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Modern Foreign Languages

Mission Statement

Our aim is to challenge and develop our students towards being confident communicators, able to manipulate language, interact with and understand other cultures to become global citizens equipped to make a difference

Curriculum Map

The links below allows you to see when topics may be covered; this is a guide for information only and has the potential to change as the year progresses.

French Curriculum Map 

Spanish Curriculum Map

Italian Curriculum Map

At A Level, students develop their awareness of the culture and society of French, Spanish or Italian-speaking countries. All students are actively encouraged to develop their language skills through the use of a variety of media. Languages complement many subjects at university and the skills learnt through languages are easily transferable to other A Levels and further study. Knowing a foreign language will help to improve your cultural awareness, increase your adaptability and make you a more confident and effective communicator. 

A Level French covers a wide range of topics which are covered over four themes. 

  • Theme 1 Changes in French society: Family, education, world of work. 
  • Theme 2 Culture in the French-speaking world: Music, media, festivals and traditions. 
  • Theme 3 Immigration and multi-cultural society in France: The positive impact of immigration and the extreme right in France. 
  • Theme 4 The occupation and role of the resistance in France during the Second World War: Occupied France, the Vichy regime and the resistance movement. 

The film Les Choristes and book Thérèse Desqueyroux you study link to the topics, giving you further insight into French culture and History. As part of the speaking examination you will need to complete an Independent Research Project based on your own area of interest related to the society and culture of the French-speaking world. 

A Level Italian covers a wide range of topics which are covered over four themes. 

  • Theme 1 Changes in Italian society: Family, education, world of work.
  • Theme 2 Culture in Italy: Music, media, festivals and traditions.
  • Theme 3 Immigration and multicultural society in Italy: The positive impact of immigration, the challenges of migration to Italian society, the North/ South divide. 
  • Theme 4 History: The rise of Mussolini, fascism in the Second World War, the move from dictatorship to democracy in Italy.

Students are also required to study and critically analyse two Italian novels, as well as practising their translation and essay writing skills. The books Io non ho paura and Volevo i pantaloni link to the topics, giving you further insight into Italian culture. As part of the speaking examination you will need to complete an Independent Research Project based on your own area of interest related to the society and culture of the Italian-speaking world.

A Level Spanish covers a wide range of topics which are covered over four themes. 

  • Theme 1 Changes in Spanish society: Family, education, world of work. 
  • Theme 2 Culture in the French-speaking world: Music, media, festivals and traditions. 
  • Theme 3 Immigration and multi-cultural society in Spain: Immigration in Spain and the Civil War
  • Theme 4 History: Franco’s dictatorship and the transition from the dictatorship to the democracy 

The book Como Agua para Chocolate and film El lbertino del fauno that you will study, link to the topics, giving you further insight into Spanish culture and history. As part of the speaking examination you will need to complete an Independent Research Project based on your own area of interest related to the society and culture of the Spanish-speaking world.

Method of Assessment:

All MFL subjects follow the Edexcel course. You will sit the A Level exam at the end of Year 13. It consists of three papers:

Paper

Skills

Marks

Timing

Proportion of A Level

1

Listening, reading and translation into English

80

2 hours

40%

2

Written response to film and text, translation into French

120

2 hours 40 minutes

30%

3

Speaking

72

21-23 minutes

30%

Learning a language has helped me to understand more about the world around me. It has helped me to understand words and meanings, which I can apply to English. Furthermore, it has given me a window into another culture and helped me to gain both awareness of how big and varied the world is, and appreciation for such diversity.

- Millie, Year 12