Modern Foreign Languages

 

Learning a foreign language is empowering. There is no denying that foreign language skills are increasingly important in modern Britain and hugely benefit trade and employment.

 

The Modern Foreign Languages department at Huxlow Academy takes pride in ensuring that students are equipped with the tools which will make them stand out. The team of very skilled teachers have a record of sustained high results in the French language at GCSE level and they are committed to secure students’ success.

To be successful, linguistic knowledge is regularly revisited and deepened from Year 7 to the GCSE exams. The curriculum is therefore sequenced in building blocks across the years so that students consolidate and apply the language confidently. Accordingly, some topics are repeated and further developed across the years for purposes of embedding the language and expanding the breath of expression and understanding. Students thereby achieve highly by securing basics and manipulating the French language more confidently.

Language learning cannot be reduced to learning words and, as a result, a variety of skills is also embedded in the curriculum from the very beginning of Year 7. By being consistently and repeatedly exposed to the 4 key skills (Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking) in French, students grow in confidence and reach individual success. 

As some students start their French learning with misconceptions – purpose of learning a foreign language, difficulties in their own language – all lessons are scaffolded, and strategies put in place to support the learning of spellings and grammar. Students regularly surprise themselves by achieving very strongly in the writing and speaking skills. Clear structure, explicit teaching, and recurring practice lead to successful and confident learners, regardless of their starting point. 

Finally, learning a foreign language is also about enjoyment and enriching the students’ cultural capital. We have therefore developed many strategies to guarantee that students feel confident and keep aiming high whilst discovering the French culture. For instance, customs and cultural differences are embedded in the topics taught to make language learning more authentic. Opportunities to widen their perspectives and look at the origin of words in English are also an integral part of the MFL curriculum. Chances to reflect on the British culture whilst learning about other cultures are also provided.

French films, music, artists, food, architecture, sport, geography, history and lifestyle are part of students’ everyday learning, and this has made language learning at Huxlow Academy quite unique and so successful over the years.

Exam Board - AQA

DEPARTMENT STAFF

Miss C Maubert – Head of Languages
Miss J Crépin - Teacher of Languages
Mrs D Crisan – Teacher of Languages
Mrs H Huchet – Teacher of Languages, Assistant Headteacher

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you would to find out more about the Languages curriculum, please contact Miss C Maubert, Learning Leader for Languages

 

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