Curriculum – Modern Foreign Languages
Vision
Learning languages provides all of our students, irrespective of starting point or background, with an insight into other cultures, fostering their curiosity and deepening their understanding of the world. Students should be able to express themselves and understand and respond to its speakers in speech and writing.
Learning a language should provide the foundation for learning other languages, broadening their horizons and developing new ways of seeing the world through reading of authentic materials.
As a result of a high level of challenge and engagement, through the teaching of the national curriculum, we would like our students to be able to compete in the future on a global level, ensuring our competitiveness, influence and standing as part of an interconnected world.
Department Virtue
s Language teachers we seek to provide a positive environment where our learners are encouraged to learn from their mistakes and strive to improve and achieve their best.
French curriculum mapping layer 2 – The overview of KS3
Spanish curriculum mapping layer 2 – The overview of KS3
German curriculum mapping layer 2 – The overview of KS3
Key Stage 3 Curriculum Overview
Modern Foreign Languages have designed the curriculum around the students and the different stages in their development during their journey at Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic College.
- In Year 7 students cover topics based on themselves, their interests and their families.
- In Year 8 students will learn about their circle of family and friends.
- In Year 9 students are introduced to a set of life skills for languages in the wider world such as going shopping, at the doctors and travelling abroad.
GCSE Subjects
We offer three languages at GCSE
French – German – Spanish
Students study the four skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing, gaining cultural knowledge and an understanding of languages in context.
Students cover topics from three main themes: identity and culture, local nation and international and global areas of interest, current and future study and employment.
GCSE Assessment
Subject Area: MODERN LANGUAGES- FRENCH /GERMAN/ SPANISH
Syllabus Codes: EDUQAS C800PF/H / C820PF/H / C810PF/H
Students will be assessed each half term mainly through the use of past exam papers.
All skills will be tested at the end of Year 11.
Listening – 25%, Reading – 25% including translation from target language to English, Speaking – 25%, Writing – 25% including translation from Target language to English. The Speaking assessment will be 7-12 minutes long and consists of a Role Play, picture discussion and one conversation.
There are two tiers of assessment- Foundation or Higher.
Higher education pathways
Many of the Language students from Blessed Edward Oldcorne go on to study a language at a higher level. These qualifications include A level in the French, German and Spanish as well as more vocational qualifications such as Travel and Tourism courses at Heart of Worcester College.
There are also other opportunities to learn new languages at various levels building on the skills acquired whilst studying for GCSE.
Extra-curricular
Students are offered opportunities to participate in exchange trips to Lille and Stuttgart to practice their newly acquired knowledge.
We also attend a number of language events held at universities around the midlands such as Warwick, Aston and Birmingham University.
There are opportunities in school to act as mentors to foreign students visiting the city, in the past we have hosted students from Italy, China and Taiwan.
Contacts
Head of Department:
Mrs C Parker
cep43@blessededward.co.uk
2nd Department
Mrs R Low
rlow@blessededward.co.uk