Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

Year 7 Topics

Introductions, personal information, describing personality, family and pets, free time activities, talking about the weather, school, describing physical appearance, describing a good friend, my home, summer plans

Year 8 Topics

Holidays, social media and technology, music and cinema, food, eating out at a Spanish restaurant, places in town, organising an outing, finding our way around town.

Year 9 Topics

Talking about likes and dislikes, describing a past celebration and discussing future plans, jobs and careers, discussing what a healthy lifestyle looks like, learning about human rights for children in the Spanish speaking world.

Skills

Reading and listening comprehension, problem-solving skills, writing and translation skills, speaking skills

Assessment

Vocabulary quizzes, writing tasks, reading and listening tests, speaking tests, end of unit exams

Spanish

Topics

My personal world, lifestyle and wellbeing, my neighbourhood, media and technology, studying and my future, travel and tourism 

Skills

Reading and listening comprehension, problem-solving skills, writing and translation skills, speaking skills

Assessment

The GCSE Edexcel Spanish course assesses four core skills through written and oral exams:

1. Listening (Paper 1)

• Format: Written exam with recordings of spoken Spanish.

• Duration: 35 minutes (Foundation Tier) or 45 minutes (Higher Tier).
• Weighting: 25% of total grade.
• Content: Questions on main ideas, details, and opinions in a variety of contexts.

2. Speaking (Paper 2)

• Format: Oral exam conducted by the teacher.

• Duration: 7-9 minutes (Foundation Tier) or 10-12 minutes (Higher Tier).
• Weighting: 25% of total grade.
• Content: Role play, photo card discussion, and general conversation.

3. Reading (Paper 3)

• Format: Written exam with comprehension questions and a short translation into English.

• Duration: 45 minutes (Foundation Tier) or 1 hour (Higher Tier).
• Weighting: 25% of total grade.
• Content: Extracts from different text types, including advertisements, emails, and literary works.

4. Writing (Paper 4)

• Format: Written exam with tasks such as structured writing, open-ended responses, and translation into Spanish.
• Duration: 1 hour (Foundation Tier) or 1 hour 15 minutes (Higher Tier).
• Weighting: 25% of total grade.
• Content: Writing tasks vary by tier, from short messages to extended essays.

Arabic

Topics

Identity and culture,  Local area, holiday, travel, School, Future aspirations, study and work , International and global dimension

Skills

Reading and listening comprehension, problem-solving skills, writing and translation skills, speaking skills

Assessment

1. Listening and Understanding in Arabic (Paper 1)

• Format: Written examination with audio recordings.

• Duration: 35 minutes (Foundation Tier) or 45 minutes (Higher Tier).

• Weighting: 25% of the total qualification.

• Content: Assesses comprehension of spoken Arabic across various contexts and registers.

2. Speaking in Arabic (Paper 2)

• Format: Internally conducted and externally assessed oral examination.

• Duration: 7–9 minutes (Foundation Tier) or 10–12 minutes (Higher Tier).

• Weighting: 25% of the total qualification.

• Content: Includes role-play, picture-based tasks, and general conversation to evaluate spoken Arabic skills.

3. Reading and Understanding in Arabic (Paper 3)

• Format: Written examination.

• Duration: 50 minutes (Foundation Tier) or 1 hour 5 minutes (Higher Tier).

• Weighting: 25% of the total qualification.

• Content: Tests understanding of written Arabic through various text types, including advertisements, emails, letters, articles, and literary texts.

4. Writing in Arabic (Paper 4)

• Format: Written examination.

• Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes (Foundation Tier) or 1 hour 25 minutes (Higher Tier).

• Weighting: 25% of the total qualification.

• Content: Assesses the ability to produce written Arabic for different purposes and audiences, including tasks such as writing messages, letters, and essays.

Intercultural project - pupil led languages/culture lessons for staff & pupils
 

Barcelona trip - 2025

1. Translator

   • Converts written text from one language to another in fields like legal, technical, literary, or business translation.

2. Interpreter

   • Provides real-time oral translation during meetings, conferences, or in public services like healthcare and legal proceedings.

3. Language Teacher

   • Teaches modern foreign languages at primary, secondary, or higher education levels.

4. Diplomat

   • Represents a country abroad, requiring language skills to communicate effectively and foster international relations.

5. International Business Consultant

   • Works with global companies, using language skills to negotiate and liaise with overseas clients or partners.

6. Tourism and Travel Specialist

   • Roles include tour guides, travel agents, or hospitality staff catering to multilingual clients.

7. Journalist/Foreign Correspondent

   • Reports on international events, using language skills to interview sources and access foreign news outlets.

