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Modern Foreign Languages
"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
Intention:
At Twickenham School, we offer French at KS3. We still have legacy classes in German for Year 9 students who will take German until KS4. From this year all our year 7 will take French untill the end of KS3. They will be able to continue with French at KS4 if they wish to.
We believe that every child has the wherewithal to understand a foreign Language, and to enjoy its application in innumerable situations beyond the classroom; furthermore, that they demonstrate that enjoyment when they leave us with a strong pass at GCSE if they have chosen to continue with a language and a confidence in their thorough grasp and application of the fundamentals whatever direction they choose in life. We achieve this in a number of ways:
- By recognising each student's current needs and that they receive the level of challenge and teaching style which best suits them
- By acknowledging that children rarely make linear progress, and thus building in regular opportunities for them to make progress
- By allowing them to problem-solve and collaborate so that they can articulate their own understanding and needs
- By using a highly visual and aural method of delivery
- By focusing on diagnostic rather than summative assessment
- By allowing gifted linguists the opportunity to fast track and lead key clubs from Year 8.
Implementation - curriculum sequence
French
Students study 4 different units per year, using Vif book 1 and 2
| Year |
Unit 1 |
Unit 2 |
Unit 3 |
Unit 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 |
Moi et mes trucs à moi. Hobbies and interests. Likes, dislikes and opinions. Ma vie active |
Ma vie active. The verb "to be". What they like doing and why. Verbs of opinions in the present tense. Hobbies and life online
|
Les couleurs du monde (9 weeks). Colours and agreement. Adjectives and agreement. Describing pictures. Animals and their location. Talking about clothes |
Lécole pour tous (9 weeks). The verb "to do" (faire). School subjects. Revisiting opinions and adjectives. The verb "to go" (aller). School facilities and time. Introduction to the near future. |
| 8 |
Moi et mon avenir (9 weeks). Revisit adjectival agreement. Talking about role models and friends. Use of the negative. Je voudrais and infinitive. Adverbs of frequency. Il faut and infinitive.
|
Le monde francophone (10 weeks). Languages and francophone counties. The verb prendre. Revisiting the pastitive article. Expressions infrench. Writing using avoir. J'ai faim... Il faut and vouloir. |
On s'engage (10 weeks). Talking about inclusion. Indefinite pronouns. Possessive adjectives. Talking about family types. The verb devoir. Talking about green solutions for the planet. Reflexive verbs in the present tense. Talking about your daily routine. French signlanguage. Revisit the near future tense.
|
Trajets de vie (4 weeks). The perfect tense with avoir. Using time phrases in the past.Talking about holidays at home.The perfect tense with être.Talking about a charity placement. |
| 9 |
Histoires de Vie.The perfect tense with regular and irregular verbs. Using time frames in the past. Talking about childhood. Introduction to the imperfect tense. Talking about cycling. Talking about street artists. Talking about the path to achieving dreams. |
La technologie (9 weeks). Using modal verbs in the imperfect tense.Talking about old technologies. Using the negative form. Discussing the pros and cons of technology. Francophone influencers. Using different tenses.
|
Les Villes francophones (9 weeks).Talking about cities and towns in francophone countries. Discovering Brussles and Kinshasa. The superlative and talking about getting around. Using 3 time frames (four tenses). Talking about life journeys. |
La Santé pour tous (3 weeks).Talking about the impact of our eating habits.Using present and imperfect tenses together. |
| Year | Autumn HT1 | Autumn HT2 | Spring HT1 | Spring HT2 | Summer HT1 | Summer HT2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Theme 1 AQA - Relationships with family and friends. Marraige and partnership | Theme 1 AQA - Social Media and mobile technology | Theme 1 AQA - Music, cinema and TV. Food and eating out. Sports | Theme 1 AQA - France and customs. Francophone festivals | Theme 2 AQA - Home and local neighbourhood | Theme 2 AQA - Charity and voluntary work. Healthy and unhealthy living |
| 11 | Theme 2 AQA - Environment, poverty and homelessness. Holidays and travel | Theme 3 AQA - School and subjects. Life at school and college | Theme 3 AQA - University or work and choice of career | Revision | Revision |
The MFL department follows the AQA specification, which can be found here:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658/changes-for-2022
German
Each unit lasts 9 weeks
| Year | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Food and drinks. Using different tenses and opinions about healthy habits. Revision of present tense, past tense and future tense | Daily routine and chores. Going out with friends. Healthy living. Comparing chores in Germany and Britain. Using clauses weil and wenn | Clothes and fashion styles. Shopping habits.Using the three-time frames.Talking about dressing for special occasions | The virtual and real world. Talking about TV and film. Using da and weil. Types of musik in Germany. Safety on the net. Technology from yesterday and now |
| Year | Autumn HT1 | Autumn HT2 | Spring HT1 | Spring HT2 | Summer HT1 | Summer HT2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Theme 1 AQA - Relationships with family and friends. Marriage and partnership | Theme 1 AQA - Social media and mobile technology | Theme 1 AQA - Music, cinema and TV. Food and eating out. Sports | Theme 1 AGA -Germany and customs. German festivals | Theme 2 AQA - Home and local neighbourhood | Theme 2 AQA - Charity and voluntary work. Health and unhealthy living |
| 11 | Theme 2 AQA - Environment, poverty and homelessness. Holidays and travel | Theme 3 AQA - School and subjects. Life at school and college | Theme 3 AQA - University or work and choice of career | Revision | Revision |
The MFL department follows the AQA specification, which can be found here:
https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/german-8668/changes-for-2022
