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Modern Foreign Languages
Back“Languages aren’t just about words – they open your mind and expand your vision more than you’d ever expect! Languages have made me but they have also saved me.”Year 11 Student of French and Spanish at NWHS
“Les dictionnaires sont les plus belles agences de voyage au monde.
Dictionaries are the most beautiful travel agents in the world”Bernard Pivot
The Modern Foreign Languages curriculum at NWHS is engaging, relevant and challenging for students of all abilities. Throughout their time here, students develop the ability and confidence to communicate in the language they are studying about subjects which are relevant and interesting to them. Additionally, our lessons promote cultural engagement and broaden students’ horizons. This enables them to step beyond familiar cultural boundaries and better understand links between the foreign languages they study and English, encouraging a curiosity which will be useful in many other areas of their school life.
From the beginning of year 7 we give all students, no matter their starting point or previous language learning experiences, the opportunity to express themselves and learn new skills. Our carefully planned Year 7 Scheme of Learning purposefully does not begin with the basics, as some students may have learned these in Primary school. This way all students feel sufficiently challenged from the beginning. Our rewarding and challenging curriculum equips students for continued study, encouraging lifelong language learning and confidence beyond specific languages. We continually boost students’ confidence and understanding of the key skills that will be useful for them in the wider world of work so they leave school as globally aware citizens of the world.
As a department we are passionate about language learning, travel and exploring foreign cultures. Many of us have personal links to France, Spain and/or Germany and we endeavour to pass this love of languages and appreciation for other cultures on to our students using many varied and skilled approaches. MFL lessons are challenging at all levels, and we provide regular opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding and improve their self-esteem. Teachers are highly skilled in creating and adapting teaching resources to suit the needs of all students in their classes, making the learning experience suitably engaging, supportive and challenging. Students develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills across a range of topics through increasing exposure to phonics, vocabulary and grammar. The languages team regularly makes use of various physical and virtual resources (including online subscriptions to This is Language, Language Gym and Linguascope) both in lessons and for homework.
In addition, we are very proud to provide a range of opportunities and extracurricular experiences within the MFL department, with various trips abroad as well as experiences in school and locally. For example: language competitions against other schools, visits to WSFC and university masterclasses, letter exchanges and film clubs.
Despite being an optional subject at Key Stage 4, many students opt for this highly academic route at GCSE and outcomes are consistently above national average in French, German and Spanish. Nevertheless, students who do not follow a GCSE language course leave Key Stage 3 with a wealth of knowledge and confidence in whichever languages they have studied. Many students who speak additional languages at home are entered for GCSE, all arranged through the MFL department.
Staffing Structure
Curriculum Leader: Mrs L Kendrick
Email: l.kendrick@nunnerywood.worcs.sch.uk
Phone: 01905 363682
Team Structure
Curriculum Leader
Assistant Curriculum Leader
1 full-time member of staff
5 part-time members of staff
1 full time teaching assistant
Curriculum Facilities
The MFL department is comprised of our own suite of five well-equipped classrooms with a central departmental office and a break out room which is used for small group work and conversation practice. Each classroom has an interactive whiteboard in order to support interactive learning and teaching. We are also supported by up-to-date resources for KS3 and GCSE courses. Both staff and students have ready access to online language learning websites that are used to enhance the teaching and learning of MFL in school and at home. Finally, we are very lucky to have a dedicated teaching assistant who is fluent in all 3 languages who completes small group activities both in and out of the classroom.
KS3
KS3 Description of the key skills, knowledge and understanding that are a prime focus of KS3 teaching in the subject area
Throughout Key Stage Three, our objective is for students to develop their proficiency in the four main skill areas of language learning – listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students have the opportunity to use and practice these skills across a variety of contexts using an increasing range of vocabulary and grammar. Students are also exposed to and encouraged to find out about cultures in a range of French-, German- and Spanish-speaking countries, how they differ to our own cultures and which characteristics are shared. They will acquire new knowledge about language and how it works, using appropriate grammatical terminology.
