Modern Foreign Languages | Dormers Wells High School

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Modern Foreign Languages

Over the past two decades, countries in the world have become more and more interdependent, and new technologies have erased many existing borders. Learning foreign languages has become more necessary than ever for linking with the rest of the world and for producing an enlightened citizenship able to function in today’s ever-shrinking world.

Languages are the bedrock of the world’s cultural heritage. Every language offers a rich and unique insight into different ways of thinking and living as well as into the history of the myriad of cultures and peoples across the globe. Foreign languages are also important to those working in business, communications and nearly every other career track.

The MFL department aims to:

To equip pupils with the confidence and ability to communicate both verbally and in writing in a foreign language.
To develop an awareness of the nature of language and language learning.
To promote positive attitudes to language learning.
To give pupils some understanding of cultures different from their own.
To equip pupils with specific skills eg. learning, memorising, working with others, working independently, reading for pleasure, dictionary skills, ICT.
To improve communication skills.
To increase a skill transferable to the workplace.

At DWHS we currently offer tuition in French and Spanish in Y7 and Y8. All pupils are taught in mixed groups. They study a language for 4 hours per fortnight. At the end of Year 9 they can choose to take a language to GCSE. All pupils have the opportunity of continuing with French or Spanish to GCSE level. All languages are established to A level.

KEY STAGE 3

FRENCH YEAR 7

1. La rentrée	Talking about personal information, physical appearance and favourite objects.
2. En classe	Describing your school, subjects, timetable and talking about food.
3. Mon temps libre	Talking about free time and what you like doing.
4. Ma vie de famille	Learning about your area, giving directions and saying what you can do in town.
5. En ville	Learning to talk about future plans and use the future tense.

FRENCH YEAR 8

1. Vive les vacances!	Talking about holidays and using the past tense.
2. J’adore les fêtes	Talking about festivals and buying food in a market.
3. À loisir	Talking about technology, cinema and what you like doing.
4. Le monde est petit	Describing your home, daily routine and helping at home.
5. Le sport en direct	Talking about sports and injuries, giving directions.

Assessment
There will be an end of module assessment for each unit combining at least 2 of the 4 main skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing). At the end of the year students will take an end of year exam which will complete the language course.

SPANISH YEAR 7

1. Mi vida	Introducing yourself. Talking about your personality, age, birthday and friends.
2. Mi tiempo libre	Giving opinions. Saying what you do in your spare time and what sports you do.
3. Mi insti	Describing your school, teachers, subjects, timetable and talking about food.
4. Mi familia y mis amigos	Describing your family, what you look like and where you live.
5. Mi ciudad	Describing your town or village, telling the time and using the future tense.

SPANISH YEAR 8

1. Mis vacaciones	Talking about a past holiday. Using the preterite tense of regular verbs.
2. Todo sobre mi vida	Saying what you use your phone for and what type of music you like. Talking about TV.
3. ¡A comer!	Saying what food you like. Describing mealtimes and ordering a meal.
4. ¿Qué hacemos?	Arranging to go out Making excuses. Using querer and poder. Talking about clothes.
5. Operación verano	Describing holiday activities and a world trip. Talking about summer camps.

KEY STAGE 4

FRENCH YEAR 9

1. Mon monde à moi	Describing yourself and birthday celebrations. Using the perfect tense.
2. Projets d’avenir	Talking about your job, describing jobs and talking about your future ambitions.
3. Ma vie en musique	Describing music preferences and future plans.
4. Le meilleur des mondes	Learning about the environment and talking about healthy eating.
5. Le monde francophone	Revising all grammar points.

SPANISH YEAR 9

1. Somos así	Technology and leisure time.
2. ¡Oriéntate!	School rules, description and daily routine.
3. En forma	Healthy food and healthy living.
4. Jóvenes en acción	Languages at work.
5. Una Aventura en Madrid	Spanish speaking countries.

