Modern Foreign Languages
Subject Leader: Mrs J Chainey
If you wish to learn more about our curriculum please contact the Subject Lead by clicking on their name above.
Pupils study French and Spanish in Years 7 and 8 on a carousel basis. They continue with one language in Year 9.
Key Stage 5
A Level French
Exam Board: AQA
Course Overview
Our French A Level course aims to transform our students from citizens of Sittingbourne to citizens of the world. We will liberate them from insularity and expose them to other cultures, broadening their horizons and equipping them with the language skills to enable them to study or work overseas. It will give students the opportunity to develop their writing, reading, speaking and listening skills in the target language, to learn about the political, historical and social background of the country whose language they are studying. They will experience another culture, its art, literature, music and film.
Assessment: 100% examination to be assessed in the final year of the course.
Listening, Reading, Writing – 50%
Writing – 20%
Speaking – 30%
Key Stage 4
GCSE French and Spanish
Exam Board: AQA
Course Overview
GCSEs in French help pupils develop their language skills in a variety of contexts and gives a broad understanding of the culture of countries and communities where French is spoken. It encourages enjoyment of language learning and recognises that language skills enable pupils to take their place in a multilingual global society.
Pupils study the specification from the beginning of Year 10. It requires them to develop their ability to write and speak in French and to understand French when it is written down or spoken. This qualification counts towards the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc). Pupils in Year 11 study the following themes on which the assessments are based. 1: Identity and culture. 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest. 3: Current and future study and employment.
Equal weighting for all four skills - Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.
Assessment: 100% examination to be assessed in the final year of the course.
Curriculum Content:
Year 7
Term 1 (or 4): Moi et les autres : How do you pronounce key sounds in French?Qu’est-ce que tu as? Qu’est-ce qu’il/elle a? ( What do you have? What does he/she have?)
Term 2 (or 5): Moi et les autres:Qui suis-je ( who am I?) Tu es comment? Il/elle est comment? ( what do you look like? What does he/she look like?)
Term 3 (or 6): Moi et les autres: Qu’est-ce que tu aimes? Qu’est-ce qu’il/elle aime? ( what do you like? what does he/she like?)
Year 8
Term 1 (or 4): How do you pronounce key sounds in French?Qui es-tu? ( who are you?) Oú habites-tu? ( where do you live?)
Term 2 (or 5): Comment est ta région? (what does your area look like?) Quel temps fait-il? ( What’s the weather like?)Qu’est-ce que tu as fait pendant les vacances? ( what did you do during your holiday?)
Term 3 (or 6): Où vas-tu aller en vacances et que vas-tu faire? ( where are you going to go on holiday and what are you going to do?)Quelles sont tes vacances idéales?( what are your ideal holidays?)
Year 9
Term 1- Que fais-tu en vacances? ( what do I do on holiday?)
Term 2- Quels sont tes vacances idéales? ( what are my ideal holidays?)
Term 3: Comment est ton collège? ( what is my school like?)
Term 4- Comment est ton collège? ( what is my school like?)
Term 5- Où habites-tu? ( where do I live?) Que fais-tu dans ta region? ( what do I do in my area?)
Term 6- Que fais-tu dans ta région? ( what do I do in my area?)
Year 10
Term 1: Comment est ta famille? ( what is my family like?)
Term 2: Comment est ta famille? ( what is my family like?)
Term 3: Comment est ta santé? ( what is your health like?)
Term 4: Comment est ta santé? ( what is your health like?)
Term 5: Comment est ton collège? ( what is your school like?)
Term 6: Comment est ton collège? ( what is your school like?)
Year 11
Term 1: Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire après des examens de GCSE? ( what do I want to do after your GCSE exams?) Dans quel secteur voudrais-tu travailler? ( in which area would I like to work?) Quels sont tes projets pour l’avenir? ( what are your projects for the future?)
Term 2: Que fais-tu pendant ton temps libre? ( what do I do during my free time?) Que fais-tu normalement pour célébrer Noël, Pâques ou ton anniversaire? ( what do I usually do to celebrate christmas, easier or your birthday?)
Term 3: Que fais-tu en vacances? ( what do I do on holiday?) Quelles sont tes vacances idéales? ( what are my ideal holidays?) Où habites-tu? ( where do I live?) Que fais-tu dans ta region? ( what do I do in my area?)
Term 4: Qu’est-ce que tu as fait pour aider les autres? ( what did you do to help others?) Que fais-tu pour l’environnement? ( what do I do for the environment?) Speaking Preparation.
Term 5: Revision /Exam preparation
Year 13
Term 1: Quel est le pouvoir des syndicats? ( what is the power of trade unions?) Les manifestations et les grèves sont-elles efficaces? ( are demonstrations and strikes efficient?) Quelles sont les différentes attitudes envers les tensions politiques? (What are the different attitudes towards political tensions?)
