Secondary Modern Foreign Languages

Curriculum Intent Statement

The Modern Foreign Languages department is committed to giving students the opportunity to discover new cultures through an enjoyable experience of learning a foreign language.

Modern Foreign Languages Vision

We believe that the study of a foreign language helps students develop a sense of cultural pluralism, an openness to and appreciation of other cultures. In a globalised world characterised by international links and intercultural connections, linguistic skills are crucial for employment and career as proficiency in a foreign language enhances career opportunities.

Our MFL department is an enthusiastic and dedicated team of linguists who encourage students to progress in all four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing while bringing languages alive though a range of interactive and varied lessons.

The MFL department is committed to raising the profile of language learning through house competitions and assemblies as well as through the use of Language Ambassadors. Encouraging students to celebrate the European Day of Languages and the International Day of Mother Tongues for example, open to all students with the aim of broadening their cultural and linguistic horizons. Educational visits are also extremely popular and enables students to immerse themselves in the cultures of the languages learnt at Gildredge House.

In Year 7, students take part in a carousel of languages. They all start with learning German in the Autumn Term, then French in the Spring Term and Spanish in the Summer Term. In Year 8, students continue with their two preferred languages. In Year 9, they can continue with both or only with the one that they will keep for GCSE. At both Key Stages, students use Active Learn, an online resource for students to access to reinforce their learning, complete set homework and revise at their comfort. At GCSE, students will sit all of their exams at the end of year 11 with the AQA exam board.

At Gildredge House, language lessons incorporate cultural and creative projects, grammar and translation activities, vocabulary learning games as well as activities, which develop the four skills to enable students to achieve their potential and become confident independent young linguists. Our students enjoy working in groups, pairs and independently, within the classroom and in ICT suites. There is a positive learning environment in our classes, whereby students willingly step out of their comfort zone and actively take part in lessons.

To support and challenge our students, we provide them with additional resources such as vocabulary, grammar and revision booklet, which develops and extends their classwork and homework via EduLink and the School’s VLE. They also have access to interactive language learning resources, Seneca, Duolingo and Quizlet, which provide a fun way to learn a language independently.

Modern Foreign Languages Purpose

Why study languages?

Learning a foreign language will help young people explore other cultures and get a better understanding of their role as global citizens.

Learning Languages will allow students to learn facts and skills, as well as learning how to interpret and apply that knowledge to new situations. Students will develop linguistic competence such as developing the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing the target language in a range of situations and contexts. They will also develop knowledge about language, such as grammar and syntax.

Students learning a language also develop other skills: they learn about cultural awareness and may develop an ability to see the world from different perspectives; they also develop creativity and problem solving as they find new ways of understanding and communicating a message. Learning a modern foreign language can also help students in the development of their mother tongue literacy skills, as well as other cross-curricular features such as numeracy and thinking skills.