Modern Foreign Languages

MFL – French and Spanish

At TVLA all learners develop scholarship, ambition, leadership, resilience through studying MFL (Spanish and French).  The study of MFL is essential part of learning how to communicate successfully with the world. MFL teaches a great deal about life, history and society and fosters tolerance and understanding, which is a vital part of a balanced education. The curriculum is sequenced over KS3 and KS4 to develop the key theoretical knowledge, concepts and skills needed to prepare learners for GCSE, A-level and beyond. The fully inclusive MFL curriculum provides opportunities for enrichment and equips learners with the knowledge and cultural capital to become educated citizens.

Mastery of languages is achieved through an intricate knowledge of grammar, the four language skills and the manipulation of new/unseen language independently. 

Aims and values of the MFL Curriculum (as per National Curriculum, DfE):

• Understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
• Speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation
• Can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt
• Discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied

We encompass this though the following questions which support the development of an enquiring mind in MFL lessons.

10 Big Questions

1. What skills will language learning provide me with?
2. How can I identify different tenses?
3. How can I use and implement a wide variety of grammatical structures?
4. How can I develop and extend my range of vocabulary?
5. What strategies can I implement to improve listening skills?
6. What strategies can I use to communicate effectively orally?
7. What strategies can I use to improve my written communication?
8. How can I improve my understanding of written language?
9. How can I develop my cultural understanding of Spanish speaking countries?
10. How will the skills I develop through language learning contribute to my future?

The Star curriculum framework operates on three levels to address all pupils’ academic, personal and social development:

• Educational excellence
• Character development (leadership and entrepreneurial skills)
• Service to communities

The MFL curriculum forms part of the Academy vision that all pupils should experience a broad, balanced and academically rich curriculum. We are confident that our curriculum contributes to pupils’ academic learning and personal growth.

We are proud that our MFL curriculum supports the STAR Values of the Academy.

Curriculum Overview

Assessment

Internal assessments take place every half-term and include listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation.

KS4 Exam Board Specification: AQA GCSE French (8658) and AQA Spanish (8698)

Enrichment Offer

Intervention sessions to consolidate prior learning and ensure maximum progress are at the heart of our delivery model. The Department offers subject-specific enrichment clubs and organises a range of educational visits and residential trips abroad throughout the year. Pupils benefit from an after school language club, and a Spanish ambassadors scheme.

Useful Resources and Revision Support

• BBC Languages (interactive activities and links to newspapers, TV and radio broadcasts in a variety of languages)

• OYE Language Skills (offers a range of vocab activities)
• AQA GCSE French (8658) and AQA Spanish (8698)
• Duolingo
• pearsonactivelearn.com (individual log in and access for all pupils from home, please contact Mrs Rooney if your child has forgotten their login details)
• languagesonline.com
• quizlet.com (please see links in TEAMS for your year group)