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Modern Foreign Languages
Curriculum at KS5:
The GCE AS and A2 courses at KS5 further extend the skills developed at GCSE and enable our students to use French or Spanish in a wide range of contexts. The course provides further insight into the culture of other countries and encourages the students to reflect on various aspects of contemporary society. We use Nelson Thorne course materials which include a personalised multi media online learning environment which is linked to the AQA GCE Specification. The online materials facilitate truly personalised learning, enabling students to access assigned resources from any PC at any time.
Students have the opportunity of working with a University Language Undergraduates from the University of Wolverhampton on a regular basis. Two students in their final year work with our students in small groups for conversation practice and individualised support in preparation for their final oral examination. This is an invaluable opportunity which increases pupil confidence when using the language for real purposes.
An A Level in either French or Spanish can enhance a wide range of employment prospects and can facilitate foreign travel. As well as being personally rewarding the qualification is also highly regarded by Universities and Higher Education Colleges. Click on the link below to see a full course outline for AS/A2 French and Spanish.
Click here to link to the AQA AS/A2 course outline (in Publisher)
Assessing students’ work:
The MFL Department works to the College policy on marking and the setting of homework. Teachers often use peer activities for the assessment of oral work in class and regular summative assessments of comprehension and written skills are carried out in order to monitor pupil National Curriculum levels at KS3. Students are set regular homework tasks which often include the learning of vocabulary and new structures. Pupils have access to a vocabulary sheet for each unit of study and thorough revision of topic areas is encouraged to boost attainment. Individual targets for improvement are recorded in pupils’ exercise books alongside comments and an effort grade.
Pupils at KS4 have access to their own course book and are set weekly homework which may include coursework preparation, reading comprehension activities, research or the learning of vocabulary and grammar points. Assessment and feedback on progress towards GCSE criteria is ongoing and draft coursework is assessed according to OCR Grade descriptors. Students at KS4 are encouraged to supplement class and homework with private study in order to boost attainment in the final examinations. Particular importance is placed on the learning of conversation topics for the final GCSE speaking examination.
Students at KS5 are set regular homework and areas for self directed study. Tasks may include written essays, comprehension activities via the online learning platform or the revision of structures and vocabulary.