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St Alban's Catholic High School

St Alban's
Catholic High School

Modern Foreign Languages

Subject Vision

In a multilingual world a modern language has enormous benefit to offer all students. They can learn to interact with people who speak other languages and can gain enormous enjoyment as a result.  CILT, the National Centre for Languages initiated a report which found 700 reasons for studying languages and it is worth taking a look at the findings HERE.

Here in the MFL department we try to promote the enjoyment of languages from the Year 7 right through to the Sixth Form. Every year we are fortunate to have a Language Assistant in the department. They work on a one-to-one basis with our Sixth Form students but also with small groups or in the classroom with students lower down the school. In addition, every classroom is equipped with an interactive whiteboard or a projector and the necessary sound systems.

French 

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Overview

 

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Aut.1

 

Hobbies and interests 

Likes, dislikes and opinions

Taking about animals

Talking about life at school

Talking about daily life

Talking about inclusion

Talking about family types

Talking about green solutions for our planet

French sign language

Talking about working for a better future

My family

My friends

Getting married

Aut.2

Talking about identity

Talking about the natural world

Talking about your life online

Talking about hobbies and why you like them

Talking about holiday activities at home

Talking about a charity placement

 

Social Media

Technophile?

Usage of mobile phones

Spr.1

Describing pictures

Animals and their location

Talking about personal appearance

Talking about going out

Talking about childhood

Talking about cycling

Francophone street artists

Talking about the path to achieving dreams

Free-time activities

What do you like doing?

What did you do this weekend?

What do you like eating?

Sports

Spr.2

Talking about school

Giving opinions

Talking about citizenship 

Talking about old technologies

Francophone influencers

Discussing real life versus life online

Discussing future technologies

Customs, festivals and celebrations

Sum.1

Talking about role models

Saying what you and your friends are like

Talking about jobs

Talking about the future

Talking about cities in francophone countries

Talking about life journeys

House and home

Sum.2

Francophone countries

Talking about festivals in the Francophone world

Talking about what you will do in the future

Talking about wellbeing

Discussing future lifestyle changes

Charities

Volunteering

Healthy diet

 

Where does this subject lead me?

At KS4 French is an options subject. However, learning a language can improve your future employability. It will help to improve your cultural awareness, increase your adaptability, and make you a more confident and effective communicator.

The skills taught in MFL at Key Stage 3 are valuable for a wide range of other subjects, including:

  • English
  • Business
  • History
  • Religious Studies

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Overview

 

Year 10

Year 11

Aut.1

Identity and relationship with others

Where people live

Aut.2

Media and technology

Travel and tourism (including places of interest)

Spr.1

Free time activities

The environment

Spr.2

Customs, festivals and celebrations

Revisit celebrity culture

Sum.1

Healthy living and lifestyle

GCSE PRACTICE

Sum.2

Education and work

 

 

 

How is this assessed?

Students will undertake work in the skills of listening (25%), reading (25%), speaking (25%) and writing (25%) using up to date vocabulary in practical situations.

There will be an opportunity to spend some time with a Foreign Language Assistant during the year.

What can it lead to?

Advanced qualifications in modern languages are a huge plus in our increasingly international world. They are an enormously useful tool in themselves, or as add-ons to a very wide range of other subjects and open many doors to you.  You will be challenged to consider issues of importance in contemporary society, while at the same time allowing you to study in some depth the culture of a French-speaking country.  

As a result, the course will enhance your employment prospect, facilitate foreign travel and promote a sense of enjoyment through improving linguistic skills.  

You will learn how to write essays, to hold conversations and discussions.  

 

Key Stage 5 Curriculum Overview

Entry Requirements

A strong  grade 7 in French is preferable as well as a good grade 6 in English or History.

Course overview

Students study technological and social change, looking at diversity and the benefits it brings. They will study highlights of French-speaking artistic culture, including francophone music and cinema, and learn about political engagement and who wields political power in the French-speaking world.

Students also explore the influence of the past on present-day French-speaking communities. Throughout their studies, they will learn the language in the context of French-speaking countries and the issues and influences which have shaped them. Students will study texts and film and have the opportunity to carry out independent research on an area of their choice.

