Modern Foreign Languages

At Hertswood Academy, we believe in providing our students with opportunities to deepen their cultural experiences and knowledge of the world; we value highly the ability to speak another language in our increasingly global society. We are convinced that a high-quality languages education fosters students’ curiosity and deepens their understanding of the world. Developing the skills of language learning, opens doors and creates opportunities far beyond the classroom. We deliver stimulating and practical MFL lessons that enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. Our students study French or Spanish at Key Stage 3 and 4, then can choose to study French or Spanish at Key Stage 5. We have a team of dedicated, specialist teachers who are passionate about enabling young people to broaden their horizons and communicate in another language.

Key Stage 3

The Key Stage 3 curriculum has been designed to allow students to develop their ability to translate passages of English into French/Spanish and vice versa. Where possible we make use of ‘authentic’ materials, including popular music and literature, as well as newspaper articles in order to give pupils a fuller understanding of French and Spanish speaking cultures. Understanding of grammar, including how to recognise verbs, nouns, adjectives, and connectives in French/Spanish will help students to develop transferable skills. As their skills grow, our students become more independent in writing and speaking in French/Spanish, without reference materials, developing the skills required to ‘recall’ important language to use.

Key Stage 4

At Key Stage 4, students study three topics from the AQA curriculum: identity and culture, local, international and global areas of interest, and current and future study and employment. The aim is to develop understanding of key aspects of French/Spanish speaking countries as well as build up proficiency in the target language. The French/Spanish GCSE blends all four language skills (speaking, reading, listening and writing) into lessons and is taught in the target language, to ensure full immersion in Spanish or French. All lessons include elements of interleaving and retrieval to enable learners to reflect on what they have learnt. The transferable skills gained on the course will be ideal for learning future languages, for higher education and employment.

Key Stage 5

The content is suitable for students who wish to progress to employment or to further study, including a modern languages degree. Students will study technological and social change, and will explore the multicultural nature of Hispanic/French society. They will also learn about aspects of the diverse political landscape of the Hispanic/French world, as well as the influence of the past on present-day Hispanic/French communities.

Students will study one text and one film in depth and they will also have the opportunity to carry out independent research on an area of their choice, in order to demonstrate their ability to initiate and conduct individual research.

Studying a language at A Level fosters a range of transferable skills such as communication, critical thinking, research skills and creativity, all of which are valuable to both the individual and society as a whole.

Independent Learning Resources

• The Knowledge
• Quizlet
• Memrise
• Seneca Learning
• Kerboodle
• Vocaroo
• Textbooks and revision guides created by the exam boards (AQA for GCSE and A Level)