GCSE FRENCH

1 - My personal world

2 - Lifestyle and wellbeing

3 - My neighbourhood

4 - Media and technology

5 - Studying and my future

6 - Travel and tourism

Which examination board sets the syllabus?
EDEXCEL

What qualification will i get?
GCSE French

Assessment

All topics above are examined at the end of the course in four separate papers

Paper 1: Speaking in French (25%)
Paper 2: Listening and understanding in French (25%)
Paper 3: Reading and understanding in French (25%)
Paper 4: Writing in French (25%)

GCSE SPANISH

1 - My personal world

2 - Lifestyle and wellbeing

3 - My neighbourhood

4 - Media and technology

5 - Studying and my future

6 - Travel and tourism

Which examination board sets the syllabus?

EDEXCEL

What qualification will i get?
GCSE Spanish

Assessment

All topics above are examined at the end of the course in four separate papers

Paper 1: Speaking in Spanish (25%)
Paper 2: Listening and understanding in Spanish (25%)
Paper 3: Reading and understanding in Spanish (25%)
Paper 4: Writing in Spanish (25%)

key stage 5

A LEVEL SPANISH (AQA):

The focus of this course is to enable students to develop their linguistic skills alongside their understanding of the culture and society of countries where Spanish is spoken. Students study technological and social change, looking at diversity and the benefits it brings. They will study highlights of Spanish-speaking artistic culture, including Hispanic music and cinema, and learn about political engagement and who wields power in the Spanish-speaking world. Students also explore the influence of the past on present-day Hispanic 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.

If students wish to read Spanish at university, A level Spanish is essential. However, studying a language at A level is a valuable asset to combine with any other programme of study.

Exam Board: AQA

Subject Content:

Students must study the following themes in relation to at least one Spanish-speaking country. There are various sub-themes a school can choose to study using a range of sources, including material from online media.

Aspects of Hispanic society
Artistic culture in the Hispanic world
Dossier de cine y literatura

Career Opportunities / Routes

A level Spanish supports progression into many higher education courses and the following areas of work: Airport airline industry; banking and finance; business (most of British business is export); counselling/social services; customer services; diplomatic service; education; human resources; journalism; government and law; media; translation; travel and tourism; and the military services.

Assessment

Paper 1: Listening Reading & Writing

Written exam assessing aspects of Hispanic society, political life and artistic culture.

Paper 2: Writing

Written exam assessing a text and film, or two texts, from the list set in the specification and grammar.

Paper 3: Speaking (30%)

Speaking exam assessing an individual research project and aspects of Hispanic society.

A LEVEL FRENCH (AQA):

The focus of this course is to enable students to develop their linguistic skills alongside their understanding of the culture and society of countries where French is spoken. 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 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.

If students wish to read French at university, A level French is essential. However, studying a language at A level is a valuable asset to combine with any other programme of study.

Exam Board: AQA

Subject Content:

Students must study the following themes in relation to at least one French-speaking country. There are various sub-themes a school can choose to study using a range of sources, including material from online media.

Aspects of French-speaking society: current trends.
Artistic culture in the French-speaking world.
Dossier cinema et littérature

Career Opportunities / Routes

A level French supports progression into many higher education courses and the following areas of work: Airport airline industry; banking and finance; business (most of British business is export); counselling/social services; customer services; diplomatic service; education; human resources; journalism; government and law; media; translation; travel and tourism; and the military services.

Assessment

Paper 1: Listening Reading & Writing

Written exam assessing aspects of French-speaking society, political life and artistic culture.

Paper 2: Writing (20%)

Written exam assessing a text and film, or two texts, from the list set in the specification and grammar.

Paper 3: Speaking (30%)

Speaking exam assessing an individual research project and aspects of French-speaking society.

Additional information

It is one of our aims that students should develop an understanding and appreciation of the culture and civilisation of the countries and communities whose language they are learning. In addition, we want them to gain a sound basis in the skills and language required for extending their career options. A key stage 4 and 5 trip abroad is therefore offered annually. These trips have included educational and cultural visits to Barcelona, Granada and Paris. A trip abroad is hugely beneficial as it really brings language to life, and gives students a clear demonstration of the validity of language learning, and the benefits and enjoyment that can be gained from years of endeavour. Barcelona, Granada and Paris have much to offer as school travel destinations. Students can explore the many art museums and those learning the language will be able to practise their skills on the bustling streets.