Head of Department:

Mrs P Zahner

Teachers:

Mrs A Champley-Potter, Ms K Eagle, Miss T Hay, Ms M Jimenez, Mrs C Meadowcroft, Mrs J Moore

Visit the Modern Foreign Languages Department's website by clicking below...

Modern Foreign Languages Website

Modern Languages in England are taught through topics, with grammar developed through different vocabulary areas. Below is a very simple outline of pupils' progression.

Key Stage 3 : Years 7, 8, 9

• At this level the main focus is on giving all pupils a good foundation in basic vocabulary areas.
• Grammar is practised through practical examples using the vocabulary of the current topic.
• By the end of year 9, pupils will be familiar with examples of the past, present and future tenses.

Personal details:	name/ age & birthday/ appearance/ personality
Family:	relations/ pets
Home:	rooms/ furniture/ daily routine
School:	subjects/ days of week/ times/ timetable
Opinions:	positive & negative
Free time:	hobbies/ /TV programmes/ frequencies
Town:	buildings/ transport
Food:	snacks/ drinks/ café
Shopping:	food/ clothes
Holidays:	countries/ accommodation/ activities
Relationships:	friends/ family
Jobs:	part-time/ careers
Pocket money:	purchases
Social life:	invitations/ home rules
Health:	body/ illness/ healthy eating/ lifestyle
Environment:	personal responsibility

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Key Stage 4 : Years 10, 11

• At this level the main focus is on preparing the pupils for the GCSE exams.
• Vocabulary and structures from KS3 are revised and developed.
• A new syllabus is being introduced for the current year 10.

GCSE French Specifications | GCSE German Specifications | GCSE Italian Specifications

Speaking and writing are each worth 30% of the final grade. They are tested by assessments throughout the course. Listening and reading are each worth 20% of the final grade, and are tested in final exams in May/June of year 11.

There are 5 major topic areas:

Home and local area

• Life in the home, friends and relationships
• Local area, facilities and getting around

Health and sport

• Sport, outdoor pursuits and healthy lifestyle
• Food and drink as aspects of culture and health

Leisure and entertainment (includes online)

• Socialising, special occasions and festivals
• TV, films and music

Travel and the wider world

• Holidays and exchanges
• Environmental, cultural and social issues

Education and work

• School life in the UK and in the target language country or
• Community
• Work experience, future study and jobs, working abroad

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Key Stage 5 : Years 12, 13

• At this level the focus is on preparing pupils for the AS exam, taken in May of Year 12, and the A2 exam, taken in June of Year 13.
• Topic specific vocabulary is introduced and practised with increasing use of synonyms and paraphrasing. Grammar is taught more explicitly.
• Pupils need to have factual knowledge, relating mainly to events of the last 7 years in the country/ countries they are studying; they are expected to be able to analyse information and react to it with personal opinions, drawing on their wider knowledge.
• All 4 skills are tested and equal weighting given to each.

AS topics- new specification

A2 topics

Society sub-topics

• Integration and exclusion: age; gender; race; religion; equality of opportunity
• Law and order: trends of crime and punishment; civil unrest; policing
• Unemployment: causes and consequences (local, national or global)

The environment sub-topics

• The individual and the environment: recycling; reducing individual energy usage and impact; local conservation
• Energy management: alternative energy sources; changing use of fossil fuels'; nuclear energy; changing energy demands
• Pollution: causes; consequences; solutions
• Conservation of the natural world: changing habitats; impact of man and pollution; local, national or global initiatives

Science and technology: impact and issues sub-topics

• Medical progress: development and change – impacts on health care, lifestyles, ethics and beliefs
• Scientific advances: change and innovation – impacts and issues on society, knowledge, education
• Technological developments: change and development – impacts on lifestyles, habits, work and education

Culture sub-topics

• Literature and the arts: trends, changes, influences and impacts on the individual and society
• Heritage and history: influence and impacts of heritage (including colonial heritage) and historical events (national and international) on contemporary society