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 • What do you like? What do you dislike? |
| 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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• What can you see in the picture? • Recap of autumn and spring knowledge |
Year 8
| Autumn |
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• What do you eat at mealtimes? • What would you order in a restaurant? • What are French/Spanish festivals? |
| Spring |
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• What is in your town? • What can you do there? • How does this compare to Francophone/Hispanic countries? |
| Summer |
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• Recap of autumn and spring knowledge • What are key French/Spanish historical events? • What can you see in the picture? |
Year 9
| Autumn |
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• Which school subjects do you like? Which do you dislike? • What is your school day like? • How does this compare to France/Spain? |
| Spring |
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• What job would you like to do in the future? • What are the advantages/disadvantages of different jobs? • What skills/experience do you need for different jobs? |
| Summer |
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• Where do you go on holiday? • What do you do on holiday? • Why are holidays important? |
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) |