 

Year 12

Year 13

Aut.1

Unit 1 – La famille en voie de changement

Unit 1 – Les aspects positifs d’une société diverse

 

Aut.2

Unit 2 – La « cyber-société »

Study of a film : « la haine »

Unit 2 – Quelle vie pour les marginalisés?

Study of a book : « un sac de billes»

Spr.1

Unit 3 – Le rôle du bénévolat

Study of a film : « la haine »

Unit 3 – Comment on traite les criminels

Study of a book : « un sac de billes»

Spr.2

Unit 4 – Une culture fière de son patrimoine

Study of a film : « la haine »

Unit 4 – Les ados, le droit de vote et l’engagement politique

Study of a book : « un sac de billes»

 

Sum.1

Unit 5 – La musique francophone contemporaine

Study of a film : « la haine »

Unit 5 – Manifestations, grèves – à qui le pouvoir?

Study of a book : « un sac de billes»

Sum.2

Unit 6 – Le septième art

Study of a film : « la haine »

 Unit 6 – La politique et l‘immigration

Study of a book : « un sac de billes»

 

Where does this subject lead me?

Further Education

There will be a range of opportunities open to you, where you can continue to use and further develop your language skills. Having a language at  A-level will certainly improve your employability, in particular with companies, which have international branches. There are many exciting opportunities for Modern Linguists in a range of careers, such as: advertising, computing, business, interpreting, law, translating, tourism, leisure industry, communications, media, customs and excise, teaching...

It may be an especially good investment of your time and effort—because the payoffs for being bi-lingual or multi-lingual are significant in terms of everything from pay and performance to your thinking and your relationships. In a competitive job market, it makes sense to set yourself apart—and being multi-lingual may be exactly what you need to enhance your value to your current employer or a potential employer.

Top 10 celebrities you did not know speak French

 

Careers Information

You can watch a great series of videos of young people who are working in jobs that use Languages on the BBC Bitesize website

 

Examples of apprenticeships that relates to languages:

 

Other Information

Our school trip to the French Christmas markets in Lille leave our students feeling excited about all things French! Lille is the perfect place for our students to experience the authentic and magical atmosphere of a traditional French Christmas market. There are many enchanting Christmas markets taking place throughout France, each offering a unique variety of festive music, tasty treats and lights. But the city of Lille hosts one of the most famous, with over 50 stalls selling traditional and regional crafts, cuisine and gifts.

Spanish  

Key Stage 3 Curriculum Overview

 

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

Aut.1

Greetings

- Numbers 1 - 100

- Letters

- Months

- Colours

- Family members

- Animals

- Physical and personality

Hobbies - 

Sports and activities - 

Weather - 

Where you go in town – 

places in town - 

Where you live – 

vivo en el pueblo/montana etc -

 Weekend plans

The environment and where people live:

Describing what the region is like where you live

 - Directions

- Describing types of accommodation - Rooms in a house

 - My dream house

Aut.2

Identity

-Higher order numbers

-Giving opinions

-Christmas in the Spanish speaking world

Where you live

-Where you go in town –

-vivo en el ueblo/montana etc -

-Weekend plans

The environment and where people live:

Comparing rural and urban environments

- Describing how areas have changed over time

 

- Talking about global issues (claro 2) - Solutions to global issues (claro 2)

Spr.1

Mi burbuja

 To talk about who is in your family

Saying if you have siblings

Colours

Pets

Healthy living

What you eat and drink

- Opinions about food

and drink

- Healthy diet

Social networks - Las redes sociales

Discussing the internet and social media

 Discussing TV

Spr.2

Mi burbuja continued

Physical characteristics including facial features

 Personality traits

Healthy living continued

  Body parts

Health complaints and treatments

- Time

- Morning routines

Food in the Spanish speaking world

At home or in the cinema

Watching films at home or at the cinema

Sum.1

My school

 - School subjects

-School in Spain

-Describing teachers

Travel & Tourism - holidays

-Talking about transport

and holiday travel

- Holiday activities

- Extending holiday

descriptions

Start of GCSE course

Sum.2

What there is in my school

School facilities

Adjectives

Extra-curricular activities

Travel & Tourism - holidays

Describing a past

holiday

- Weather in the past

- Complex holiday plans

- Future holiday plans

Identity and relationships with others

Talking about personality

Describing people

Relationships with friends

Modern families

 

 

Where does this subject lead me?

