MFL

Department Overview

At Oak Wood School the MFL department is dedicated to supporting students of all abilities with engaging, stimulating and challenging lessons. We recognise that in today’s world being able to communicate in another language and gaining an insight into another culture enables students to find their place in a multi lingual global society. We are committed to nurturing a love of languages and to helping pupils to achieve their goals both in the lessons and through extra classes and extra - curricular activities.

Key Stage 3

In year 7 and year 8 students will study either French or Spanish. Students are introduced to languages through listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. They learn a variety of useful topics through vocabulary basics (greetings, my family, my town, hobbies, school, holidays) but also key grammatical constructions that allow students to start manipulating the language. We also encourage an understanding not just of the foreign language but also of the cultures of French and Spanish speaking countries. Students are made aware of how exploring other languages’ structures, helps them to establish links with the spelling and grammatical construction of the English Language.

Key Stage 4

The GCSE course starts in year 9, allowing 3 years for pupils to prepare for the listening, speaking, reading and writing examinations. Students sit either the AQA French or Spanish GCSE exam. The AQA 1-9 GCSE course develops pupils’ reading, writing, speaking and listening skills through the following contexts: · Theme 1: Identity and culture · Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest · Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

Students will take their exams at the end of year 11 in each of the four skills which are equally weighted (25%). The course consolidates and deepens knowledge and skills gained at KS3 and begins to prepare students for careers in which they will use Modern Foreign Languages and overseas travel where they will meet foreign native speakers. Whenever possible our students can also be prepared to take A level French and Spanish in the 6th form.