KS3 Modern Foreign Languages
Learning a foreign language is a necessary part of being a member of a multi-cultural society and provides an opening to other cultures.
A high-quality languages education should foster children’s curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world.
The teaching should enable children to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping children to study and work in other countries.
Modern foreign languages (MFL) are studied by classes in KS3 (where appropriate). Year 7 study Spanish, Year 8 study French and Year 9 study German. We also offer a WJEC Language Pathways option in German which leads to an accreditation for each unit completed.
In language lessons, a multi-sensory approach is used to engage all learners. Opportunities are made to speak, read, write and listen in the target language through songs, videos and games. The skills learnt at KS3 continue to be embedded through the KS4 accreditation offered.
It is intended that when school leave Broadfield Specialist School, they will have a natural curiosity and confidence to explore, other countries, cultures and languages, accepting that, in a multi-lingual society it is a valuable skill to be able to communicate effectively with others in another language.
Curriculum implementation
Due to the needs of our learners, we teach MFL on a primary curriculum throughout KS3 and an accreditation is offered for those who would like to study a language in further depth.
Pupils are taught to
-
listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding
-
explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words
-
engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help
-
speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures
-
develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases
-
present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences
-
read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing
-
appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language
-
broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary
-
write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clear
-
describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing
-
Understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): feminine, masculine and neuter forms and the conjugation of high-frequency verbs; key features and patterns of the language; how to apply these, for instance, to build sentences; and how these differ from or are similar to English.
Additional provision to support learning
-
All students have a Duo-Lingo account so they can learn/practice a new language at their own leisure.
-
Projects and communication with schools around the world.
-
Modern Foreign Languages Afternoon where students share their learning of languages and other cultures with parents and students across school.
-
Suggested wider reading texts/films in the languages studied.
-
Celebration of cultural events – European Languages Day, Eurovision, Christmas, Eid, Easter etc.
Curriculum impact
To evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum, we use various methods.
These include observing children’s ability to speak and listen in another language, marking written work, capturing images and videos of students participating in speaking and listening activities, interviewing students to gather their feedback (pupil voice), conducting moderation staff meetings to scrutinize pupil’s work and promote a dialogue between teachers to gain a better understanding of their class’s work.
In addition, the institution also conducts annual reporting of standards across the curriculum to parents, learning walks, and subject tracking.
By utilising a range of assessment methods, the institution aims to obtain a comprehensive overview of their curriculum’s impact on students’ learning outcomes.
The MFL subject leader will continually monitor the impact MFL teaching is having on the children’s learning, through work scrutinies, to ensure the progress of knowledge and skills is being taught.Impact will also be measured through key questioning skills built into lessons, child-led assessment such as success criteria grids and summative assessments aimed at targeting next steps in learning.