French
Vision
Language learning plays an important role in the UK in our dealings with other countries and trading partners. It enables our students to compete for jobs with other Europeans who already speak multiple languages and gives them access to job opportunities all over the world. Furthermore, Language learning promotes healthy brain development and our ability to converse in another language makes us more culturally aware.
The French Curriculum @ Marlwood
KS3 Year 7-9
Our KS3 studies in French aim to:
Learn a variety of key structures and vocabulary from all modules
Be able to speak confidently, by giving their opinions and justifying them.
Practice our structures and vocabulary lots and lots so that it becomes second nature.
Focus on listening and reading as modelling for language.
Use a variety of different activities to reinforce learning
Knowledge organisers / vocabulary list
Links to Sentence builders can be found in Google Classroom
- Your child will also have a hard-copy given to them for each module.
Useful Weblinks/additional reading
How to support your child
We understand that many of you may not have studied French at school and may find this subject the most difficult to support your child. However, you can support your child by doing exactly what you did when you helped them learn English a long time ago!
Ask them what they are learning about in French
Get them to practice with you (You can say the English and get them to tell you the French)
Try and learn with them!
Help them practice the spelling and use of their French.
Try Read / cover / write / check to learning spellings
Try Read / cover / say / check to learn pronunciation
Help/encourage them to prepare for the end of unit tests.
KS4 Curriculum Year 10-11
French:
Exam Board: Eduqas
Exam weighting: 100% Examination
Assessment:
Students are examined in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing at the end of the two year course, each exam is worth 25% of the final mark. The speaking exam usually happens in April / May before the other exams.
Content:
Students will study three themes over the course.
- Theme 1: students learn about identity and culture – which covers self, family, relationships, healthy lifestyle, leisure activities and festivals.
- Theme 2: covers local, national and international and global areas of interests and includes the study of where you live, transport, holidays, the environment and social issues.
- Theme 3: covers current and future study and employment and covers such topics as school, jobs and future plans.
- Lessons aim to build on and reinforce language learning from years 7 to 9. Students are encouraged to give their opinions on all of their topics and lessons cover all four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Students are also encouraged to use technology to help them learn key vocabulary and structures as well as develop their independent skills.
Skills:
Students develop a wide range of skills including:
- Ability to communicate confidently in speech and writing, conveying what they want to say.
- Express and develop thoughts and ideas spontaneously and fluently. ∙ Listen and understand short spoken passages and answer questions about what has been said in a wide range of contexts.
- Deepen their knowledge of vocabulary and structures from Key Stage 3 and use more complex language and idiomatic expressions.
- Develop awareness and understanding of the culture and identity of the countries and communities where the language is spoken.
- Develop language learning skills both for immediate use and to prepare them for further language study and use in school, higher education or in employment.
Enrichment:
Previous trips have included Normandy and Paris. We always endeavour to offer enrichment activities if we have the opportunity. In the event that we are unable to offer this, we would look at including some other in -house events, like speakers from different companies / countries or food tasting opportunities.
What are the benefits of studying this course now and for the future?
Studying a modern foreign language will broaden horizons, develop cultural knowledge and understanding and foster transferable skills such as confidence, communication and creativity. The many cognitive benefits of learning languages are undeniable. People who speak more than one language have improved memory, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, enhanced concentration, ability to multitask, and better listening skills. Languages are a demanded skill by employers and could even allow you to earn as much as 20% more pay! The course also aims to provide learners with a solid foundation on which to prepare them for future language study.
Career pathways
Translator, Tourism, Teacher, Broadcast Journalist, International Aid Worker Entrepreneur
Language skills are a useful addition to a curriculum vitae considering that many major companies offering employment in the UK have links with Europe and French or German is widely used in travel and tourism. A GCSE can be the foundation for further study in French or German at a higher level. Language skills can lead to careers in interpreting, translating, civil service, secretarial services, sales, marketing, engineering, accounting, insurance, banking, tourism, broadcasting, journalism, library work, airline services etc. It is often the case that universities, particularly Russell Group universities, will require a language at GCSE (regardless of the degree itself).
Knowledge organisers / vocabulary list
Copies of all Sentence builders are available on Google Classroom.
Your child will also receive a physical copy of each module.
Useful Links and resourcing