Intent
Our aim is to provide an excellent education for all our students; an education which brings out the best in all of them and prepares them for success in life.
In MFL we aim to maintain and stimulate lasting pupil curiosity, interest and enjoyment in Modern Languages; to create an atmosphere where pupils wish to learn, so that they come to enjoy the subject, because they are active participants in it.
The purpose for language learning is to broaden our knowledge and understanding of different countries and culture. The importance for students to know more about the world in which we live is evident in a world where global opportunities are increasing. Languages are also important to develop social skills and confidence and we ensure that our students speak regularly in the language they are learning in order to feel more self-confident. This is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge that they will need for success in education, professional development and later life. In our curriculum we teach the importance of speaking a foreign language in regards to careers and global issues.
Implementation
We enable each student to achieve their potential in a variety of situations, using an abundance of resources appropriately, to ensure the highest level of achievement for each student.
We work on developing the ability to use Modern Languages effectively for purposes of practical communication enabling pupils to be familiar with a body of knowledge, skills and vocabulary in Modern Languages.
End of unit tests in listening, speaking, reading and writing skill areas are carried out in all Key Stages. These are done in order to produce both formative and summative methods of assessment. This also assists learners with the retention and recall of knowledge. The school’s curriculum allows subject confidence to develop over time. Teachers within our department are able to meet regularly in order to discuss pedagogy and share good practice. Staff also share expertise on effective pedagogic techniques which help our students embed learning and achieve well.
In our lessons within the department, we use the Rosenshine Principles and Lemov’s Teach Like A Champion strategies. Students review their previous learning through starter activities. They are consistently questioned on prior knowledge in order to embed knowledge in their long term memory. New material is given to students in small steps, such as through a variety of short activities using the necessary skills for language learning: listening, reading, speaking and writing.
Impact
As a department we strive to create a love of language learning and we hope to encourage students to visit the world in order to discover new and diverse cultures. We strive to ensure students are aware of all the different avenues for their future aspirations, ambitions and that they have a thirst for knowledge for the world around them. For students who wish to study in this area for GCSE and A level we aim to support students in fulfilling their potential, helping them to achieve the highest possible results so that they are well equipped to pursue a future career in this area should they wish to do so.