MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Department Vision
Our vision is to foster a passion for the study of modern languages so that pupils are confident, internationally minded and able to make great progress by expressing themselves fluently and coherently in their chosen language.
Our curriculum will be demanding and will enable our students to make clear and rapid progress through the development of core linguistic structures. We will foster a love of learning and extend their knowledge in a systematic way to prepare them for GCSE and beyond.
The opportunities for linguists in a rapidly changing world are extensive. We will endeavour to raise the aspirations of our students to ensure that they are fully equipped to enter into this vibrant and exciting global market.
The curriculum is challenging, pushing all students to achieve to their potential and providing opportunities for pupils to study different cultures. Outside of lessons, we offer lunchtime peer support sessions as well as help clubs run by staff. Pupils have the opportunity to participate in various one-off celebrations and cultural events as well as visits abroad.
French – Year 7
Year 7 | ||
Term | Topics | Learning Outcomes |
1 | Myself and others | Themes
Linguistic Structures
|
2 | Talking about school | Themes
Linguistic Structures
|
3 | Talking about free time | Themes
Linguistic Structures
|
4 | Talking about where you live. | Themes
Linguistic Structures
|
5 | Talking about holidays
| Themes
Linguistic structures
|
6 | Future holiday plans | Themes
Linguistic structures
|
French – Year 8
| Year 8 French | ||
| Term | Topics | Learning Outcomes |
| 1 | Media in your life | ThemesTalking about television programmesTalking about filmsTalking about readingTalking about the InternetTalking about what you did yesterday eveningGiving opinions on films, TV shows and books Linguistic structuresRevision of regular -er verbs and key irregular verbs être, lire, faire, mettre and allerDevelopment of knowledge of the passé composéPresenting developed opinions using a range of adjectives |
| 2 | Talking about a recent/future visit | ThemesDescribing activities during a recent tripDescribing how you travelledGiving opinions about a tripDescribing a future visit Linguistic structuresThe perfect tense regular verbs The perfect tense: irregular verbsGiving opinions in a range of tensesRecall and practice of near future tense |
| 3 | Talking about yourself, your family and your interests | ThemesDescribing your personalityDescribing your interestsDescribing relationshipsTalking about musicDescribing what you wear Linguistic structuresMasculine and feminine adjective endingsOpinions with infinitive verbsIntroduction to reflexive present tense verbs |
| 4 | Describing your house, town and local area | ThemesDescribing where you liveDescribing your homeTalking about mealsDiscussing what food to buyTalking about a recent event Linguistic structuresMaking comparisons with ‘plus’ and ‘moins’Using prepositions with de + articlesRevision of ‘il y a’ in different tensesRevision of modal verb ‘pouvoir’ |
| 5 | Talking about your talents and ambitions | ThemesDescribing your talentsSaying what you must and can do Linguistic structuresUsing structures followed by the infinitiveUsing the modal verb ‘devoir’Narrating an event in the past tense |
| 6 | Francophonie | ThemesWorld geography and French Speaking countries Linguistic structuresPractice of Future Tense and Past Tense verbs and key structuresRevision and practice of connectives, opinion structures, time phrases |
French – Year 9
| Year 9 French | ||
| Term | Topics | Learning Outcomes |
| 1 | Describing what you do in your free time | ThemesGiving your opinion about someoneArranging to go outDescribing an event in the past tense Linguistic structuresUsing direct object pronounsRevision of regular and irregular present tense structuresRevision of near future and passé composéRevision of connectives, time phrases and opinion phrases |
| 2 | Staying fit and healthy | ThemesTalking about sport Learning about healthy eating Making plans to get fitDescribing levels of fitnesstalking about adopting a healthier lifestyleLinguistic structuresUsing the structure ‘j’ai mal à’ to describe injuriesUsing the structure ‘il faut’ and ‘il est nécessaire deIntroduction to the simple future tensepresent, perfect and future tenses + il y avait, c’était, il faut |
