See our Languages available below at Bentley Wood for KS3, KS4 and KS5
Course Aims:
In MFL at BW, we teach a variety of topics (broadly divided into 3 main themes: Identity and Culture, Global Areas of Interest, Education and World of Work) with the aim to expand students’ linguistic and cultural knowledge. The range of topics aims to inspire students who are interested in French and Spanish culture and their target language speaking countries. Our objective is to enable students of all abilities to develop their language skills to their full potential, equipping them with the knowledge to communicate in a variety of contexts with confidence.
Students are assessed in listening, reading, speaking and writing and will develop transferable skills, relevant to further study and the world of work. Following a sequenced curriculum with interleaved topics and grammar to allow continuous recall. Each stage of the curriculum builds on prior skills and knowledge allowing a smooth transition to the next stage.
At Bentley Wood we are passionate about the benefits that learning a language can bring. We strongly believe in languages as a skill for life and something student should enjoy and find rewarding.
Course Content
Theme 1: Identity and culture
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
Trips and visits:
There are opportunities to take part in residential and cultural trips to France or Spain and Germany and Italy (linked to other subject cross-curricular projects) during Years 8 to 10 while studying a language for GCSE.
Enrichment:
Students can take part in Inter-form competitions linked to Languages Week and the European Day of Languages. Attend the MFL Clubs to complete homework, extend their learning or receive extra support. Students can attend a target language theatre play in the Hall at different times during the year or during MFL Film Club. They can also meet and make contact with our link schools when they visit Bentley Wood.
Key Stage 4 & 5: GCSE and Sixth Form language students have many opportunities to enrich their language learning with extra-curricular and work experience like activities.
Career Progression: Occupations with contacts in target language-speaking countries (business, law firms, estate agents, publishers, news and media agencies), bilingual secretarial work, translator, interpreter, teacher, private tuition, tourism and travel (travel agency, courier, tour-operator, airport/airline staff) fashion, catering and the restaurant trade, film industry.
Recommended Reading: To support their learning of Languages all students have vocabulary workbooks to follow the course they study (Studio for French and Viva for Spanish). Languages websites and mobile apps such as ActiveLearn, Linguascope, Quizzlet, Wordreference, Languagesonline, BBC languages, Memrise, Kahoot, GCSEPod and Duolingo are also used to practise vocabulary and grammar.
French scheme of learning
Spanish scheme of learning
GCSE French/Spanish
Examining Board: AQA
Aim of Course
The aim of the MFL curriculum is to develop understanding of the target language in a variety of contexts, including literature of the target language and knowledge of the vocabulary, grammar and phonics of the language. As part of the language learning skills, it includes translation (English into target language and Target Language into English), the ability to communicate effectively in the target language and an awareness and understanding of countries and communities where the target language is spoken. The MFL curriculum contributes to the rich, ambitious and inclusive school curriculum. All students learn a foreign language.
Assessment
Students are assessed in four equally weighted skills following the exam board specifications and the national curriculum. Regardless of academic ability, students take a listening, reading, speaking and writing GCSE exam at the end of the linear course (Year 11). Speaking exams are conducted by the teacher but all exams are externally assessed. Exams in all four skills are tiered, students must sit exams in all four skills at the same tier. Some students, supported by the school, also take a GCSE or A Level exam in a community language which they study outside the school curriculum.
Enrichment activities:
Career Progression: Occupations with contacts in target language-speaking countries (business, law firms, estate agents, publishers, news and media agencies), bilingual secretarial work, translator, interpreter, teacher, private tuition, tourism and travel (travel agency, courier, tour-operator, airport/airline staff) fashion, catering and the restaurant trade, film industry. At Bentley Wood we are passionate about the benefits that learning a language can bring. We strongly believe in languages as a skill for life.
Key Stage 4 & 5: GCSE and Sixth Form language students have many opportunities to enrich their language learning with extra-curricular and work experience like activities, including summer school courses via our partnerships with Routes into Languages and Cambridge University.
Recommended Reading: To support their learning of Languages all students have vocabulary workbooks to follow the course they study (Studio for French and Viva for Spanish). Languages websites and mobile apps such as ActiveLearn, Linguascope, Quizzlet, Wordreference, Languagesonline, BBC languages, Memrise, Kahoot, GCSEPod and Duolingo are also used to practise vocabulary, grammar and phonics.
Revision Guides:
CGP GCSE French AQA Complete Revision & Practice (with CD & Online Edition) – Grade 9-1 Course
CGP GCSE Spanish AQA Complete Revision & Practice (with CD & Online Edition) – Grade 9-1 Course
Is Spanish the subject for you?
¡Sí, claro!…….if you enjoy learning languages, traveling and meeting people from different places, and learning about a different way of life. You will be learning advanced vocabulary and grammar to give you freedom to express yourself when speaking and writing in Spanish. There will be plenty of opportunities to have debates about different issues in the news; we will be reading Spanish newspapers, watching the Spanish news etc. By the end of the two year course you will be able to communicate fluently in Spanish.
Course content
This course has been designed to give you a profound understanding of Spanish. Not only will you know more about the mechanics of the language – like grammar and vocabulary – but also about how the people live and use language on a day to day basis.
Methods of study
We will combine the use of a text book, AQA Spanish for A Level, with many other resources such as newspaper articles, website articles, videos, Spanish songs, films, books, etc. To develop your linguistic skills lessons will be conducted in Spanish and you are expected to contribute and participate by speaking in Spanish to your peers and teachers. Students are expected to do independent study every week which should be recorded and signed by your teacher. This could be through activities such as revision and exam practice, listening to Spanish audio extracts, reading a Spanish book or magazine, watching a film, researching on a website, etc. You will also have opportunities to enrich your studies further by participating in or leading extra-curricular MFL activities in the whole school, and taking part in trips and outings relevant to Spanish language, culture and society.
How will it be examined?
AS qualification will not count towards the final grade of an A Level and be a separate qualification in its own right (Linear).
Career opportunities
Apart from being beneficial at a personal level, your A level in Spanish can help with quite a few career paths. For those who want to specialise in language, there’s teaching, translation and interpreting. Or maybe you want to work in the travel and tourism industry. But even as, say, an engineer or designer, being proficient in a language will give you broader career options. Students find that languages are a natural fit for many subjects, enabling them to use their skills and qualifications to apply to university and access career opportunities at home and abroad. Travel – so the saying goes – broadens your mind; and never more so than when you can speak the language. That way you’ll be able to find out what the local people are thinking, how they live… and how their culture really works.
AQA SPANISH AS Year 1 Subject content
AQA SPANISH AS Year 2 Subject content
AQA SPANISH 2016+ AS EXAM YEAR 1
PAPER 1: LISTENING, READING AND WRITING 45%
PAPER 2: WRITING 25%
PAPER 3: SPEAKING 30%
AQA SPANISH 2016+ A LEVEL EXAM YEAR 2
Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing 50 % of A-level
Paper 2: Writing 20 % of A-level
Paper 3: Speaking 30 % of A-level
