Learning a foreign language is key to preparing our students for life beyond St George’s and a globalised future.
We aim to engage, encourage and empower students in their language learning to become independent, confident linguists and communicators. Through their language learning journey, students gain important cultural insights, a better understanding of their own language as well as many transferable skills, including analysing text and expressing opinions orally and in writing.
Throughout the language learning journey of three, five or seven years at St George’s, the four key skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are consistently practised; interwoven with the three main pillars of our language learning: phonics, vocabulary and grammar.
Our students are taught in mixed ability classes throughout KS3. Students follow a broad curriculum which is based around the Dynamo textbooks, supplemented with sequential phonics teaching and other resources delivered by experienced subject specialists. At the start of the students’ learning journey in MFL, we take time to focus on how to learn a language and encourage students to look for patterns in language as well as making links and identifying differences with English. We train students in the skills required for the new GCSE exams (reading aloud and transcription, in particular) whilst emphasising the importance of communication and accuracy where possible. At the same time, we aim to convey our passion for the lifelong benefits of learning a language and discovering a different culture, way of life and way of thinking through embedding cultural capital within our classrooms.
Students’ progress is regularly assessed informally in lessons via the use of mini-whiteboards and retrieval tasks, while there is a formal assessment each half-term, focusing on a particular skills area to mirror the assessment framework for KS4.
Prep is assigned via Google Classroom in accordance with the whole school prep timetable and is designed to be relevant and meaningful. It usually focusses on consolidation of prior learning via specific tasks linked to the four skills areas. It may also involve researching aspects of life in Francophone or Spanish-speaking countries.
The KS3 timetable for Modern Foreign Languages:
Year 7:
In year 7, all students have two one-hour lessons of French per week.
Year 8:
In year 8, all students continue to study French with three one-hour lessons per fortnight. Spanish is introduced as a second foreign language and all students have two one-hour lessons per week.
Year 9:
In year 9, students express a preference for either French or Spanish and, generally, the majority of students are able to study their preferred language throughout year 9. All students study one language in year 9 with two hours per week of lessons. This allows time for students to gain confidence and consolidate their language skills in their chosen language as they make their decisions regarding GCSE options.
Additional Opportunities
- We aim to offer a cultural and language immersion trip for year 10 students in alternate years, to Spain and France.
- We offer students the opportunity to work on creative translation and enter the annual Anthea Bell Translation Prize run by the Queen’s College, Oxford.
- We host the Onatti Theatre Company, who perform plays in French, German and Spanish specifically aimed at secondary school students.
- French A-level students attend a study day at the British Film Institute focusing on contemporary French cinema.
- French A-level students are encouraged where possible to arrange their work experience week in a French-speaking country or company.
