Modern Foreign Languages
Bonjour, et enchanté! Guten Tag und schön Sie zu treffen! Hello and nice to meet you!
Vision:
Communicating with someone from another country in their own language is a valuable skill to hold and can make for some of life’s most interesting experiences! We often under-estimate the impact of French and German on our own language… maybe you live in a chic cul-de-sac, and own a Volkswagen and a Dachshund?!
As adults, in a rapidly changing world, perhaps one of the most valuable life lessons we can pass on to our young adults is to be open to different cultures and respectful of diversity. Therefore, our vision is for every student at Okehampton College to experience success in a Modern Foreign Language and to develop a sense of empathy with the foreign country, its people, and its culture. Whether it be it for holidays, work, or academic study; learning a language opens our minds to contrasting viewpoints and opens the door to a wealth of opportunities beyond the classroom.
Vision:
Communicating with someone from another country in their own language is a valuable skill to hold and can make for some of life’s most interesting experiences! We often under-estimate the impact of French and German on our own language… maybe you live in a chic cul-de-sac, and own a Volkswagen and a Dachshund?!
As adults, in a rapidly changing world, perhaps one of the most valuable life lessons we can pass on to our young adults is to be open to different cultures and respectful of diversity. Therefore, our vision is for every student at Okehampton College to experience success in a Modern Foreign Language and to develop a sense of empathy with the foreign country, its people, and its culture. Whether it be it for holidays, work, or academic study; learning a language opens our minds to contrasting viewpoints and opens the door to a wealth of opportunities beyond the classroom.
Resources and routes:
The MFL Faculty at Okehampton is well resourced, with all lessons taught by dual-linguist, specialist teachers, and supported by our Foreign Language Assistant. We construct our lessons from the student viewpoint, drawing on latest research from our role leading the MFL Network for South West Institute for Teaching in consultation with local, national, and international leaders in our subject. Currently, in Yrs7, 8, and 9, French is taught for 2 hours a week, a German for 1 hour a week. In studying two languages, we aim to broaden our students’ experience of language learning and develop their cultural capital. We introduced German to Yrs 7 and 8 in September 2019, with the first GCSE being run this year, from September 2021. We have done this to better tailor the languages studied to our students and crucially, to listen to them and increase their ownership of the path they choose. We are also able to enter students with the knowledge of other languages for GCSE/ A-Level examinations. Recent examples include: Polish, Russian, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian!
The MFL Faculty at Okehampton is well resourced, with all lessons taught by dual-linguist, specialist teachers, and supported by our Foreign Language Assistant. We construct our lessons from the student viewpoint, drawing on latest research from our role leading the MFL Network for South West Institute for Teaching in consultation with local, national, and international leaders in our subject. Currently, in Yrs7, 8, and 9, French is taught for 2 hours a week, a German for 1 hour a week. In studying two languages, we aim to broaden our students’ experience of language learning and develop their cultural capital. We introduced German to Yrs 7 and 8 in September 2019, with the first GCSE being run this year, from September 2021. We have done this to better tailor the languages studied to our students and crucially, to listen to them and increase their ownership of the path they choose. We are also able to enter students with the knowledge of other languages for GCSE/ A-Level examinations. Recent examples include: Polish, Russian, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian!
Extra-curricular opportunities:
Our students benefit from many extra-curricular activities, and cultural input, with examples ranging from the Year 7 French Play, to the Year 9 Language Leaders qualification, or the French exchange. Students in Key Stage 3 have the opportunity to take part in visits to France and Germany during Enrichment Week, and we often host visiting schools from all over the world! We are proud to hold not only the International School Award from the British Council, but to also have been awarded the status of Best Practice School. This means that our students benefit from small projects and initiatives organised with our partner schools internationally. We are keen to show our students how Languages could relate to their future career choices through guest speakers such as Alumni members, Erasmus visitors, or even GCHQ representatives
Our students benefit from many extra-curricular activities, and cultural input, with examples ranging from the Year 7 French Play, to the Year 9 Language Leaders qualification, or the French exchange. Students in Key Stage 3 have the opportunity to take part in visits to France and Germany during Enrichment Week, and we often host visiting schools from all over the world! We are proud to hold not only the International School Award from the British Council, but to also have been awarded the status of Best Practice School. This means that our students benefit from small projects and initiatives organised with our partner schools internationally. We are keen to show our students how Languages could relate to their future career choices through guest speakers such as Alumni members, Erasmus visitors, or even GCHQ representatives
Curriculum:
Here is an essential outline of our current curriculum at KS3 and KS4. This has been adapted to focus on the core skills and learning that students did not cover as thoroughly as we would have liked last academic year, due to school closure. It will undergo constant review