Organisation of the KS3 curriculum and how students are assessed (brief summary of long term plan of units and very approximate timings.
Students join Nunnery Wood in either X or Y band, this dictates which languages they will study throughout their time here.
X band study German for 2 hours a week throughout year 7, 8 and 9. They also pick up French as a second language for 1 hour a week in year 8 and 9.
Y band study French for 2 hours a week throughout year 7, 8 and 9. They also pick up Spanish as a second language for 1 hour a week in year 8 and 9.
Throughout the three-year Key Stage, students will cover topics which allow them to talk about themselves and others in a range of tenses.
For their first language, Year 7 starts by introducing key vocabulary and grammatical structures on the topic of school, we move on to talking about home and local area, then how to describe people.
Year 8 build on their basic knowledge by discussing food, drink and sport, a range of media topics (music, film, television and technology) and holidays.
Year 9 give and understand descriptions about towns (both at home and in French-, German- and Spanish-speaking countries), we develop speaking skills through the topics of lost property and at the doctors then finishing the Key Stage with giving opinions about school, options choices and future plans for education and work.
For their second language, students follow the scheme of learning for the year below. For example, year 8 second language will study the topics of school, home and local area then how to describe people.
Assessments are completed termly from either reading & listening, writing or speaking.
Sources of information that may be useful
www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zhsvr82
www.linguascope.com – Beginners
www.quizlet.com
www.language-gym.com
KS4
Subject title, board and syllabus code:
GCSE French, AQA – 8658
GCSE German, AQA – 8668
GCSE Spanish, AQA – 8698
KS4 Description of the key skills, knowledge and understanding that are a prime focus of KS4 teaching in the subject area
Throughout the course, students will develop communication and language skills which are vital in the world of work. The course aims to help students develop their foreign language skills in a variety of contexts and acquire a broad understanding of the culture of countries and communities where the languages are spoken. It encourages enjoyment of language learning and the recognition that language skills enable students to take their place in a multi-lingual global society. The course requires students to develop their ability to write and speak in the foreign language and to understand it when it is written down or spoken.
Organisation of the KS4 curriculum (brief summary of long term plan of units and very approximate timings)
The themes and topics below are studied in a cyclical manner so as to revise key vocabulary and structures in a range of contexts across the course.
Theme 1: Identity and culture
Topic 1: Me, my family and friends (Relationships with family and friends, Marriage/partnership)
Topic 2: Technology in everyday life (Social media, Mobile technology)
Topic 3: Free-time activities (Music, Cinema and TV, Food and eating out, Sport)
Topic 4: Customs and festivals in French, German or Spanish-speaking countries/communities
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Topic 1: Home, town, neighbourhood and region
Topic 2: Social issues (Charity/voluntary work, Healthy/unhealthy living)
Topic 3: Global issues (The environment, Poverty/homelessness)
Topic 4: Travel and tourism
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
Topic 1: My studies
Topic 2: Life at school/college
Topic 3: Education post-16
Topic 4: Jobs, career choices and ambitions
Assessment
Students are entered for foundation or higher tier for all 4 skills. All exams are taken at the end of Year 11.
Listening 25% – 35 minutes (F) or 45 minutes (H).
Speaking 25% – 5-week window April-May in year 11, conducted by teachers. In 3 parts: role-play, photo card, general conversation.
Reading 25% – 45 minutes (F) or 60 minutes (H).
Writing 25% – 1 hour (F) or 1 hour 15 minutes (H).
FRENCH: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658/specification-at-a-glance
GERMAN: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/german-8668/specification-at-a-glance
SPANISH: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698/specification-at-a-glance
Sources of information that may be useful:
www.quizlet.com
www.linguascope.com – Intermediate
www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/zhsvr82
www.1jour1actu.fr
