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Curriculum Intent Statement

The MFL Curriculum is underpinned by the understanding that all pupils, no matter their starting points, can master the knowledge necessary to think hard as independent learners, answer with precision, make informed decisions and actively engage in MFL.  The MFL curriculum is built on a model of Extensive Processing Instruction, based on first language acquisition, where students are repeatedly exposed to chunks of language, thereby reducing cognitive load. By focusing on one topic for every long term (or per two modules), we are aiming for depth over breadth with the ultimate aim of mastery through carefully considered sequencing and clear progression. The MFL curriculum is designed to enable pupils to excel, not only in public examinations, but in their interaction with the world, becoming globally aware citizens and  providing them with the tools to build a better world through intercultural understanding, respect and building their cultural capital. By following the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) framework, we develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who are motivated to succeed. 

The MFL curriculum is committed to making learning ambitious yet accessible to all.  Its design reflects an understanding of why some pupils find MFL hard with its abstract concepts for second language learners, such as gender of nouns, and broad vocabulary, for example.  It is underpinned by research and evidence that supports the systematic and explicit teaching of chunks of vocabulary and retrieval practice as the most effective ways of ensuring all students achieve and are successful. 

Emphasis is placed on mastery of the four key skills in MFL: listening, reading, writing and speaking. This is reflected in the EPI approach through modelling, receptive processing and narrow production before students can achieve autonomy in speaking and writing. 

All students will continue language study to at least GCSE level so through this approach it will allow all students to access the curriculum.

Key Concepts

Communication & Connections

Related Concepts

Pronunciation, Meaning, Form, Patterns, Message & Structure

Statement of Inquiry

Clear pronunciation and awareness of lexical patterns can lead to a greater comprehension of both the written and spoken word.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Translator
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • How do the sounds in Spanish change the way I pronounce words differently from my mother tongue?
  • How does my gender affect the written and spoken word?
  • How does syntax differ from your native language?

Conceptual Questions

  • How does pronunciation impact our communication in a foreign language?
  • To what extent does spontaneous speech aid effective communication?

Debatable Questions

  • Is gender really an issue in terms of grammar?
  • Can my native language hinder my development of a foreign language?

Key Concepts

Communication & Connections

Related Concepts

Pronunciation, Meaning, Form, Patterns, Message & Structure

Statement of Inquiry

Clear pronunciation and awareness of lexical patterns can lead to a greater comprehension of both the written and spoken word.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Translator
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • How do the sounds in Spanish change the way I pronounce words differently from my mother tongue?
  • How does my gender affect the written and spoken word?
  • How does syntax differ from your native language?

Conceptual Questions

  • How does pronunciation impact our communication in a foreign language?
  • To what extent does spontaneous speech aid effective communication?

Debatable Questions

  • Is gender really an issue in terms of grammar?
  • Can my native language hinder my development of a foreign language?

Key Concepts

Culture, Creativity & Communication

Related Concepts

Audience, Context, Empathy, Inference, Meaning, Message, Patterns, Point of View, Pronunciation, Structure, Theme & Voice

Statement of Inquiry

The continuum of art allows us to understand in more detail the relationship between the culture and language we are learning.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Travel agent
  • Curator

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • How do I effectively describe artwork in Spanish using PALMW?
  • What vocabulary do I need to describe a piece of artwork in Spanish?

Conceptual Questions

  • What can I learn from Spanish artwork and the language I am studying?
  • How do we interpret artwork to understand the artist’s intentions?

Debatable Questions

  • Does artwork leave an everlasting piece of history in the culture of the language?
  • Understanding the social historical context behind artwork helps me to better understand the language I am learning?

Key Concepts

Culture, Creativity & Communication

Related Concepts

Audience, Context, Empathy, Inference, Meaning, Message, Patterns, Point of View, Pronunciation, Structure, Theme & Voice

Statement of Inquiry

The continuum of art allows us to understand in more detail the relationship between the culture and language we are learning.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Travel agent
  • Curator

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • How do I effectively describe artwork in Spanish using PALMW?
  • What vocabulary do I need to describe a piece of artwork in Spanish?

Conceptual Questions

  • What can I learn from Spanish artwork and the language I am studying?
  • How do we interpret artwork to understand the artists intentions?

Debatable Questions

  • Does artwork leave an everlasting piece of history in the culture of the language?
  • Understanding the social historical context behind artwork helps me to better understand the language I am learning?

Key Concepts

Communication & Connections

Related Concepts

Form, Message, Point of View, Pronunciation, Structure, Theme & Voice

Statement of Inquiry

The choice of person, place or time changes the message I am communicating in both a written and verbal context.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Translator
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • How do temporal adverbials change the idea of space and time in Spanish?
  • What common verb patterns can I recognise and apply in a range of tenses?
  • What vocabulary do I need to communicate common topics in Spanish?

Conceptual Questions

  • How do we communicate effectively in a range of tenses?
  • How do I use verbs correctly?

