Why do we learn modern foreign languages?
Head of Department
Amy Robinson
Our approach
The MFL curriculum at Ark Soane aims to ensure that students are confident linguists through focusing on phonics, vocabulary and grammar. We believe that all students should feel that they are able to learn a language and to be successful. As a result, we begin with a heavy focus on phonics so that students feel able to read aloud and tackle new words. We teach core verbs and structures needed for GCSE from Year 7 so that students have a strong foundation in the subject, ready for the challenges of GCSE.
In addition to these three key concepts, it is also imperative that students understand the greater purpose of learning a language. Alongside practical communication purposes, this includes developing their understanding of other cultures, accessing new cultural works and broadening their understanding of the world. Therefore, the three key concepts are studied in order to facilitate cultural understanding and cultural interaction.
The curriculum is organised around key questions that form the fundamentals to success at GCSE. If students can confidently and fluently answer these questions in written and spoken form, their success in the productive part of the MFL course is almost guaranteed. Throughout the curriculum, students will repeatedly revisit these fundamentals to ensure mastery.
At Key Stage 4, students will study the new MFL GCSE, due to be taught for the first time in 2024.
Year 7
| Autumn |
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• Phonics • Describe yourself and your family • Where do you live? |
| Spring |
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• What do you normally do when you have free time? • What have you done recently? • What will you do this weekend? |
| Summer |
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• Where do you live? What is it like? • What do you study at school? • Recap of Autumn and Spring knowledge |
Year 8
| Autumn |
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• What do you like to do in your town in your free time? • What would you order in a restaurant? |
| Spring |
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• Where do you go on holiday normally? • What did you do on a previous holiday? • Where would you like to go? |
| Summer |
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• What are your future career plans? • Recap of Year 7 and Year 8 knowledge |
Year 9
| Autumn |
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• What is your family like? Family and Relationship? • What are some traditions in your family? • What are the advantages/disadvantages of marriage? |
| Spring |
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• What do you eat and drink? • How do you stay healthy? • A conversation at the Doctors? |
| Summer |
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• How do you protect the environment? • What are the biggest problems in the world today? • What are the advantages/disadvantages of modern technology? • Recap of all KS3 knowledge |
Year 10
| Autumn |
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• Who am I? Relationships when I was younger, friends and family, socialising, role models • Daily Life: everyday life, food&drink, technology and social media • Cultural life: festivals, reading, music, sport, film and television • Home life – houses |
| Spring |
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• Holidays: preferences, experiences, destinations • Tourism: travel, accommodation, dealing with problems, directions, eating out, shopping • Town and region: weather, places to see, things to do |
| Summer |
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• School: school types, school day, subjects, rules, pressures, celebrating success • School activities: school trips, events, exchanges • Future aspiration: future relationships, travel, further study, volunteering, careers |
Year 11
| Autumn |
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• Bringing the world together: sport & music events, campaigns and good causes • Environmental issues: natural resources, being green |
| Spring |
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• Revision (focus on speaking paper) |
| Summer |
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• Revision (focus on listening, reading and writing papers) |