February, the #lovelanguages event provides a morning of creative activities for each year group; in 2022 for example,

Careers
There are a range of career opportunities for pupils if they study modern foreign language to a higher level. The majority of employers prefer to recruit people with languages skills. Having a good GCSE or A Level grade in a foreign language and any degree will enable pupils to work for an international company anywhere around the world. A good GCSE grade in Urdu will allow pupils to study the language further or to combine with other degree subjects. This can then lead to careers in fields such as interpreting, teaching, languages and community services. Universities and employers value strong language qualifications.

Useful Resources and Revision Support

• Pupils should have access to a dual-language dictionary for each language they study.
• Pupils can benefit from watching cartoons, youtube clips and TV programmes/films in the Target Language.
• Pupils can prepare for assessments using topic-based revision mats, vocabulary booklets and listening materials provided by language teachers.
• Pupils are able to review lesson Powerpoints and access additional materials via MS Teams.
• languagenut.com Subscription site for Arabic and French Pupils
• Secondary Homework Help | Online subjects – BBC Bitesize for revision, listening and reading practice
• https://www.duolingo.com/ learn, read stories and interact via the multilingual forum
• https://www.memrise.com/ for vocabulary retrieval practice