Modern Foreign Languages

The school introduces a modern foreign language to pupils in each year of Key Stage 3. At present, pupils have the opportunity to learn Spanish in year 7, German in year 8 and French in year 9.

Our aims in teaching a modern foreign language are to enable our pupils -

to appreciate the culture of another country and compare it to their own
to gain a positive understanding of people who live differently from themselves
to communicate with others using and responding to simple phrases in the foreign language
to develop listening and language learning skills
to gain confidence in self expression both orally and in writing

The fundamental knowledge, skills and understanding are set out in the National Curriculum documents. The non statutory guidelines suggested for Key Stage 2, adapted from the Key Stage 3 requirements, form the basis for our programme of study for pupils in years 7, 8 and 9.

The learning of the modern foreign language is developed through -

using a wide variety of materials which include flashcards, aural cassettes, videos, DVDs and CD-Rom programmes
providing a wide range of practical activities such as games and role play
working with authentic materials where possible such as magazines, menus and tourist brochures
using the target language in the delivery of classroom routines where possible
using a programme of short, achievable targets
whenever possible inviting visitors from other countries to join the class to extend the pupils' experience
encouraging cross curricular links
incorporating a high degree of flexible learning and differentiation
attempting to make learning objectives clear to pupils

For pupils in Key Stage 3 the QCA units provide the basic scheme of work. In addition, year 7 Spanish use Sonica Spanish resources. Year 8 German follows the Chatterbox programme and year 9 French use a variety of CD-Roms as accompaniments to the standard teaching.

Assessment is carried out by -

informal assessment by the teacher on a lesson by lesson basis
delivering end unit vocabulary and comprehension tests
reporting to parents on open evenings and through the annual report

Feedback to pupils about their progress is provided through -

discussion with the teacher
positive verbal and written comments from the teacher
pupils' awareness of learning objectives