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Languages

French and Spanish

“With languages you are at home anywhere”

Edward De Waal

Our languages curriculum is designed to enable students to see how they belong to a wider international community and encourages students to appreciate that, through the challenge of learning another language, they can develop resilience and character. Learning another language also gives students an edge as they pursue further study and begin their careers.

“A different language is a different vision of life”
Federico Fellini

Curriculum Summary

Key Stage 3 – French and Spanish

In Key Stage 3, students have the opportunity to study both French and Spanish, enabling them to make an informed choice about which language they wish to study at GCSE.

The Key Stage 3 curriculum focuses on phonics (correct pronunciation) and building students’ communicative skills through the focused development of their speaking and listening skills.

Students will cover the following themes in both French and Spanish:

  • Transactional language (asking questions and pronouncing key sounds correctly)
  • What I do in my free time (free time and helping the environment)
  • Where I live and where my language is spoken (developing cultural awareness)
  • My school and future plans

The Key Stage 3 curriculum aims to equip students with the initial skills they need to take on the challenge of GCSE study.

“The limits of my language are the limits of my world”
Ludwig Wittgenstein

Key Stage 4 – French and Spanish GCSE

Qualification: GCSE

Awarding Body and Paper: Edexcel 1FR1 and Edexcel 1SP1

Programme of Study

The GCSE French and Spanish qualifications are focused on the important ways that languages foster communication, broaden perspectives, introduce new cultures and develop students into global citizens.

The GCSE course consists of six key themes:

  • My personal world: talking about identity, friendship and family relationships.
  • Lifestyle and wellbeing: talking about physical and mental wellbeing.
  • My neighbourhood: describing towns, villages and cities, and how to help the environment on a regional and global level.
  • Media and technology: describing how technology is used in daily life, the advantages and disadvantages of social media, and future technological advances.
  • Studying and my future: describing school and school rules, comparing school systems in the UK and abroad, and discussing future career aspirations.
  • Travel and tourism: describing an ideal holiday, using transactional vocabulary in holiday settings (for example, ordering food or asking for directions).

Assessment

Students will be assessed on the following skills. Each examination is worth 50 marks and contributes 25% of the final grade.

  • Listening: understanding and responding to spoken language and completing dictations.
  • Speaking: reading aloud in French or Spanish, demonstrating an awareness of the phonetic sounds of the language, taking part in role plays, using transactional language, and participating in a conversation about a theme of interest.
  • Reading: understanding and responding to printed and handwritten passages and texts, and translating from French or Spanish into English.
  • Writing: communicating in the written language, applying the grammar and structures they have learnt, and translating from English into French or Spanish.
What it can lead to

In an increasingly interconnected world, the study of a language at GCSE is considered valuable for future study and is increasingly a prerequisite for entry into some sixth forms and university courses. Students can progress to A Level study and then on to degree-level study. There are also many opportunities to learn a completely new language at university, and prior language learning is hugely beneficial.

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”
Nelson Mandela

Key Stage 5 – A level French and Spanish

Qualification: A Level

Awarding Body and Paper: AQA (FR7652) and AQA (SP7692)

Programme of Study

The A Level course encourages students to build on the language knowledge and understanding developed at GCSE and to deepen their cultural and political understanding of the countries in which French and Spanish are spoken.

The course has a distinct structure in Years 12 and 13, offering a clear progression of skills.

Year 12

Current Issues in Francophone/Hispanic Society

  • The changing landscape of family life
  • Cyber society
  • The role of voluntary work (French)
  • Gender equality (Spanish)

Art and Culture in the Francophone/Hispanic World

  • Cultural heritage (French)
  • Idols and role models (Spanish)
  • Contemporary music (French)
  • Regional identity (Spanish)
  • Film and filmmaking (French)
  • Cultural heritage (Spanish)
Year 13

Diversity in Francophone/Hispanic Society

  • Immigration
  • Racism
  • Social reform

Political Life in Francophone/Hispanic Society

  • Political engagement amongst young people
  • Protests and strike action (French)
  • Dictatorships (Spanish)
  • Immigration policy (French)
  • Political parties (Spanish)

In addition, students study both a film and a book in their language of study and complete an independent research project on a subject of interest relating to Francophone or Hispanic society, which forms a significant component of the speaking examination.

Assessment

  • Paper 1: Reading, Listening and Writing – 50% of the A Level
  • Paper 2: Writing (two essays on the book and film) – 20% of the A Level
  • Paper 3: Speaking (21–23 minutes) – 30% of the A Level.

 

 

 

 

 

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