The aim of the MFL department is to develop students’ ability to communicate effectively and to develop their understanding of other cultures. We pride ourselves in providing our students with the capacity to interact with native speakers of French or Spanish in the United Kingdom or abroad. Lessons encourage students to experiment with language structures and take risks in a safe environment. Students work in pairs, in groups as well as independently. We expect students to communicate effectively and become understanding and caring citizens. This is achieved through challenging language practices and discussions on personal and global issues.
In year 7 all students study French and Spanish. At the end of the first year students chose one language to continue with in year 8 and year 9. We offer French and Spanish GCSE and Asset languages in Year 10 and year 11. Year 12 and 13 can study Advanced French or Spanish or Asset languages.
Resources are very good. Expo, Metro, Francoscope, Tricolore, Listos, Español de Primero are used in class to complement interactive resources via the whiteboard projector with a mixture of PowerPoint presentations, Task Magic activities or internet resources. ICT is embedded in the learning of MFL. There are six ICT rooms available for booking which represents excellent access to ICT resources. The department owns their own sets of headphones-microphones which enable all four skills-listening, speaking, reading, writing, to be practised and improved on in the computer suite. Every room is equipped with a whiteboard projector and has links to the Internet and the school network where MFL resources are saved and shared. Each teacher has a laptop with a DVD player. French films and videos are an effective way of learning and experiencing foreign culture.
GCSE Full courses with AQA in French and Spanish, Asset in French and Spanish.
Students are assessed through 4 modules taken over three years as follows:
Students learn to use French or Spanish for practical communication and gain a solid grounding to continue with further study of French in the sixth form. Exam results are very good in excess of 80% A* to Cs.
GCSEs in other languages-Mandarin, Portuguese, Italian, Polish, German, Bengali, Punjabi, by special arrangement.
The exam board is OCR. Students aim at becoming near-native speakers of French. Lessons are intense with a mixture of speaking, listening to French speech, watching the news, adverts, films or documentaries in French, improving reading and writing. Students also need to work independently more than ever before.
Topics at Advanced level are really stimulating and include:
Resources available for learning:
All the teachers in the MFL department are very well-qualified and native speakers. The team is fortunate to include a French and a Spanish Assistant, on placement from French and Spanish universities for one year. Volunteers form the wider communities also help individual students and small groups for additional practice and support.
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