Modern Foreign Languages

A life skill
Learning languages is essential for the social and economic future of Great Britain. Furthermore, learning a language helps people to understand the world that they live in as well as the cultures of foreign people around the world.

A recent CBI survey indicates that companies in the UK believe shortfalls in international cultural awareness may jeopardise the country’s prospects of international trade. Individuals may also suffer reduced prospects of employment in an increasingly globalised economy. We must remember that 75% of the world’s population speak no English at all increasing the need to learn languages. Those wanting to achieve the English Bacaulaureat at GCSE will need to take a language.

Aims
At Dyson Perrin’s our aim is to teach languages in a stimulating yet challenging fashion. We seek to inspire our students in order to enable them to use their linguistic skills in the future, whether this eventually be in the context of work or leisure. We endeavour to help to develop our students as confident, resourceful and responsible learners.

Departmental Rooms & Resources
We have 4 languages rooms all of which benefit from a computer & projector with audio capacity. One of the rooms has an interactive whiteboard. All teachers use ICT as an integral part of their teaching. We have a wide variety of resources which students can use to develop their linguistic skills.

Our classrooms are welcoming with displays of students’ work and photographs of visits abroad. We value rewards and our students receive stickers and merits in class. In addition we nominate ‘linguists of the term’ and parents are informed of this accolade via letter.

Educational Visits and Events
There are many opportunities within the curriculum and during for students to participate in off-site visits, which enhance their learning. For example, students can opt to spend a week in France, Spain or Germany for Key Stages 3,4 and 5 to develop their language skills.

Our KS5 students can have a work experience placement abroad, organised with the School's careers advisor.

There are events held locally such as the celebration of 'European Day of Languages', a visit to the Frankfurt Christmas Market in Birmingham and our students have the opportunity to teach French and German in local Primary Schools.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart."
Nelson Mandela

"One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way."
Frank Smith

Year 9 Curriculum Overview

In Year 9, students will be taught at GCSE level in order to facilitate their increasingly arduous language journey into a positive experience and ultimately a successful MFL GCSE. They will either study French or Spanish with the exception of our gifted linguists who will have the opportunity to study both languages. Assessment Method - MFL KS4 from 2018 – Each topic is design to cover the following strands or Assessment Objectives.

Listening – AO1
• listen to a variety of forms of spoken language to obtain information and respond appropriately
• transcribe words and short sentences that they hear with increasing accuracy.

Speaking – AO2
• initiate and develop conversations, coping with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses, making use of important social conventions such as formal modes of address
• express and develop ideas clearly and with increasing accuracy, both orally and in writing
• speak coherently and confidently, with increasingly accurate pronunciation and intonation.

Reading – A03
• read and show comprehension of original and adapted materials from a range of different sources, understanding the purpose, important ideas and details, and provide an accurate English translation of short, suitable material
• read literary texts in the language, such as stories, songs, poems and letters, to stimulate ideas, develop creative expression and expand understanding of the language and culture.

Writing – A04
• write prose using an increasingly wide range of grammar and vocabulary, write creatively to express their own ideas and opinions, and translate short written text accurately into the foreign language.

Year 9 Autumn
Identity and culture
• Relationships with family and friends.

Local, national, international and global areas of interest
• Home, town, neighbourhood and regions.
Current and future study and employment
• School and school subjects.

Year 9 Spring
Identity and culture
• Music, cinema and TV. 
Identity and culture
• Free time activities.
• Sports.
• Food and eating out.

Year 9 Summer
Identity and culture
• Customs and festivals