Debatable Questions

  • Are conjugations really necessary to be understood in Spanish?
  • Can my native language and own cultural identity make it harder for me to apply the same rules in Spanish?

Key Concepts

Communication, connections

Related Concepts

Form, message, point of view, pronunciation, structure, theme, voice

Statement of Inquiry

The choice of person, place or time changes the message I am communicating in both a written and verbal context.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Translator
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • How do temporal adverbials change the idea of space and time in Spanish?
  • What common verb patterns can I recognise and apply in a range of tenses?
  • What vocabulary do I need to communicate common topics in Spanish?

Conceptual Questions

  • How do we communicate effectively in a range of tenses?
  • How do I use verbs correctly?

Debatable Questions

  • Are conjugations really necessary to be understood in Spanish?
  • Can my native language and own cultural identity make it harder for me to apply the same rules in Spanish?

Key Concepts

Communication

Related Concepts

Language & Culture

Statement of Inquiry

The medium of story and literature allows us to use strategies to communicate our understanding and make connections between language and culture.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Translator
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is meant by effective reading strategies?
  • What strategies can you use to access meaning in reading?
  • How can you apply POINT and EQUATACO to your written work when talking about yourself and others?
  • How can you approach effective vocabulary learning?

Conceptual Questions

  • How can you develop the key skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking in language acquisition?
  • Why do we need strategies to assist in language acquisition?

Debatable Questions

  • Do you need to use strategies to access meaning in reading?
  • Are stories necessary to us understanding our culture?

Key Concepts

Communication

Related Concepts

Language & Culture

Statement of Inquiry

The medium of story and literature allows us to use strategies to communicate our understanding and make connections between language and culture.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Translator
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is meant by effective reading strategies?
  • What strategies can you use to access meaning in reading?
  • How can you apply POINT and EQUATACO to your written work when talking about yourself and others?
  • How can you approach effective vocabulary learning?

Conceptual Questions

  • How can you develop the key skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking in language acquisition?
  • Why do we need strategies to assist in language acquisition?

Debatable Questions

  • Do you need to use strategies to access meaning in reading?
  • Are stories necessary to us understanding our culture?

Key Concepts

Communication

Related Concepts

Message & Structure

Statement of Inquiry

Developing effective ways to understand and interpret references to orientation in time and space in written and spoken communication, in the context of holidays, helps us to structure our own messages when describing our experiences of being on holiday in speech and writing.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Translator
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is meant by effective strategies?
  • What strategies can you use to access meaning in reading?
  • What strategy can you use to approach listening tasks?
  • What strategy can you use to describe a picture?
  • How can you apply POINT and EQUATACO to your written work when describing holidays?
  • How can you approach effective vocabulary learning?

Conceptual Questions

  • How can you develop the key skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking in language acquisition?
  • Why do we need strategies to assist in language acquisition?
  • How does pronunciation impact our communication in a foreign language?
  • Why are holidays important?

Debatable Questions

  • Do you need to use strategies to access meaning in listening and reading?
  • Are holidays necessary?

Key Concepts

Communication

Related Concepts

Message & Structure

Statement of Inquiry

Developing effective ways to understand and interpret references to orientation in time and space in written and spoken communication, in the context of holidays, helps us to structure our own messages when describing our experiences of being on holiday in speech and writing.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Translator
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is meant by effective strategies?
  • What strategies can you use to access meaning in reading?
  • What strategy can you use to approach listening tasks?
  • What strategy can you use to describe a picture?
  • How can you apply POINT and EQUATACO to your written work when describing holidays?
  • How can you approach effective vocabulary learning?

Conceptual Questions

  • How can you develop the key skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking in language acquisition?
  • Why do we need strategies to assist in language acquisition?
  • How does pronunciation impact our communication in a foreign language?
  • Why are holidays important?

Debatable Questions

  • Do you need to use strategies to access meaning in listening and reading?
  • Are holidays necessary?

Key Concepts

Culture

Related Concepts

Message & Structure

Statement of Inquiry

Exploring customs and traditions, as a means of cultural expression, helps us to understand the meaning of culture and how the way of life is structured in the communities of the language we are learning.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Translator
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is daily life like in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries?
  • What festivals are celebrated in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries?

Conceptual Questions

  • How are the traditions, customs and way of living in Spain/Spanish-speaking countries different from our own?

Debatable Questions

  • Do you prefer the customs and traditions in Spain/Spanish-speaking countries or the UK? Why?

Key Concepts

Culture

Related Concepts

Message & Structure

Statement of Inquiry

Exploring customs and traditions, as a means of cultural expression, helps us to understand the meaning of culture and how the way of life is structured in the communities of the language we are learning.

Careers

  • Tour guide
  • Translator
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What is daily life like in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries?
  • What festivals are celebrated in Spain and Spanish-speaking countries?

