Modern Foreign Languages

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Head of Faculty

Vision

We want to ignite our students’ curiosity about the wider world. By studying languages, our students will discover the skills and the confidence they need in order to flourish in our global and multicultural society.

Disciplinary Concepts

  • Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking
  • Grammar and vocabulary
  • Translation
  • Literary texts
  • Linguistic competence
  • Cultural knowledge and understanding of the wider world
  • Transferable skills such as critical and creative thinking, independent study and problem solving

Big Questions

  • Why do we study languages?
  • Why can’t everyone speak English?
  • What’s it like in…?
  • How do you say…?

Curriculum Content

You can find a more detailed curriculum overview in the linked document below.

Years 7-9 (Key Stage 3)

All students start Year 7 learning French and either German or Spanish. At the end of Year 8 students can opt to continue studying both languages or decide to concentrate on one of their languages only.

In Key Stage 3 (Year 7-9) students will learn to talk about

  • themselves and others
  • where they live
  • school
  • likes, dislikes, hobbies and free time
  • holidays
  • healthy lifestyles
  • what is important to them
  • the world of work

Years 10-11 (GCSE)

We currently offer French, German, Spanish and Italian as both GCSE and A-level options.

In years 10-11 students study their chosen language or languages in more depth, covering these 5 themes:

  1. Identity and Culture
  2. Local area, holiday and travel
  3. School
  4. Future aspirations, study and work
  5. International and global dimension

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses.html

Years 12-13 (A level)

At A level students study the language, literature and culture of the countries where their chosen language is spoken in even more detail. They also study one book and one film in depth.

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-a-levels.html

Enrichment offer

  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Mandarin
  • German exchange with the Maria Ward Schule in Mainz (Germany)
  • Trips to France, Spain and Germany
  • Cultural events in school (European Day of Languages, external speakers, theatre performances)

Exam information

Our exam board for both GCSEs and A levels is Edexcel.

Links to past papers and more:

https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/subjects/languages.html

Home languages

In addition to our regular languages offer, our students can sit exams in their home languages that they might be studying outside of school, for example GCSEs in Polish or A levels in Turkish.

Key Stage Three Assessment Grading Descriptors: 

The grade descriptors for Modern Foreign Languages at Key Stage Three at The John Warner School reflect a student’s ability to listen and respond, read and respond, written communication and verbal communication in our language lessons.

Grade     Explanation 
Below

Listening and responding: Pupils show that they understand a few familiar spoken words and phrases. They understand speech spoken clearly, face to face or from a good-quality recording. They may need a lot of help, such as repetition or gesture.

Speaking: Pupils say single words and short, simple phrases in response to what they see and hear. They may need considerable support from a spoken model and from visual clues. They imitate correct pronunciation with some success.

Reading and responding: Pupils recognise and read out a few familiar words and phrases presented in clear script in a familiar context. They may need visual clues.

Writing: Pupils write or copy simple words or symbols correctly. They label items and select appropriate words to complete short phrases or sentences.
Working Towards

Listening and responding: Pupils show that they understand the main points from short spoken passages made up of familiar language. They identify and note personal responses. They may need short sections to be repeated.

Speaking: Pupils ask and answer simple questions and talk about their interests. They take part in brief prepared tasks, using visual or other clues to help them initiate and respond. They use short phrases to express personal responses. Although they use mainly memorised language, they occasionally substitute items of vocabulary to vary questions or statements.

Reading and responding: Pupils show that they understand the main points and personal responses in short written texts in clear printed script made up of familiar language in simple sentences. They are beginning to read independently, selecting simple texts and using a bilingual dictionary or glossary to look up new words.

Writing: Pupils write a few short sentences, with support, using expressions that they have already learnt. They express personal responses. They write short phrases from memory and their spelling is readily understandable.
Meeting

Listening and responding: Pupils show that they understand the main points and opinions in spoken passages made up of familiar material from various contexts, including present and past or future events. They may need some repetition.

Speaking: Pupils give a short-prepared talk that includes expressing their opinions. They take part in short conversations, seeking and conveying information, opinions and reasons in simple terms. They refer to recent experiences or future plans, as well as everyday activities and interests. They vary their language and sometimes produce more extended responses. Although there may be some mistakes, pupils make themselves understood with little or no difficulty.

Reading and responding: Pupils show that they understand the main points and opinions in written texts from various contexts, including present, past or future events. Their independent reading includes authentic materials. They are generally confident in reading aloud, and in using reference materials.

Writing: Pupils write short texts on a range of familiar topics, using simple sentences. They refer to recent experiences or future plans, as well as to everyday activities. Although there may be some mistakes, the meaning can be understood with little or no difficulty. They use dictionaries or glossaries to check words they have learnt and to look up unknown words.
Working Above

Listening and responding: Pupils show that they understand longer passages and recognise people’s points of view. The passages cover a range of material that contains some complex sentences and unfamiliar language. They understand language spoken at near normal speed, and need little repetition.

Speaking: Pupils answer unprepared questions. They initiate and develop conversations and discuss matters of personal or topical interest. They improvise and paraphrase. Their pronunciation and intonation are good, and their language is usually accurate.

Reading and responding: Pupils show that they understand longer texts and recognise people’s points of view. These texts cover a range of imaginative and factual material that contains some complex sentences and unfamiliar language. Pupils use new vocabulary and structures found in their reading to respond in speech or writing. They use reference materials when these are helpful.

Writing: Pupils write articles or stories of varying lengths, conveying opinions and points of view. They write about real and imaginary subjects and use an appropriate register. They link sentences and paragraphs, structure ideas and adapt previously learnt language for their own purposes. They edit and redraft their work, using reference sources to improve their accuracy, precision and variety of expression.
Exceeding 

Listening and responding: Pupils show that they understand the gist of a range of authentic passages in familiar contexts. These passages cover a range of factual and imaginative speech, some of which expresses different points of view, issues and concerns. They summarise, report, and explain extracts, orally or in writing.

Speaking: Pupils take part in discussions covering a range of factual and imaginative topics. They give, justify and seek personal opinions and ideas in informal and formal situations. They deal confidently with unpredictable elements in conversations, or with people who are unfamiliar. They speak fluently, with consistently accurate pronunciation, and can vary intonation. They give clear messages and make few errors.

Reading and responding: Pupils show that they understand a wide range of authentic texts in familiar contexts. These texts include factual and imaginative material, some of which express different points of view, issues and concerns, and which include official and formal texts. Pupils summarise, report, and explain extracts, orally or in writing. They develop their independent reading by choosing and responding to stories, articles, books and plays, according to their interests.

Writing: Pupils communicate ideas accurately and in an appropriate style over a range of familiar topics, both factual and imaginative. They write coherently and accurately.

 

Subject Documents Date  
MFL Enrichment 08th Sep 2022 Download
MFL Curriculum Map 08th Sep 2022 Download