| 3 | The world of work | ThemesDescribing jobs Learning languages Saying what you used to do Discussing your future and your past Talking about your job Linguistic structuresUsing the verb ‘vouloir’ in different tenseMasculine and feminine forms of jobsUsing infinitive structuresGiving opinions using the conditional tense |
| 4 | Talking about holidays | ThemesDiscussing holidaysImagining adventure holidaysTalking about what you take with you on holiday Linguistic structuresthe pronoun y question forms the conditional Using reflexive verbs |
| 5 | Holiday (continued) | ThemesDescribing what happened on holiday Visiting a tourist attraction Linguistic structuresthe perfect tense (irregular past participles & être verbs) |
| 6 | Talking about your rights and dreams | ThemesYour rights as a teenagerWhat you are allowed and not allowed to doExplaining what makes you happy Linguistic structuresavoir le droit de + infinitivepossessive adjectivesUsing infinitives to mean ‘–ing’ |
French – Years 10 & 11
| Year 10 French | ||
| Term | AQA Topics | Learning Outcomes |
| 1 | 1.1 Me, my family and friends1.3 Free time activities | ThemesSelf, family and friendsGoing outYour younger selfRole modelsLinguistic structuresIrregular verbs in present tense, relative pronoun quinear future & perfect tenseThe imperfect tenseUsing 3 tenses |
| 2 | 1.3 Free time activities1.2 Technology in everyday life | ThemesRevision of TV, Films, Music and technologyTalking about sport Your life online Books and reading Talking about actors and filmsLinguistic structuresPosition of adjectivesDepuis + the present tense,The verb faire Comparative adjectives, The relative pronoun que Using the comparative, imperfect tense Direct object pronouns, The superlative |
| 3 | 1.4 Customs and traditions in French speaking countries | ThemesDescribing your daily lifeTalking about food for special occasionsUsing polite languageLinguistic structuresModal verbs pouvoir and devoirAsking questions The pronoun enQuestions in the tu and vous forms |
| 4 | 1.4 Customs and traditions in French speaking countries | Themes-Describing family celebrations-Describing festivals and traditionsLinguistic structures venir de + infinitiveUsing a combination of tenses |
| 5 | 2.1 Home, town, neighbourhood and region2.2 Social issues | ThemesTalking about your regionTalking about what to see and doWeather Linguistic structuresThe pronoun y, negativesAsking questions using quelFuture tense |
| 6 | 2.1 Home, town, neighbourhood and region2.2 Social issues (Term 5 continued) | Themes Community projects Linguistic structuresFuture tenseUsing a range of tenses |
| Year 11 French | ||
| Term | AQA Topics | Learning Outcomes |
| 1(4 weeks) (3 weeks) | 2.4 Travel and tourism 3.1 My studies3.2 Life at school/college | ThemesTalking about holidays.Ideal holidaysBooking hotels and making travel arrangements Holiday activities and eating outProblems on holiday Linguistic structures Using the conditional tense Reflexive verbs in perfect tensePronoun en and present participlePluperfect tense ThemesGiving opinions about school subjects Describing a typical school day and describing a memorable dayGiving opinions about the school rules Talking about future plansLinguistic Structures:Revision of present tense verbsRevision of passé composéInfinitive structures, including ‘il faut’ and ‘il est interdit de’Revision of simple future tense |
| 2 | 3.3 Education post-163.4 Jobs, career choices and ambitions | ThemesJobs and work preferencesDiscussing career choicesTalking about plans, hopes and wishesDiscussing the importance of languagesApplying for jobsUnderstanding case studiesLinguistic structuresThe conditionalComparisonThe perfect infinitive, The subjunctiveAdverbs,en + the present participleDirect object pronoun in perfect tenseVerbs followed by à or de |
| 3 | 2.3 Global issues | ThemesDiscussing problems facing the worldProtecting the environmentDiscussing ethical shoppingTalking about volunteeringDiscussing big eventsLinguistic structuresLinguistic structures Using the modal verbs pouvoir and devoir in the conditionalThe passiveIndirect object pronouns |
| 4 | Revision of all topics and preparation for speaking exams | Preparation of exam skills for speaking exam: role play, photo card and general conversation Preparation of exam skills for writing, reading and listening exams |
| 5 | Term 5 | Revision of all topics |
| 6 | ||
Spanish – Year 8
| Year 8 | ||
| Term | Topics | Learning Outcomes |
