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 pupils 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 practise the language very quickly and aids them in drafting and perfecting their work.

Key Stage 4

Pupils in top French sets in Year 9 are given fortnightly lessons in Spanish too. Pupils in other sets can opt to study Spanish in Enrichment time. All 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 learning check. 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. 

Key Stage 5

French A level will be offered at Yavneh College from September 2011. We will follow the AQA specification. The minimum requirement will be a B grade at GCSE.

The course is divided into four units.  Units 1 and 2 comprise the AS Level. Units 3 and 4 comprise the A2 Level. Units 1 and 3 are examined through listening and reading comprehension questions and an essay question. In addition Unit 3 includes a translation into and out of the target language. Units 2 and 4 are examined by a speaking examination.

Students learn a range of language skills: the ability to communicate confidently in French, to understand and respond to written French and to translate coherently from French into English and from English into French at A2. They will also learn to structure essays using increasingly accurate, complex and varied language and to display critical thinking and analytical skills. Most lessons are conducted in French to maximise the development of students’ language skills.

The topics covered in the course are varied. They include: the media, popular culture, healthy living/lifestyle and family and relationships. In the second year topics include the environment, the multi-cultural society and contemporary social issues. A cultural topic is also studied, such as a target language speaking region or period of history or a target-language speaking author, poet, dramatist, director, artist, musician or painter.

Enrichment

Year 7 pupils participate in a French Spelling Bee Competition which culminates in a regional final in Cambridge.

Year 8 pupils are offered a visit to a language centre where they practise their speaking skills with native speakers in a range of transactional activities, using simulated passports and currency. They have the opportunity of ordering drinks from the café in French and learning about the town they are visiting from the local inhabitants.

Pupils celebrate French Language Week by participating in a number of events. A variety of popular and traditional French music is played in the dining hall at lunchtime, videos of class performances are shown and visiting speakers from France share their experiences of learning French in France. There are a variety of cross curricular activities to experience and a French quiz.

Gifted and Talented pupils are offered further opportunities in a French enrichment club where they explore the rich culture of the country and work independently on a range of projects.