“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
Nelson Mandela.
Click here for MFL curriculum outline
Why do we study Modern Foreign Languages?
In today’s global society, the ability to communicate in a foreign language is a valued skill which provides opportunities to meaningfully connect with others, improve self-discipline, and broaden horizons. We endeavour to equip students with the knowledge and skills to become enthusiastic, confident linguists, with intercultural competence. A logically sequenced coverage of relevant themes underpinned by a core foundation of grammar, vocabulary and phonics encourages students to successfully manipulate target language, understand and respond to spoken and written word and develop an understanding of the culture and traditions of the wider target language speaking world. Alongside academic progress, studying MFL at Studley allows pupils to flourish as individuals and encourages an outward facing outlook. Students develop a wide range of lifelong transferable skills as well as cultivating qualities such as tolerance, resilience, independence, compassion, and intercultural understanding. These skills and qualities benefit pupils not only during their MFL lessons, but as they move on to further education, the world of work and form future relationships.
See Studley High School’s Commitment to Languages in the curriculum menu.
MFL programme of study at KS3
At KS3, French has recently become our primary language. Year 7 and Year 8 largely follow the Dynamo programme of study, supplemented by a variety of other resources including authentic materials, multimedia and IT. Spanish is offered as part of our SHINE extra-curricular offer from Year 8. Current Year 9 study a legacy curriculum after choosing to continue with either French or Spanish, and this will be the language available to them at KS4.
MFL programme of study at KS4
At KS4, we use the Edexcel specification and matching programmes of study for each language (Year 10 French, Spanish and German, Year 11 Spanish). The curriculum is carefully planned for student progression through schemes of learning which continually revisit and build upon existing knowledge. To enhance their language learning experience, students who continue with MFL at KS4 will be offered the opportunity to visit a target-language speaking country, usually as a cross-curricular experience with another faculty.
Homework expectations
Homework in MFL is compulsory at KS3 and is set weekly to consolidate learning. It is essential that time is spent outside of the classroom to continue making progress, little and often being key. At KS3, the large majority of homework will be set via the online vocabulary learning platform, Languagenut (to be launched in Autumn 2). This engaging and interactive tool encourages students to play games and challenges using the same vocabulary from lessons. Students will review their weekly practice in regular low stakes retrieval quizzes in lessons. Engagement and attainment in home learning will feed into our ‘Star Linguists’ rewards policy. During every scheme of learning there will be a formative and diagnostic assessment, before which revision homework will be set. At KS4, in addition to vocabulary learning homework, students will complete preparation for their speaking exams, as well as other practice of examination questions as part of their ongoing revision.
How can parents and guardians support at home?
In the first instance, supporting teachers to inspire in your child a positive view of language learning and its relevance to life in today’s world is incredibly helpful. Students who can articulate their learning to others make better progress, so by encouraging your child to be actively engaged in home learning and discussing, practising and quizzing your child will help them more successfully store this knowledge in their long-term memory. At KS4 a range of revision strategies and examination techniques are taught in lessons, all of which can be practised at home from the outset of the GCSE course. Encourage your child to begin a revision programme early, to trial different strategies and settle on the ones that works best for them. Again, a “little and often” approach is often the most effective. Wider reading or viewing around the subject – particularly authentic texts and cultural content –encourages deeper understanding of key themes explored in the course content. Encourage wider reading or viewing around the subject. Key events in the news also help students to develop understanding of issues affecting the wider target-language speaking world.
Useful Websites:
Online Radio
Spanish: http://www.listenlive.eu/spain.html
French: http://www.listenlive.eu/france.html
Memrise vocabulary learning
KS3 French: http://www.memrise.com/user/morganks3french/courses/learning/
KS4 French: http://www.memrise.com/user/hounsdownks4french/courses/learning/
KS3 Spanish: http://www.memrise.com/user/morganks3spanish/courses/learning/
KS4 Spanish: http://www.memrise.com/user/ks4spanishmorgan/courses/learning/
Duolingo
Download the app or visit https://www.duolingo.com/
Online language dictionaries www.wordreference.com
Pronunciation
Revision
KS3 www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/z2nygk7
KS4 www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zhsvr82
Edexcel GCSEs | Pearson qualifications
Languagenut Homework Platform
Enrichment opportunities:
We have resumed the MFL enrichment offer this academic year through the launch of new extracurricular clubs and planning for overseas residential visits. Currently, our offer includes:
– Spanish Club (Year 8)
– SHINE workshops (KS3)
– Regular intervention and revision (KS4)
– Rewards visits to local French/Spanish themed eateries (KS3)
– Biennial overseas residential visits to France/Spain (KS4)
– Visit from MFL theatre company (KS3)
– Celebration of European Day of Languages/Macmillan Coffee Morning
– House Competitions
– Guest speakers and MFL assemblies
– Humanities/MFL Careers Fair