| 1 | Introductions and about me | ThemesClassroom language Introducing yourself Counting up to 31 Saying when your birthday is Learning the Spanish alphabet Items in schoolbag and classroom Talking about your family Describing pets and colours Linguistic Structures using the verb ‘tener’ to give your agethe indefinite article (un/una)the definite article (el/la)number and gender of Spanish wordspossessive adjective ‘mi(s)’making colours agree with nouns |
| 2 | School | ThemesSaying what you do in lessonsDescribing teachersGiving opinions and reasons Talking about snacks Linguistic Structures understanding regular –ar, –er and –ir verbsadjectives that end in o/aunderstanding adjective agreementusing ‘comer’ and ‘beber’ |
| 3 | Describing self and others | Themes Talking about your brothers and sistersCounting up to 100Describing appearance and characterDescribing eyes and hairTalking about where you liveLinguistic Structures Using the possessive adjectives ‘mi(s), tu(s), su(s)’ jouer à + a sportusing the verb ‘ser’using adjectives after nounsunderstanding all forms of ‘vivir’ |
| 4 | Talking about where you live | Themes Talking about your town/villageDescribing the rooms in your houseDescribing your bedroomTalking about activities you do in your bedroomDescribing places in town Linguistic Structuresusing ‘estar’ with locationunderstanding all forms of -ar and -er verbsprepositionsstem-changing verbs in the present tenseUsing on peut + infinitive |
| 5 | Free Time | ThemesSaying what you do in your free time Telling the timeTalking about sportsSaying what you would like to doSaying what you are going to doRevision Of Terms 1-4 topics and grammar for End of Year examLinguistic Structuresusing ‘salir’ and ‘hacer’verb ‘ir’using ‘me gusta’ and the infinitivenear future tense |
| 6 | Describing your area | Themes Saying what your town is likeMaking and responding to invitationsDescribing weather Linguistic Structures using ‘querer’using 2/3 tenses togethe |
Spanish – Year 9
| Year 9 | ||
| Term | Topics | Learning Outcomes |
| 1 | Media | ThemesTalking about what you use computers forDescribing television programmesComparing filmsTalking about different types of musicDescribing what a film is about Linguistic Structurespresent tense regular ar, er, ir verbsadjectives and opinionsnear future tensepreterite tense regular ar, er, ir verbscombining two tenses (present and preterite) |
| 2 | School | ThemesDescribing schoolAsking and answering questions Describing school subject optionsGiving opinions about teachers Talking about school rules Discussing after-school clubs Linguistic Structuresforming questions using ‘a mí, a ti, etc’ for emphasisusing superlativesusing ‘se debe’ and ‘se puede’Combining three tenses |
| 3 | Health and fitness | ThemesLearning the parts of the body Describing symptoms Discussing healthy and unhealthy foodTalking about healthy livingDiscussing lifestyle changesLinguistic Structuresusing ‘me duele’ and ‘me duelen’ using ‘tener’ and ‘estar’ correctlydirect object pronounsUsing ‘para’ to build more complex sentences |
| 4 | Jobs and future plans | ThemesEarning and spending pocket moneySaying what you would like to doTalking about jobsTalking about future plansRevision Of Terms 1-4 topics and grammar for End of Year examLinguistic Structuresusing third-person verb formsusing ‘me gustaría’using masculine and feminine job titlesfuture tenseUsing on peut + infinitive |
| 5 | Spain and the Spanish speaking world | ThemesLearning more about Spanish-speaking countries Learning about a region in Spain Linguistic Structuresmodal verbsusing ‘usted’ |
| 6 | Spain and the Spanish speaking world continued | ThemesLearning about a town in SpainAsking permissionsBuying train ticketsGeneral revision Linguistic StructuresForming complex sentencesmodal verbsusing ‘usted’ |
Spanish – Years 10 & 11
| Year 10 | ||
| Term | AQA Topics | Learning Outcomes |
| 1 | 2.4 Travel and tourism | Themes and Linguistic StructuresRevision of weather expressionsDescribing what you like to doNarrating past holidayDescribing how you travelled, with who, where you stayedDescribing a past holiday using the imperfect tenseOpinion phrases present and past and justifications using some expressions and a range of adjectivesPreterite tenseImperfectInfinitive structures |
| 2 | 3.1.1 My studies3.2 Life at school/college | Themes and Linguistic StructuresGiving opinions/justifications about school subjectsDescribing a typical day in schoolUsing the imperfect tense to describe what your primary school used to be likeDescribing school uniform and school rulesDiscussing problems at schoolTalking about a memorable day in the past /a future visitComparativesRevision of present tenseImperfect tenseNear future |
