Modern Foreign Languages

Curriculum Vision 

We believe that every child can be a successful language learner.

Languages significantly improve our students’ quality of life, by opening up social and professional opportunities and broadening their understanding of the world. Through languages at LPGS, students become successful global citizens with a social conscience. They respect, appreciate and celebrate diverse cultural identities around the world. Our students will thrive as linguists by becoming confident communicators and future leaders. We value the importance of resilience, determination and a growth mindset, meaning that students learn from their mistakes and strive to become better linguists.

Students feel a sense of belonging and have a love of learning languages through cultural celebrations, competitions, educational visits and extra-curricular activities such as foreign exchanges.

Curriculum Intent

The main aim of the MFL curriculum is to empower students to communicate in a different language and create global citizens through understanding a different culture. 

Our curriculum is knowledge rich and ambitious, with a strong focus on mastery and communication. Students practise the key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing with accessible materials and through teaching tailored to the students’ individual needs to develop their mastery of the language. In addition, students master the practical skills of translation and dictation through the explicit teaching of vocabulary, grammar and phonics. In KS3, students learn to communicate in the target language through meaningful contexts that allow them to express their views and opinions, and are useful in a target language setting, such as: family, free time, school life, health, food and town. The KS4 curriculum allows students to revisit these key themes and concepts in increasingly complex ways, as well as explore new themes relating to the world around them, including the environment, the working world, festivals and human rights. They are able to confidently communicate in real life settings in the target country, for example, at a restaurant, doctor’s surgery or tourist information office. The KS5 curriculum focusses on the target countries’ history, culture, lifestyle and politics and students are able to confidently discuss topical issues affecting the society. Students develop skills of independent research and essay writing in the target language as they explore a novel and film in the target language.

Throughout the curriculum, students learn to appreciate and celebrate differences and be more open-minded about the world around them through these topics and various cultural celebrations we explore in the target language through music, food, film, festivals and independent research. 

The limits of my language are the limits of my world.

Ludwig Wittgenstein

A video introduction to our languages courses in LPGS6 (our co-educational Sixth Form)

 

 

We want students to build mastery and fluency and to communicate confidently in a foreign language. They will express themselves and their opinions on a wide range of topics. We also want students to appreciate the culture of the countries where the language is spoken and understand their place in the wider world.

To achieve this, students in KS3 learn about three main topics a year. The language is introduced in chunks and with the help of sentence builders which support understanding. Students have opportunities to practise listening, speaking, reading and writing in each lesson. Spontaneous use of the target language is rewarded with team points. We teach phonics, vocabulary and grammar in the context of the topic as part of this approach. We celebrate cultural events throughout the year and offer extra-curricular activities like international club, trips and exchanges.

How is this sequenced?

Learning Units are sequenced according to:

  • Communicative function - moving from most frequent to less frequent

  • Complexity of grammar – moving from less complex to more complex

Language chunks and sentence stems are revisited on a regular basis through retrieval practice to allow them to move to long-term memory. We also focus on transferrable structures and encourage students to use these across topics.

 

Topics at Key Stage 3 include:

  • Introducing myself

  • Family and friends

  • Free time activities

  • School

  • My town

  • Holidays

  • Media

  • Food and health

  • Fashion

Assessment

Students’ progress is assessed regularly through formative and summative assessment. They are encouraged to reflect upon their learning and to respond to their teacher’s feedback.

Textbooks

Textbooks are mostly used for home study and remote learning.

Spanish: ¡Claro! 1-2, Tony Weston and Author José Antonio García Sánchez

German: Stimmt! 1-2, Rachel Hawkes and Michael Spencer

French: Allez 1-2, Corrine Dzuilka-Heywood, Yvonne Kennedy et al

German, French or Spanish are available to students who have studied them at Key Stage 3 or who have a solid foundation of the language because they speak it at home.

Course Description:

Combining clear, concise and straightforward assessments with engaging, meaningful and relatable content, the new GCSE courses equip students for life and careers in a global setting. The vocabulary in this qualification enables students to communicate across a range of engaging and relatable thematic contexts, which are relevant to their current and future needs.

Subject Content:

  • My personal world

  • Lifestyle and wellbeing

  • My neighbourhood

  • Media and technology

  • Studying and my future

  • Travel and tourism 

Assessments:

GCSE languages have a Foundation tier (grades 1-5) and a Higher tier (grades 4-9). Students must take all examinations at the same tier. All examinations must be taken in the same series, at the end of Year 11. Each tier is worth 25% of the GCSE grade.

Paper 1: Speaking in German / French / Spanish

Paper 2: Listening and understanding in German / French / Spanish

Paper 3: Reading and understanding in German / French / Spanish

Paper 4: Writing in German / French / Spanish

Course Description:

During the course of your A-Level studies you will:

  • Develop an interest in, and enthusiasm for, language learning.

  • Develop understanding of the language in a variety of contexts and genres.

  • Communicate confidently, clearly and effectively in the language for a range of purposes.

  • Develop awareness and understanding of the contemporary society, cultural background and heritage of countries or communities where the language is spoken.

  • Acquire knowledge, skills and understanding for practical use, further study and/or employment.

  • Take advantage of all opportunities to take part in cultural events and foreign trips.

Skills Required:

Knowledge, understanding and skills are closely linked in this course. You will continue to develop your ability to:

  • Understand and respond in speech and writing to a variety of authentic spoken and written sources.

  • Apply grammar and syntax accurately.

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of aspects of French/German/Spanish-speaking society.

  • Demonstrate flexibility when communicating both in speech and in writing.

  • Manipulate the language accurately to organise facts and ideas, present explanations, opinions, and information.

  • Analyse, hypothesise, evaluate, argue a case, justify, persuade, retort, develop arguments, and present viewpoints using the appropriate register

Method of Assessment:

Component 1: Listening, reading and translation – 40 % of total marks.

Component 2: Written response to works (literary texts and films) and translation – 30 % of total marks.

Component 3: Speaking (discussion on a theme and on independent research project) – 30% of total marks.


Progression:

Universities and employers look favourably on applicants with a high level of foreign language ability and languages can complement any higher education courses.