Modern Foreign Languages

Staff within the Department

Rachel Wright - Head of Department. French & Spanish

BSc (Hons) International Relations (London School of Economics, University of London)

Yolanda Barnas - French & German

BA Languages - French & German

Marielle Bendifallah – Second-in-charge.  KS4 co-ordinator.  French

MA English Literature & Civilisation

Acrise Faulkner - Latin

BA (Hons First Class) French & Italian

Catherine Hodgkins - French, Spanish and Latin. 

University of Exeter - BA (Hons) French and Spanish

At Ellen Wilkinson we offer a wide range of languages and believe that all pupils should be entitled and enabled to study a foreign language up to GCSE level if not beyond.   We adopt a communicative  approach combining active use of language in real life situations with a rigorous study of grammar and language structures which provide the building blocks of learning a language.  We place a strong emphasis on study skills that enable pupils to become independent and confident learners.   Lessons reflect this ethos with a balance of active language practice (speaking, writing reading and listening) and language theory.

All pupils study French in Year 7 in most cases building on the foundations introduced at KS2 in primary school.  However, we cater for both beginners and non-beginners and by the end of the Autumn term any complete beginners will have caught up.

In Year 8, most pupils will be offered the opportunity to study a second foreign language alongside French.  Current choices include Spanish, German, and Latin.  At the end of Year 8, pupils make their GCSE choices either opting to continue either with both languages or to focus on one.  Languages are a vital life skill and language qualifications also improve a pupils’ employability and appeal to colleges and universities so we expect most pupils to continue. 

We follow a three year GCSE course providing ample time to introduce, consolidate and assess key language and skills before the GCSE exams at the end of Year 11.  At KS4 lessons incorporate use of authentic resources and pupils work with our native speaker foreign language assistants.

At KS5 students have the opportunity to continue their study to pre-university level in French and Spanish for those who have completed a GCSE course.

Curriculum

KS3

In Year 7 all pupils study French and have two double lessons per week, a total of 2 hours 30 minutes.  This continues into Year 8 where an additional double lesson in the second language is timetabled.  The main details of the topics and language skills covered during each year in each subject are included in the table below.   Pupils are summatively assessed in all GCSE language skills (reading, listening, speaking and writing) skills at least once per term with shorter interim tests.  A key component of pupil’s learning is independent learning and we expect pupils to complete alternating language production (comprehension, guided writing, grammar practice) and learning (vocabulary) homework.

 

Activities to do at home

There are an increasing variety of web-based materials that pupils can use to build on their learning and have fun with languages.  Pupils are given a password to the main interactive platform we use in class www.kerboodle.com  but we also recommend the following websites the majority of which are searchable by topic:

 

KS4

At KS4 pupils in French, Spanish and German follow the new AQA specifications which allocate equal marks to reading, listening, writing and speaking skills.  There is no coursework and all exams take place at the end of Year 11.  Pupils are assessed on their ability to understand (listen, read) and actively produce (write/speak) on a variety of topics as shown in the table below. Exam formats include multiple choice and short answers in the target language in reading and listening exams; longer extracts of guided and free writing; translation to and from the target language and conversation and discussion.   A more complete overview of the GCSE exam structure and topics is available on the AQA website (see links below) .

Students following the Latin course will do the new Eduqas linear course which combines Latin language, literature and civilisation which were previously examined separately.  Updated overviews of the new Eduqas-related Years 9 to 11 programmes will soon be ready. 

 

Website links

French GCSE specification (for exams Summer 2018 onwards):
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658

Spanish GCSE specification (for exams Summer 2018 onwards):
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698

German GCSE specification (for exams Summer 2018 onwards):
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/german-8668

Latin WJEC specification (for exams Summer 2018

http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/latin/eduqas-gcse-latin-spec-from-2016.pdf?language_id=1

 

Activities to do at home

French

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/
Excellent website provided by the BBC, organized by skill (eg Reading or Listening) and then by topic

http://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/curriculum/modlang/
A Surrey secondary school’s website with games and listening activities.

http://www.targetlanguage.co.uk/
French: GCSE practice with verbs, exam rubrics and topics, dictionary and information from the different exam boards is also available from the site.

http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/haberg/index.htm
French GCSE practice by topics: crosswords, multiple choices …

http://zut.languageskills.co.uk/intermediate/year10.html
French GCSE revision practice available after 4pm for free

http://www.aiglon.ch/langlink/frenchrev.html
French revision site for grammar and topics

http://www.revisioncentre.co.uk/gcse/french/index.html
French GCSE general revision site with revision advice

http://www.atantot-extra.co.uk/
Basic vocabulary builder including many games in French

http://www.languagesonline.org.uk/
French: grammar, topics and vocabulary practice

 

KS5

At A level, students learn the language in the context of French and Spanish speaking countries and issues and influences which have shaped them.  Topics include technological and social change, highlights of artistic culture, including a focus on regional identities and the cultural heritage of past civilisations. In French and Spanish, students will study texts and film and will have the opportunity to carry out independent research on an area of their choice. Assessment tasks will be varied and cover listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

Entry to the French and Spanish courses is subject to obtaining a minimum B (2017 entrants) or provisionally a minimum Grade 6 (2018 entrants).  

 

For a detailed  overview of the exam structure at A level, please use the weblinks below:

http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/french-7652
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/spanish-7692

 

Activities to do at home

 

FRENCH TV & RADIO CHANNELS

www.tf1.fr                                                        

Good general fun channel (click REPLY for iplayer) + good news reports

www.france2.fr                                                               

Lots of shows (A bit like ITV1) but the news is good

www.rfmusique.com                                    

Music video channel

www.rtbf.be                                                    

Belgian TV with lots of listening/articles

www.mtv.fr                                                      

French MTV with French & International songs/interviews

www.tv5monde.org                                      

A serious channel but good for AL type listening. Also a great section on the French language (click: langue française then click: découvrir le français for all sorts of games & exercise for foreigners leaning French)

www.rfi.fr                                                          

French international radio station with lots of listening exercises & podcasts (with exercises/answers -  look at langue française)

www.rtl.fr                                                         

Good music/news station in French (to listen online click: RTL en direct)

 

FRENCH MAGAZINES/NEWSPAPERS

www.elle.fr

Fashion magazine

www.premiere.fr

Film/cinema magazine

www.voici.fr                                                     

Gossip magazine

www.lemonde.fr                                            

The French equivalent of the Times (good but French quite challenging, especially for AS)

www.metronews.fr                                      

Like the free Metro newspapers in the UK, short articles on French & world news, more accessible than the more ‘serious’ papers

 

Enrichment Activities and Trips

 

Career Paths