Modern Foreign Languages KS3

Bienvenue, Willkommen and Hola! In the Languages department we favour an interactive approach to learning a foreign language. Lots of French/German/Spanish is used in the classroom and students are given the opportunity to speak as much as possible. New language is introduced and explored through a variety of exciting activities and resources.  We have recently invested in new, up-to-date and current interactive online textbooks and assessment resources which are already proving to be popular and engaging.  Students can also access useful learning materials which are invaluable for learning vocabulary and grammar as well as practising all four skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Students are encouraged to take an independent approach to their learning, both in and out of the classroom, as well as to work collaboratively with their peers. In Year 7 students are taught in mixed ability groups - they study either French, German or Spanish. In Years 8 and 9 students are placed in ability groupings. The upper ability groups in each half year are given the opportunity to study a second foreign language. We currently offer Mandarin Chinese in Year 9 as an Option for one hour a week and an after school club. Two successful residentials to France and Germany take place every year during Year 8. 

Head of Department – Mrs Deborah Edwards - edwardsd@wellandparkacademy.com

Modern Foreign Languages KS4

The new AQA GCSE specification encourages a skills based approach to MFL teaching in order to create confident linguists who can manipulate language independently to fully express themselves in a variety of both written and spoken contexts.  Students develop a set of transferable language learning skills which can help them to learn not only the language in question but additional languages in the future too.  The GCSE aims to stimulate students’ cultural knowledge whilst developing their language skills.

The course covers three Key Themes:  Identity and Culture; Local, National, International, Global Areas of Interest; Current and Future Study and Employment.  These Key Themes are introduced in KS3 through a range of Topics and are developed further in KS4.

 The AQA course codes and website address are as follows and you can find lots of helpful advice along with GCSE papers.

www.aqa.org.uk           French 8658       German 8668       Spanish 8698