Here is an essential outline of our current curriculum at KS3 and KS4. This has been adapted to focus on the core skills and learning that students did not cover as thoroughly as we would have liked last academic year, due to school closure. It will undergo constant review
Year 7 French:
Term 1 |
Family, self and identity. |
Term 2 |
Opinions (with a focus on pets), and school life. |
Term 3 |
Where I live and the local area. |
Year 7 German:
Term 1 |
Introductions and family. |
Term 2 |
Opinions (with a focus on pets), and school life. |
Term 3 |
Where I live and the local area. |
Year 8 French:
Term 1 |
Relationships and routines. |
Term 2 |
Food and drink, and hobbies. |
Term 3 |
Paris and holidays. |
Year 8 German:
Term 1 |
Relationships and routines. |
Term 2 |
Food and drink, and hobbies. |
Term 3 |
Berlin and holidays. |
Year 9 French:
Term 1 |
Identity and relationships, leisure activities. |
Term 2 |
Leisure activities, and celebrations. |
Term 3 |
Local area, and film project. |
Year 9 German:
Term 1 |
Family and relationships, technology. |
Term 2 |
Leisure activities and healthy living. |
Term 3 |
Local area and celebrations. |
GCSE French and German
We are teaching GCSE French this year in Yrs 10 and 11, and our first GCSE in German to Yr10. Our current KS4 curriculum leads to a final examination via AQA, and gives students in Yr11 the opportunity to revise all topics and skills, boosting confidence for the final examinations of: listening, reading, speaking and writing. Each examination is worth 25% of the overall GCSE grade. The full GCSE specification and assessment materials can be found here:
GCSE French: AQA | Languages | GCSE | French
GCSE German: AQA | Languages | GCSE | German
We are teaching GCSE French this year in Yrs 10 and 11, and our first GCSE in German to Yr10. Our current KS4 curriculum leads to a final examination via AQA, and gives students in Yr11 the opportunity to revise all topics and skills, boosting confidence for the final examinations of: listening, reading, speaking and writing. Each examination is worth 25% of the overall GCSE grade. The full GCSE specification and assessment materials can be found here:
GCSE French: AQA | Languages | GCSE | French
GCSE German: AQA | Languages | GCSE | German
Year 10 French:
Term 1 |
Travel and tourism, global issues. |
Term 2 |
Social issues and school. |
Term 3 |
The future and ambitions, exam skills. |
Year 10 German:
Term 1 |
Travel and tourism, global issues. |
Term 2 |
Social issues and school. |
Term 3 |
The future and ambitions, exam skills. |
Year 11 French:
Term 1 |
Grammar and speaking skills, and identity and free time revision. |
Term 2 |
Celebrations, local area, tourism, and global issues revision. |
Term 3 |
The future and ambitions revision, and exam preparation. |
Year 11 German:
Term 1 |
Grammar and speaking skills, and identity and free time revision. |
Term 2 |
Celebrations, local area, tourism, and global issues revision. |
Term 3 |
The future and ambitions revision, and exam preparation. |
Useful websites
KS3 |
• Linguascope (paid subscription) • Languagesonline (free) • Youtube (for pronunciation clips) • BBC Bitesize (free) • Onatti theatre (paid subscription) • Duolingo (free) |
KS4 |
• Languagesonline (free) • Youtube (for pronunciation clips) • BBC Bitesize (free) • Onatti theatre (paid subsscription) • Duolingo (free) • Oak National Academy (rarely used, as we produce our own explanations) |
KS5 |
• Kerboodle (paid subscritpion) • YouTube and French sites/newspaper sites (for articles, news/film clips) • Onatti theatre (paid subscription) • Mary Glasgow Magazines (paid subscription for physical magazines at present) |
A-Level French
(We are currently teaching A-level French, and will offer A-level German should students wish to study this).
For us, as teachers, it is an absolute privilege to teach A-level French at Okehampton College. For our students, they often cite to us the benefits of working in a small group dynamic, receiving quick feedback on their work, and a truly personalised approach. The students become part of our MFL team, interacting with all our staff, picking up differing ideas and suggestions ranging from how they can improve their work and how they can revise, to discussions about where to visit abroad!
Our current KS5 curriculum leads to a final examination via AQA. We are studying the film ‘La Haine’ and the text ‘Un sac de billes’. The full A-level specification and assessment materials can be found here: AQA | Languages | AS and A-level | French
Here is a brief outline of the program. (This again, can be found in more detail in our ‘components’).
(We are currently teaching A-level French, and will offer A-level German should students wish to study this).
For us, as teachers, it is an absolute privilege to teach A-level French at Okehampton College. For our students, they often cite to us the benefits of working in a small group dynamic, receiving quick feedback on their work, and a truly personalised approach. The students become part of our MFL team, interacting with all our staff, picking up differing ideas and suggestions ranging from how they can improve their work and how they can revise, to discussions about where to visit abroad!
Our current KS5 curriculum leads to a final examination via AQA. We are studying the film ‘La Haine’ and the text ‘Un sac de billes’. The full A-level specification and assessment materials can be found here: AQA | Languages | AS and A-level | French
Here is a brief outline of the program. (This again, can be found in more detail in our ‘components’).
Year 12:
Term 1 |
The changing nature of family, and cyber society. |
Term 2 |
Volunteering, and cinema (film: la Haine) |
Term 3 |
Francophone music, and heritage (text: Un sac de billes). |
Year 13:
Term 1 |
Diversity, and social marginalisation. Speaking exam preparation begins. |
Term 2 |
Criminality and politics, and protests and immigration. |
Term 3 |
Exam preparation, alongside film and text revision. |
We hope you have found this page a good starting point, and encourage you to contact the College should you have any questions/need any support or advice- we would be delighted to hear from you! For now… Au revoir! Auf Wiedersehen!