| 3 | 1.2 Technology in everyday life1.3 Free time activities | Themes and Linguistic StructuresDescribing what applications, you use and what for in different tensesThe advantages and disadvantages of technologyReading online vs reading booksDescribing relationships and family membersDescribing a good friendNarration of past event with a friend/family memberFuture narrationTime phrasesOpinions and justifications using a range of adjectivesPresent tense, reflexive verbs |
| 4 | 1.3 Free time activities | Themes and Linguistic Structures Describing leisure activities that you do in your free time in the present and past tenseExpressing opinions about free time activities and justifications using a wide range of adjectives Sports Films and CinemaInfinitive structuresPresent and past tenseOpinions and justifications in different tenses Present Perfect |
| 5 | 2.1 Home, town, neighbourhood and region | Themes and Linguistic StructuresPlaces in a town Describing where you live and location Describing what you can do in a town in the present, past and future Describing the weather Talking about shoppingPros and cons of living in a cityHow you would improve your cityHaber, vivir, se puede in different tenses (present, imperfect, future and imperfect subjunctiveSoler + infinitiveConditional |
| 6 | Revision of key structures | Themes and Linguistic StructuresRevision, recall and embedding of the linguistic structures from year 10Practice of Future Tense, Past Tense and Conditional verbs and key structuresRevision and practice of connectives, opinion structures, time phrases Practice of formation of developed answers for speaking and writing questions in present, past and futurePractice of formation of developed opnions |
| Year 11 | ||
| Term | Topics | Learning Outcomes |
| 1 | 1.4 Customs and traditions in Spanish speaking countries | Themes and Linguistic Structures Talking about Spanish food and drinkOpinions about food and drink and justificationsDescribing Spanish FestivalsNarrating past events/ festivalsDescribing festivals when you were youngerOpinions and justifications using a wide range of adjectivesAdjective agreementsPast tense (Preterite and Imperfect)Future tenseImperfect Subjunctive structures |
| 2 | 3.3 Education post-16 3.4 Jobs, career choices and ambitions | Themes and Linguistic StructuresTalking about part time jobs What you do to earn money Work experience What you would like to do in the future for a job and why Opinions about jobs Describing what you would do if you had a gap year Future plansNarration in the past tense Conditional tense Structures to express future Simple future Time phrases, connectives, intensifiers |
| 3 | 2.3 Global issues 2.2 Social issues | Themes and Linguistic Structures Protecting the environment Global issues Healthy life styles Future actions about environment Recent actions using past tenseimpersonal structures Infinitive structures Opinions and justifications using a wide range of adjectives |
| 4 | Revision of all topics and preparation for speaking exams | Themes and Linguistic Structures Preparation of exam skills for speaking exam: role play, photo card and general conversation Preparation of exam skills for writing, reading and listening exams |
| 5 | Revision of all topics and preparation for final exams | Preparation of exam skills for writing, reading and listening exams |
| 6 | ||
Related Careers
In most careers today, the ability to communicate in a foreign language is a highly valued skill and currently there is a particular shortage of people with languages in Engineering and Finance. In addition, people who can speak a foreign language earn on average up to 20% more than people who cannot.
French and Spanish speakers are highly sought after by employers and both are useful subjects if you are thinking of working in any of a variety of areas including travel and tourism, transport and distribution, importing and exporting, education, media, publishing, finance and banking marketing and sales, local and central government, recruitment, social services, the armed forces and the retail sectors.
An example of the sort of jobs languages could help you get:
Intelligence personnel
Retail Buyer
Linguist in the military
Video games tester
Accountant
Sales executive
Football analyst
Tour organiser
Journalist
Solicitor
