Garth Hill CollegeModern Foreign Languages
Learning modern foreign languages like French, German and Spanish is not only useful for when visiting abroad but can also boost your future job prospects, as language skills are often highly valued by employers. French, German and Spanish are studied as Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) at Garth Hill College.
Subject Leader: Mrs Tigano
If you have any queries or concerns, please email f-tigano@garthhillcollege.com
MFL - Years 7, 8 and 9
In line with the National Curriculum for MFL, 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 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.
KS3 Overview
At KS3, students will follow three main themes: Self, Family and Friends, School and Jobs, Holidays. The curriculum is broadly designed to mirror the AQA GCSE specification and will assess students in each of the four exam areas. Throughout the Key Stage, students will benefit from guest speakers who use Spanish in education or work, visits to Spanish country and independent cinemas and will hear and see Spanish in action for themselves during carefully chosen cultural and linguistic clips to hook students’ interest and frame our learning.
Assessment
Each topic is assessed on all four Aspects, according to GHC Assessment Framework:
- Aspect 1 - Listening and Reading
- Aspect 2 - Grammar and Vocabulary
- Aspect 3 - Speaking
- Aspect 4 - Writing
Home Learning
Home Learning is set fortnightly and will consist of regular vocabulary or grammar-based learning as well as extended writing to lay the foundations for success at GCSE. We recommend that pupils spend at least 30 minutes per task and, when learning tasks are set, they aim for at least 60% in the subsequent test. We believe it is important for pupils to find the right learning techniques for them early in the course and, where needed, support is offered by their language teacher in the form of an Academic Appointment.
How Parents and Carers Can Support
- Encourage your child to ask teachers for help if there are any difficulties.
- Ask your child to explain to you how to use verbs to refer to the past, present or future.
- Encourage your child to be observant and take an interest in the world around them. This could include reading local and national newspapers and watching news programmes that include themes connected to French / German / Spanish-speaking countries.
- Encourage your child to attend any after school revision sessions.
- Encourage your child to make use of the College LRC, public libraries and computer resources if they are available at home.
Useful Links
- https://www.languagesonline.org.uk/Hotpotatoes/index.html#google_vignette
- https://www.duolingo.com/register
- https://www.busuu.com/en/choose-your-language
- https://quizlet.com/gb
- https://www.blooket.com/
- https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/
- https://studyspanish.com/grammar
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/index.shtml
Reading List
- French, German or Spanish newspapers (available locally or online.)
- www.yahoo.fr
- www.yahoo.de
- www.yahoo.es
Assessment Framework
Assessment Schedules
Learning Journeys
French Knowledge Organisers
French Knowledge Organiser - Year 7
French Knowledge Organiser - Year 8
French Knowledge Organiser - Year 9
French Knowledge Organiser - Year 9 (Multiple Senses)
German Knowledge Organisers
German Knowledge Organiser - Year 7
German Knowledge Organiser - Year 8
German Knowledge Organiser - Year 9
Spanish Knowledge Organisers
Spanish Knowledge Organiser - Year 7
Spanish Knowledge Organiser - Year 8
Spanish Knowledge Organiser - Year 9
MFL GCSE - Years 10 and 11
Exam Board and syllabus code
- AQA 8658 (French)
- AQA 8668 (German)
- AQA 8698 (Spanish)
Content
KS4 Overview
At KS4 we offer the AQA GCSE qualification. The course is externally assessed through four terminal exams in Year 11: Paper 1 (Listening), 2 (Reading), 3 (Speaking) & 4 (Writing). Each exam is worth 25%.
|
Section |
|
Unit 1: Identity and relationships with others |
|
Unit 2: Education and work |
|
Unit 3: Healthy living and lifestyle |
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Unit 4: Free time activities |
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Unit 5: Customs, festivals and celebrations |
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Unit 6: Celebrity culture |
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Unit 7: Media and technology |
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Unit 8: The environment and where people live |
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Unit 9: Travel and tourism, including places of interest |
Not only can learning another language help to improve our understanding of English but also confidence and knowledge of another language can prove to be a valuable asset when seeking employment. Knowing another language can enhance our travel experiences abroad and strengthen our position as world citizens. For many of the Russell Group Universities a Language GCSE is an expectation regardless of the degree course.