Conceptual Questions

  • How are the traditions, customs and way of living in Spain/Spanish-speaking countries different from our own?

Debatable Questions

  • Do you prefer the customs and traditions in Spain/Spanish-speaking countries or the UK? Why?

Key Concepts

Connections, Identities & Relationships

Related Concepts

Word Choice, Patterns & Message

Statement of Inquiry

Reflecting on word choice helps us to talk about ourselves and the important connections we make in our lives.

Careers

  • Interpreter
  • Translator
  • Business person
  • Advocate
  • Lawyer
  • Tour guide
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What vocabulary do I need to describe people in Spanish?

Conceptual Questions

  • How are adjectives used differently in Spanish?

Debatable Questions

  • Are all families the same? What is the definition of a family?

Key Concepts

Connections, Identities & Relationships

Related Concepts

Word Choice, Patterns & Message

Statement of Inquiry

What vocabulary do I need to describe people in Spanish?

Careers

  • Interpreter
  • Translator
  • Business person
  • Advocate
  • Lawyer
  • Tour guide
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What vocabulary do I need to describe people in Spanish?

Conceptual Questions

  • How are adjectives used differently in Spanish?

Debatable Questions

  • Are all families the same? What is the definition of a family?

Key Concepts

Connections

Related Concepts

Pattern & Structure

Statement of Inquiry

Identifying patterns and connections in verb formations and sentence structure helps me talk about my free time activities

Careers

  • Interpreter
  • Translator
  • Business person
  • Advocate
  • Lawyer
  • Tour guide
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What key phrases do I need to talk about hobbies?

Conceptual Questions

  • How do freetime activities vary between young people in Spain and the UK?

Debatable Questions

  • Are hobbies important?

Key Concepts

Connections

Related Concepts

Pattern & Structure

Statement of Inquiry

Identifying patterns and connections in verb formations and sentence structure helps me talk about my free time activities

Careers

  • Interpreter
  • Translator
  • Business person
  • Advocate
  • Lawyer
  • Tour guide
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What key phrases do I need to talk about hobbies?

Conceptual Questions

  • How do free time activities vary between young people in Spain and the UK?

Debatable Questions

  • Are hobbies important?

Key Concepts

Creativity

Related Concepts

Purpose & Conventions

Statement of Inquiry

Understanding how to use language effectively for different purposes helps me to talk about where I live in a creative way

Careers

  • Interpreter
  • Translator
  • Business person
  • Advocate
  • Lawyer
  • Tour guide
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What key phrases do I need to describe where I live?

Conceptual Questions

  • How are towns in Spain different from those in the UK?

Debatable Questions

  • Are all homes the same?

Key Concepts

Creativity

Related Concepts

Purpose & Conventions

Statement of Inquiry

Understanding how to use language effectively for different purposes helps me to talk about where I live in a creative way

Careers

  • Interpreter
  • Translator
  • Business person
  • Advocate
  • Lawyer
  • Tour guide
  • Travel agent
  • Teacher

Inquiry Questions

Factual Questions

  • What key phrases do I need to describe where I live?

Conceptual Questions

  • How are towns in Spain different from those in the UK?

Debatable Questions

  • Are all homes the same?

AQA Spanish GCSE

Topics

Module 1

  • Identity and relationships
  • Healthy living and lifestyle

Module 2

  • Work and education

Module 3

  • Free time activities

Module 4

  • Customs, festivals and celebrations
  • Celebrity culture

Module 5

  • Travel and tourism

Module 6

  • Media and technology
  • The environment and where people live

75% written exam & 25% speaking assessment

Paper 1 – Listening
Understanding and responding to spoken extracts comprising the defined vocabulary and grammar for each tier; Dictation of short, spoken extracts

Written exam
35mins (Foundation); 45mins (Higher)
40 marks (Foundation); 50 marks (Higher)
25% of GCSE
Recording controlled by the invigilator with built-in repetitions and pauses. 
Each exam includes 5 minutes’ reading time at the start of the question paper before the listening material is played and 2 minutes at the end of the recording for students to check their work.

Paper 2 – Speaking
Speaking using clear and comprehensible language to undertake a Role-play; Carry out a Reading aloud task; Talk about visual stimuli

Non-examination assessment (NEA)
7-9mins (Foundation); 10-12mins (Higher) & 15mins supervised preparation time
50 marks
25% of GCSE

Paper 3 – Reading
Understanding and responding to written texts which focus predominantly on the vocabulary and grammar at each tier; Inferring plausible meanings of single words when they are embedded in written sentences; Translating from Spanish into English

Written exam
45mins (Foundation); 1hr (Higher)
50 marks
25% of GCSE

Paper 4 – Writing
Writing text in the language in a lexically and grammatically accurate way in response to simple and familiar stimuli; Translating from English into Spanish

Written exam
1hr 10mins (Foundation); 1hr 15mins (Higher)
50 marks
25% of GCSE