French & Spanish Department

Curriculum

Key Stage 3

In Years 7 -9, all pupils study French for three hours in each two-week lesson cycle.  The French Department firmly believes in bringing language to life.  We do this in a variety of ways using games, role-play, pair work, and even by hosting a "cocktail party" during lesson time!  These activities help pupil learn to be confident interacting with each other in French.

Equal emphasis is placed on the four language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking. We make good use of our excellent IT facilities and use computer games and language learning programmes together with text and work books to help pupils with their studies. The extensive array of media we use helps pupils to appreciate the patterns inherent in language, allows them plenty of opportunity to practice the language very quickly and aids them in drafting and perfecting their work.

Key Stage 4

Pupils in top French sets are given fortnightly lessons in Spanish too. These pupils can study GCSE Spanish from Year 10.

French and Spanish help those who wish to be able to use their French or Spanish at a higher level and are also interested in broadening their horizons. In addition to gaining a greater knowledge of the vocabulary and structures, pupils will improve their communication strategies, develop transferable language learning skills and develop awareness and understanding of countries and communities where the language is spoken, thereby preparing themselves well for entering the world of work. We teach the Edexcel specification. Topics covered are:

1. Lifestyle (health, relationships and choices)
2. Leisure (free time, the media and holidays)
3. Home and Environment (home and local area)
4. Work and Education (school/college and future plans and current and future jobs)

In Year 10 -11 pupils study French or Spanish for three hours a week, with homework of at least an hour and a half a week. We use a variety of teaching methods to engage our pupils in the successful study of their chosen language, including interactive whiteboards, ICT and language learning websites. We firmly believe in Assessment for Learning and work is regularly self-assessed, peer-assessed and teacher-assessed. Our lessons are four part lessons where pupils engage in a starter activity, a presentation, a practice session and a plenary. The languages programme is structured to allow for differences in ability, for example the starter and plenary might be pupil-led.

The Listening (20%) and Reading (20%) papers are sat at the end of Year 11 and are externally set and marked. There are two tiers of entry, Foundation and Higher. The Speaking controlled assessment (30%) is marked internally and two tasks are submitted to the exam board for moderation. Two Writing tasks (30%) are submitted for external marking. The Speaking and Writing controlled assessments are not tiered. They are assessed by outcome. Each controlled assessment is one hour long. Teachers have the freedom to devise their own tasks with knowledge of pupils’ interests for the speaking and writing components. 

Enrichment

French Week starts on 14th July, with a number of French cultural activities including: exposure to the differences in French proverbs compared to English ones; a variety of popular and traditional French music played in the dining hall over lunchtime; visiting speakers from France sharing their experiences of learning French in France.

French Week culminates in the Year 7 trip to France. In conjunction with the Business and Enterprise Department, all Year 7 pupils have the opportunity to visit France for a day. We start off in Calais at La Cité d'Europe where the pupils are given a business and enterprise activity. We stop for lunch at a playground where pupils play and interact, in French, with local children. Our journey then continues to Boulogne where pupils complete a French activity booklet which involves having to ask questions and buy small items from a shop. It is a wonderful day out and all pupils return enthused and impressed at how much their French has improved in just one day.