Modern Foreign Languages

Key Stage 3 Summary

At Northampton Academy, our aim is to inspire a love of languages and an appreciation for different cultures. We want to broaden pupils’ horizons and educate them about the advantages of being globally aware and culturally sensitive. We aim to teach pupils the importance of speaking more than one language in our increasingly global community. We create a learning environment in the classroom that motivates and encourages students to communicate, as far as possible, in the target language, and incite them to take on challenges as well as risks with their learning.

We employ different teaching methods that actively engage our students in meaningful and experiential learning as well as trigger their curiosity. We endeavour to do this through careful questioning, peer-and-self-assessment and through interactive methods of teaching and learning. Real communication is the central thread to our lessons and the teaching of grammar is considered vital to develop genuine independence in the students’ ability to express themselves.

It is also important that our students are given access to a wide range of resources, including the use of ICT and authentic materials.  Overall, the MFL department hopes to develop their students’ all-around education and competencies needed to enter the world of work after their full time education.

Assessment Method - Each topic is designed to cover the following strands or Assessment Objectives.

Listening – AO1

• listen to a variety of forms of spoken language to obtain information and respond appropriately
• transcribe words and short sentences that they hear with increasing accuracy

Speaking – AO2

• initiate and develop conversations, coping with unfamiliar language and unexpected responses, making use of important social conventions such as formal modes of address
• express and develop ideas clearly and with increasing accuracy
• speak coherently and confidently, with increasingly accurate pronunciation and intonation

Reading – AO3

• read and show comprehension of original and adapted materials from a range of different sources, understanding the purpose, important ideas and details, and provide an accurate English translation of short, suitable material
• read literary texts in the language, such as stories, songs, poems and letters, to stimulate ideas, develop creative expression and expand understanding of the language and culture

Writing – AO4

• write prose using an increasingly wide range of grammar and vocabulary, write creatively to express their own ideas and opinions, and translate short written text accurately into the foreign language

Grammar – AO5

• identify and use tenses or other structures which convey the present, past, and future as appropriate to the language being studied
• use and manipulate a variety of key grammatical structures and patterns, including voices and moods, as appropriate
• develop and use a wide-ranging and deepening vocabulary that goes beyond their immediate needs and interests, allowing them to give and justify opinions and take part in discussion about wider issues
• use accurate grammar, spelling and punctuation      

Key Stage 4

Information on the Key Stage 4 course is available on Page 19 (French) and Page 27 (Spanish) of the Options Booklet, please click here to download >>>

Key Stage 5

Sixth Form course is available from the Sixth Form page, click here >>>