8. Cultural Liaison Officer

   • Works in organisations like museums or cultural exchange programs, promoting international understanding and partnerships.

9. Intelligence Analyst

   • Uses language skills to interpret foreign communications for government agencies or private security firms.

10. Localisation Specialist

    • Adapts products, websites, or media to fit the language and cultural nuances of different markets.

MFL opens opportunities in various fields by enhancing communication, cultural awareness, and adaptability in global settings.

Spanish

Homework

Set day: first day of Spanish within the week
Due day: first day during following week
Format/platform: Google ClassCharts
 

Revision

BBC Bitesize Spanish KS3: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/subjects/zfckjxs

BBC Bitesize Spanish GCSE Edexcel (for exams until 2025):  https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/z799hbk

BBC Bitesize Spanish GCSE Edexcel (for exams from 2026): https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zwbhb7h

Mobile app to practise speaking: https://www.memrise.com/en/learn-spanish

Arabic

Homework

Set day: first day of Arabic within the week
Due day: first day during following week
Format/platform: Google ClassCharts
 

Revision

GCSE Arabic Edexcel Specification Specification - Arabic (pearson.com)

GCSE Arabic past paper 2020 Reading Higher 1AA0_3H_que_20190611.pdf (pearson.com)

Learning Arabic with Aljazeera Learning Arabic | تعلم العربية (aljazeera.net)

Spanish

Beginner Level

1. "El Principito" (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

   • A simple yet profound story about friendship and exploration.

2. "Pobre Ana" by Blaine Ray

   • A beginner-friendly novel about cultural experiences in Mexico.

3. "La casa de la dentista" (The House of the Dentist) by David Bowles

   • A spooky graphic novel with engaging visuals and accessible language.

4. "¿Dónde está Eduardo?" (Where is Eduardo?) by Lisa Ray Turner and Blaine Ray

   • A lighthearted story about a teenager’s trip to Costa Rica.

Intermediate Level

5. "Cajas de cartón" (The Circuit) by Francisco Jiménez

   • A heartfelt story about a migrant family’s struggles and resilience.

6. "Esperanza" by Carol Gaab

   • A suspenseful novel about a family escaping political unrest in Guatemala.

7. "Robo en la noche" (Robbery in the Night) by Kristy Placido

   • A mystery set in Costa Rica with cultural and environmental themes.

Advanced Level

8. "Como agua para chocolate" (Like Water for Chocolate) by Laura Esquivel

   • A magical realism novel exploring love and Mexican culture.

9. "Bodas de sangre" (Blood Wedding) by Federico García Lorca

   • A dramatic play that delves into themes of love, fate, and family honor.

10. "Crónica de una muerte anunciada" (Chronicle of a Death Foretold) by Gabriel García Márquez

    • A compelling novella examining societal expectations and honor.

This curated list balances accessibility and challenge, exposing students to rich cultural and linguistic content.

Arabic

Beginner Level

1. "الأمير الصغير" (The Little Prince) by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

   • A universally loved story with simple vocabulary, ideal for beginners.

2. "رحلة مع الفضاء" (Journey Through Space) by National Geographic Kids (Arabic Edition)

   • Engaging nonfiction for building vocabulary and comprehension skills.

3. "علاء الدين والمصباح السحري" (Aladdin and the Magic Lamp)

   • A classic tale with accessible language and cultural significance.

4. "قصص النبيين للأطفال" (Stories of the Prophets for Children) by Sayed Kutub

   • A beginner-friendly collection of stories with religious and cultural importance.

Intermediate Level

5. "كليلة ودمنة" (Kalila and Dimna) by Ibn al-Muqaffa

   • A collection of fables and parables that teach life lessons, using moderately challenging language.

6. "رجال في الشمس" (Men in the Sun) by Ghassan Kanafani

   • A powerful novella exploring themes of displacement and sacrifice in the Palestinian context.

7. "الأيام" (The Days) by Taha Hussein

   • An autobiographical account of the author’s life, blending cultural insights with accessible prose.

Advanced Level

8. "موسم الهجرة إلى الشمال" (Season of Migration to the North) by Tayeb Salih

   • A renowned novel addressing identity, colonialism, and cultural conflict.

9. "أنا يوسف" (I Am Joseph) by Ayed Al-Qahtani

   • A modern interpretation of the story of Prophet Joseph, with deep language and reflective themes.

10. "اللص والكلاب" (The Thief and the Dogs) by Naguib Mahfouz

    • A suspenseful novel exploring betrayal, revenge, and societal corruption, written by a Nobel laureate.

This selection spans classic and contemporary Arabic literature, offering a mix of cultural, historical, and philosophical themes for students at different proficiency levels.

Spanish Learning Journey