Term 2: quelles sont les solutions politiques à la question de l’immigration? (what are the political solutions regarding immigration?) Quel est l’engagement politique chez les immigrés? ( what is the political involvement among immigrants?).Comment la France est-elle devenue multiculturelle? ( how did France become multicultural?) Comment le multiculturalisme affecte la société? ( how does multiculturalism affect society?)
Term 3: Qui sont les marginalisés? ( who are the marginalised?)Quelle aide pour les marginalisés? ( what help is there for the marginalised?) Quelles attitudes envers les marginalises ( what are the attitudes towards the marginalised?) Quelles attitudes envers la criminalité? ( what are the attitudes towards criminality?) Prison: echec ou success? Quelles sont les méthodes préventives? ( what are the preventive measures?)
Term 4: Pour ou contre le droit de vote? (for or against the right to vote?) Les ados et l’engagement politique: motivés ou démotivés? ( teens and political engagement: motivated or unmotivated?) Quel avenir pour la politique? ( What is the future for politics?)
Term 5: Revision of writing skills, grammar skills, revision and exam preparation
Kiffe kiffe demain - quels sont les thèmes principaux du livre? ( what are the main themes of the book?). Quel est le contexte du livre et des personnages? Essay/ writing skills
L’auberge espagnole - Quels sont les thèmes principaux du film? (what are the main themes of the film?). Quel est le contexte du film et des personnages? (What is the context of the film and the characters?). Quelles sont les techniques cinématographiques utilisées dans le film? (What are the cinematographic techniques used in the film?)
Useful Website Links:
Suggested Revision Guides and Books:
Out of School Learning (OSL) and Extracurricular Activities:
GCSE OSL runs every Friday after school from 3.05pm-4pm.
Foreign Language Leader Award for Year 9 students every Monday lunchtime with Mrs Chainey in L14
Foreign Language Spelling Bee Competition for Year 7
Foreign Language Translation Bee Competition for Years 8 and 9
Key Stage 4 Spanish
GCSE Spanish
Exam Board: AQA
Course Overview
GCSE Spanish helps pupils develop their language skills in a variety of contexts and gives a broad understanding of the culture of countries and communities where Spanish is spoken. It encourages enjoyment of language learning and recognises that language skills enable pupils to take their place in a multilingual global society.
Pupils study the specification from the beginning of Year 10. It requires them to develop their ability to write and speak in Spanish and to understand Spanish when it is written down or spoken. This qualification counts towards the English Baccalaureate (Ebacc). Pupils in Year 11 study the following themes on which the assessments are based. 1: Identity and culture. 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest. 3: Current and future study and employment.
Equal weighting for all four skills - Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.
Assessment: 100% examination to be assessed in the final year of the course.
Curriculum Content
KS3 Spanish
Year 7
Term 1 (or 4): How do you pronounce key sounds in Spanish? ¿Cómo soy? (What am I like?)
Term 2 (or 5): ¿Qué tengo? (What do I have?)
Term 3 (or 6): ¿Qué me gusta hacer en mi tiempo libre? (What do I like to do in my free time?)
Year 8
Term 1 (or 4): ¿Qué me gusta hacer en mi tiempo libre? (What do I like to do in my free time?)
Term 2 and 3 (or 5 and 6): ¿Cómo es mi insti? (What is my school like?)
Year 9
Term 1 and 2: ¿Cómo es mi insti? (What is my school like?) ¿Qué hago en el insti? (What do I do at school?)
Term 3 and 4: ¿Cómo es mi familia? (What is my family like?)
Term 5 and 6: ¿Dónde vivo? (Where do I live?)
Year 10
Term 1: ¿Cómo es mi vida social? (What is my social life like?)
Term 2 and 3: ¿Cómo son las vacaciones? (What are my holidays like?)
Term 4 and 5: ¿Quiénes son la gente en mi vida? (Who are the people in my life?)
Term 5 and 6: ¿Cómo es mi estilo de vida? (What is my lifestyle like?)
Year 11
Term 1: ¿Cómo es mi vida escolar? (What is my school life like?)
Term 2: ¿Cómo es mi barrio y dónde viviré en el futuro? (What is the area I live in like and where will I live in the future?)
Term 3: ¿Cómo cambiaríamos el mundo? (How can we change the world?)
Term 4: ¿Cómo es el futuro? (What is the future like?)
Term 5: Revision /Exam preparation
Useful Website Links:
Suggested Revision Guides and Books:
Out of School Learning (OSL) and Extracurricular Activities:
- GCSE OSL runs every Friday after school from 3.05pm-4pm.
- Foreign Language Leader Award for Year 9 students every Monday lunchtime with Mrs Chainey in L14
- Foreign Language Spelling Bee Competition for Year 7
- Foreign Language Translation Bee Competition for Years 8 and 9