At KS4 Spanish is an options subject. However, learning a language can improve your future employability. It will help to improve your cultural awareness, increase your adaptability, and make you a more confident and effective communicator.

The skills taught in MFL at Key Stage 3 are valuable for a wide range of other subjects, including:

  • English
  • Business
  • History
  • Religious Studies

 

Key Stage 4 Curriculum Overview

 

Year 10

Year 11

Aut.1

Healthy living and lifestyle/ Education and work

Media and technology

Aut.2

Education and work/Culture

The environment and where people live

Spr.1

Free time activities

The environment and where people live

Spr.2

Free time activities

Travel and tourism, including places of interest

Sum.1

Customs, festivals and celebrations  

Revision and exam preparation

Sum.2

Celebrity Culture

 

How is this assessed?

Students will undertake work in the skills of listening (25%), reading (25%), speaking (25%) and writing (25%) using up to date vocabulary in practical situations.

There will be an opportunity to spend some time with a Foreign Language Assistant during the year.

What can it lead to?

Advanced qualifications in modern languages are a huge plus in our increasingly international world. They are an enormously useful tool in themselves, or as add-ons to a very wide range of other subjects and open many doors to you.  You will be challenged to consider issues of importance in contemporary society, while at the same time allowing you to study in some depth the culture of a French-speaking country.  

As a result, the course will enhance your employment prospect, facilitate foreign travel and promote a sense of enjoyment through improving linguistic skills.  

You will learn how to write essays, to hold conversations and discussions.  

 

Key Stage 5 Curriculum Overview

Entry Requirements

A strong  grade 7 in Spanish is preferable as well as a good grade 6 in English or History.

Course overview

Students study technological and social change, looking at diversity and the benefits it brings. They will study highlights of Spanish-speaking artistic culture, including spanish music and cinema, and learn about political engagement and who wields political power in the Spanish-speaking world.

Students also explore the influence of the past on present-day Spanish-speaking communities. Throughout their studies, they will learn the language in the context of Spanish -speaking countries and the issues and influences which have shaped them. Students will study texts and film and have the opportunity to carry out independent research on an area of their choice.

 

Year 12

Year 13

Aut.1

Traditional and modern values

Young people of today, citizens of tomorrow

Aut.2

Traditional and modern values

Gender equality

Film - ‘el laberinto del fauno’/’volver’

Immigration

Racism

Young people of today, citizens of tomorrow

Monarchy and dictatorships

Spr.1

El ciberespacio – cyberspace

The regional identity of Spain

Study of the film

Monarchs and dictatorships

Racism

Spr.2

Cyberspace

Regional identity of Spain

‘La convivencia’ - coexistence

Popular movements

Book – La casa de Bernarda Alba

Sum.1

The influence of Idols

Cultural Heritage

Revision and exam preparation

Sum.2

The Influence of idols

Cultural heritage

Independent Research Project

Introduction to the book

 

 

Where does this subject lead me?

Further Education

There will be a range of opportunities open to you, where you can continue to use and further develop your language skills. Having a language at  A-level will certainly improve your employability, in particular with companies, which have international branches. There are many exciting opportunities for Modern Linguists in a range of careers, such as: advertising, computing, business, interpreting, law, translating, tourism, leisure industry, communications, media, customs and excise, teaching...

It may be an especially good investment of your time and effort—because the payoffs for being bi-lingual or multi-lingual are significant in terms of everything from pay and performance to your thinking and your relationships. In a competitive job market, it makes sense to set yourself apart—and being multi-lingual may be exactly what you need to enhance your value to your current employer or a potential employer.

Top 10 celebrities you did not know speak Spanish

 

Careers Information

You can watch a great series of videos of young people who are working in jobs that use Languages on the BBC Bitesize website

 

Examples of apprenticeships that relates to languages:

 

Other Information

Last year, the languages department took our GCSE students to Barcelona for 4 days to take part in a variety of cultural and language activities. Here they increased their awareness of the rich and vibrant Spanish culture! They enjoyed the tapas cuisine, ordered their meals in Spanish, watched a flamenco show and learnt about the history of the city. This year, our GCSE students will be going to Málaga for 5 days for a jam packed programmes of Spanish lessons and cultural activities. ¡olé!