Modern Foreign Languages
Here at The Misbourne we are passionate about languages and the opportunities they can provide us in our futures.
In the MFL Department we operate under the ethos; ‘Not all classrooms have four walls’. This vision is something we want our students to appreciate every time they have a French or Spanish lesson; the world is there to be discovered and their ability to speak a language can bring them the opportunities of a lifetime.
At The Misbourne, we offer French and Spanish to GCSE and our lessons heighten our students' cultural awareness with rich content, engaging activities and culturally-authentic material.
In Year 7, students learn French and Spanish in parallel and will enjoy the opportunity to discover both languages before choosing one to carry forward into Years 8 and 9.
Why learn French?
Studying French opens up many social, cultural and professional opportunities, with French-speaking countries representing the UK's third-biggest export market.
Why learn Spanish?
Learning the second-most-spoken language in the world opens young minds to rich, diverse cultures and offers professional opportunities across the globe.
So, if you like Languages and they are the right fit for you - why don't you click here to see where they can take you?
Key Stage 3
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." Ludwig Wittgenstein
In MFL, we are proud that our students follow a culturally-enriching and engaging curriculum. Throughout Years - 9, students learn topical vocabulary with important grammatical structures and tenses, all delivered through rich and authentic material such as films, songs, literature and poems. As well as vocabulary and grammar, students gain a deep understanding of phonics and key sounds in the language.
The use of ICT is also important in the department both for research tasks, and for developing grammatical skills through various technology platforms that we use.
The teaching and learning of MFL regularly make links to other areas of the school curriculum such as English, geography, mathematics, food technology and personal development.
Key Stage 3 Programme of Study
| Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 |
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Key Stage 4
"To have another language is to possess a second soul." Charlemagne
French Edexcel GCSE
Spanish Edexcel GCSE
At GCSE level, students continue to develop their knowledge of complex grammar, vocabulary and phonic acquired at KS3, to deepen their understanding of communicating across the 4 key language skills. We offer a GCSE qualification in both French and Spanish, which help students to develop their language skills in a variety of contexts, with a broad understanding of the culture of countries, and communities where the language is spoken. A GCSE in MFL encourages enjoyment of language learning and the recognition that language skills enable us to take our place in a multi-lingual, global society. Students are also able to study both French and Spanish at the same time at GCSE should they decide to do so.
This four-skilled specification requires students to develop their ability to read, listen, write and speak confidently in the foreign language. A GCSE in MFL also counts towards the English Baccalaureate. The GSCE has a Foundation Tier (grades 1–5) and a Higher Tier (grades 4–9). Students must take all four question papers at the same tier.
Topics covered:
Theme 1: Identity and Culture
Unit 1- Family and friends
Unit 2- Technology in everyday life
Unit 3- Free time- TV/Music/ Eating out
Unit 4- Customs and Festivals in the French/ Spanish speaking world
Theme 2: Local, national and global areas of interest
Unit 5- My town and home
Unit 6- Social issues and trends
Unit 7- Global issues and solutions
Unit 8- Holidays and tourism
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
Unit 9-10- School, school life and university
Unit 11-12- Jobs, education post 16 and future careers
Department Staff
Mrs. A V Meyer-Pirone – Curriculum Leader
Ms. S. Loomes
Miss R. Shafi
Useful Websites and Resources
All students from year 7-12 have knowledge organisers and revision packs containing key vocabulary, grammatical explanations and suggested writing frames. Students are advised to spend 5-10 minutes per day self quizzing and revising content from the language in small, manageable chunks. It is a key expectation that students bring their knowledge organisers to every lesson as these work in harmony with the class content. To complement revision packs, the following websites are excellent for deepening an understanding of grammar and vocabulary, whilst offering opportunities to develop the key skills, particularly listening.
Websites
Kerboodle.com
Languagesonline.com
Lyricstraining.fr
Acapela.es
Language-gym.com
Podcasts
To support with listening skills, there are lots of free podcasts available on the Appstore or GooglePlay. We recommend the following:
Slow news French
Frenchpod 101
Louis learn French
Exercise your French
Notes in Spanish
Discover Spanish
Coffee break Spanish
SBS Spanish
Music and films
Music and film are excellent tools for practising the language and developing cultural understanding and awareness. There is a huge variety of film available on Netflix in the international section and Spotify/ Youtube have a wealth of French and Spanish artists to expose your ear to as much of the language as possible.
| Subject Documents |
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| MFL Curriculum Map Spanish |
| MFL Curriculum Map French |