Modern Foreign Languages
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Curriculum Intent and Implementation
Our intention in Modern Foreign Languages is to provide high-quality language learning, which stimulates students' curiosity about current affairs and deepens their understanding of the world - broadening their awareness of countries and cultures. We aim to ensure all students develop the vocabulary, analytical skills, and grammatical terminology they need to listen, speak, read, write, and translate in French, German, and Spanish, with resilience. And to secure knowledge that will serve them well in education, employment, and leisure.
Building on their existing skills in English and Literacy, we encourage all students to develop their linguistic and cultural understanding regardless of their abilities, or needs. To this end, we select teaching materials and textbooks that will scaffold the learning; and we tailor the support required for individuals, including those who feature on the school's SEND Register. Lessons are structured and connected towards common assessment-for-learning tasks and tests, to ensure meaningful progression for all.
Review our French Curriculum Map, Spanish Curriculum Map, and German Curriculum Map for a detailed overview of the core knowledge and skills covered in Modern Foreign Languages.
Key Stage 3
What makes Languages special in KS3 at KGGS is that all students learn three languages: French in Year 7, and French, German & Spanish in Years 8 and 9. This means that they can access the cultures of three major European countries; communicate in countries where these languages are spoken; and establish solid foundations for further linguistic study.
Key Stage 4
We encourage all students at KGGS to follow a language course in KS4, so that they become more proficient in one or more European language; and can participate in our multilingual, global society. We believe that even a small amount of a second language is an asset - personally and professionally - and more relevant than ever in the current economic and political context.
As well as improving communication skills, students will develop a greater awareness and understanding of communities where the language, or languages, they have chosen to study are spoken. They will also have the opportunity to practise their skills in short, regular sessions with our French, German, and Spanish Foreign Language Assistants. We follow the AQA specifications for French, German, and Spanish in Key Stage 4.
Key Stage 5
The Languages Faculty at KGGS offers Advanced Level courses in French, German and Spanish. Whichever language you choose, or how many you choose to study, will depend on your strengths and interests, but the content of the course and our approach to delivering it is broadly similar across the three subjects.
As in GCSE, you will continue to develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing in that your chosen language or languages, across a range of topics. In Year 12, these include family and relationships, technologies, popular music & cinema, and heritage. In Year 13, the topics include contemporary social issues, such as diversity, young people's engagement with politics, law & order, unions & strikes. You will also study a film in Yr12 and a book in Y13, thus gaining a broad knowledge-base of both the language and the culture of the countries in which it is spoken.
As a faculty, we are taking increasing advantage of new technologies to access information and practise listening and reading skills via the Internet. In KS5, we follow AQA specifications in MFL. And, to support the study of languages in KS5, regular timetabled sessions with our language assistants are effective in helping students to be confident second language speakers.