Assessment
As at Key Stage 4, candidates will be tested in the four skill areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. In all four skill areas there are two tiers of examination - Foundation and Higher. The range of grades available is 9-1, with Foundation Tier covering grades 1-5 and Higher Tier 4-9. Students must sit all four exams at the same tier at the end of each year. Each exam counts up to 25% of the exam.
Examination Format
| Skill | Duration of exam | What is assessed? |
| Listening |
35 mins Foundation
45 mins Higher
25% of GCSE |
Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language. There are 2 sections:
|
| Speaking |
7-9 mins Foundation
10-12 mins Higher
25% of GCSE |
The format is the same at Foundation tier and Higher tier, but with different stimulus materials for the Role-play and the Reading aloud task. For the Photo card task, the same photos are used at both tiers.
|
| Reading |
45 mins Foundation
1 hour Higher
25% of GCSE |
Understanding and responding to different types of written language In both Foundation and Higher Tiers there are 3 sections:
|
| Writing |
1 hour Foundation
1 hour 15 Higher
25% of GCSE |
Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes. At Foundation Tier tasks are writing simple sentences about a photo; a 40-word response to four bullet points and a 90-word response to four bullet points covering all three time frames. This is the first question at Higher Tier plus a 150-word response to two bullet points. There is also a translation section in both tiers from English into the target language. |
Home Learning
Home learning is set once a week at GCSE and forms a crucial part of the course. Pupils will be expected to regularly learn vocabulary and grammar rules as well as preparing speaking tasks, attempting extended writing questions or reflecting on previous work.
We would normally expect GCSE pupils spend 45 minutes on each home learning task.
How Parents and Carers Can Support
- Encourage your child to log onto Kerboodle every week to review work covered in class. Here they can access both the Foundation and Higher textbooks as well as a range of other resources connected to each topic and interactive practice.
- Ask your child to explain to you how they would conjugate a current topic-related verb to refer to the past, present and future.
- A dictionary is recommended to enable the accurate completion of home learning and class work tasks, as well as helping pupils to extend and vary their vocabulary. Please note that pupils, however, will not be allowed to use a dictionary in exams.
- The CGP group publish revision and practice guides in all three languages. These can be purchased from the College via our online payment system.
Additional Support Available/Useful Links
Websites
- For further information on the new syllabus & exams plus exemplar material see: www.aqa.org.uk/languages
- Kerboodle: Take a look at our textbooks by clicking on the link below. If you have not used Kerboodle before then your user name & password are both your 1st initial + surname in lower case (eg/ fsmith) Institution code is aic9 https://www.kerboodle.com/users/login
- For online practice of your Listening & Reading skills plus links to foreign language websites see:
Assessment Schedule
Assessment Schedule - Year 11 (2024)
Assessment Schedule - Year 11 (2024-25)
French Knowledge Organisers
KS4 - Opinions 2KS4 - Verb chartKS4 - Verb chart 2
German Knowledge Organisers
Family and Friends - Knowledge Organiser
Free time - Knowledge Organiser
Haus und Stadt - Knowledge Organiser
Healthy Living - Knowledge Organiser
Social Issues - Knowledge Organiser
Technology - Knowledge OrganiserUmwelt - Knowledge Organiser
Spanish Knowledge Organisers
Theme 1 - Relationships with family friends
Theme 2 - Charity and Voluntary work
Theme 2 - Healthy and Unhealthy living
Theme 2 - Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Theme 3 - Current and Future Study and Employment.
Vocabulary Lists
French Vocabulary List
