Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

MFL Department Staff

Miss A Louth – Head of Department

Mr S Abel – Teacher of MFL

Mr A Ridgway – Teacher of MFL

Miss N Platts – Teacher of MFL

Curriculum Journey

Year 7/Year 8

For most students , the first term of KS3 MFL at The Boulevard Academy will be used to carousel the two languages we currently offer; Spanish and French. The students will study a variety of language learning concepts which, although language specific, will help them learn for future study of any foreign language. Students will put a request in for which language they would like to continue studying. Students study a variety of topics such as Hometown, School Life and My Family so that they gain a basic understanding of vocabulary and grammar needed for the GCSE course.

Year 9

The gateway year allows students the opportunity to further develop the core skills that they have acquired over the previous two years of study. In-depth work on listening, speaking, reading and writing skills will be a common theme throughout the year in order to promote greater levels of achievement and linguistic competences.

GCSE

The KS4 curriculum at The Boulevard Academy provides complete preparation for the new AQA GCSE specifications. It is designed to help all students achieve their potential in GCSE Spanish or French. The carefully-constructed scheme of work ensures that grammar is introduced in a logical order and at the right pace for learners. Concepts are revisited and gradually combined with other concepts. Certain aspects of grammar are delayed for some students until solid understanding of the key grammar is mastered and the more able students will also be exposed to more complex grammar only needed for the higher paper.  All four language skills are systematically developed through the course and there is a focus on skills such as translation, understanding authentic and literary texts and spontaneous speaking. All of which ensure that students are prepared for the terminal examinations. Throughout the course a focus on cultural content and on ’learning something new’ helps to give students a sense of purpose and brings language learning to life.

The course ensures a full coverage of the three themes at GCSE level:

Theme 1: Identity and culture

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

Exams

The exams will measure how students have achieved the following assessment objectives and are weighted equally at 25% of the final grade.

  • AO1: Listening – understand and respond to different types of spoken language.
  • AO2: Speaking – communicate and interact effectively in speech.
  • AO3: Reading – understand and respond to different types of written language.
  • AO4: Writing – communicate in writing.

Home Languages

We are very proud to work in such a diverse school and as such ensure that students who speak another language at home, are provided with the opportunity to take a GCSE examination in that language in Y11 (where applicable). The languages we have offered in the past have included; Polish, Italian, Arabic, Russian and Urdu.

Useful website links

Follow us on Twitter! @tbaMFL