Welcome to the Modern Languages Department!

MFL Department Vision
 
At The English School, we believe that learning a modern foreign language is essential to a well-rounded education. Languages enrich cultural understanding, foster global citizenship, and provide lifelong skills valuable for education, employment, and leisure. Our department is committed to promoting language learning as central to the EU’s vision, where every citizen should be proficient in at least two foreign languages in addition to their mother tongue. From Year 1, students have the choice to study French, Spanish, or German, opening doors to a world of opportunity.

Aligned with the school’s policy, the overarching goal of the Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) Department is to foster global understanding, empathy, and high academic standards, preparing students for life, work, and communication in the 21st century. The aims of the MFL Department are to:

• Develop students’ linguistic skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing across a range of topics and contexts.
• Foster an appreciation for diverse cultures, perspectives, and traditions to promote intercultural understanding.
• Enable students to communicate effectively and confidently in one or more foreign languages.
• Encourage the use of language-learning strategies that build resilience and independent learning skills.
• Cultivate an understanding of the structure and mechanics of language, enhancing both linguistic and analytical skills.
• Promote critical thinking by analyzing texts, interpreting meaning, and evaluating cultural nuances.
• Equip students with transferable skills that are valuable for future careers, such as communication, adaptability, and cultural awareness.
• Inspire curiosity and creativity through the exploration of authentic materials, literature, and real-world applications of language use.

 
Curriculum

Year 1
Topics:

• Greetings and alphabet
• Numbers to 21, saying your age
• Months and special celebrations
• Classroom objects (le/la/l’/les)
• Hobbies (j’aime/je n’aime pas)
• Colours
• Animals
• Family (mon/ma/mes)
• Where I live (J’habite dans…)
• Food (À table)
• Countries and nationalities (Mon pays)
• Weather
• Family
• Project on painters

 
Year 2

• Talking about likes and dislikes
• Describing yourself and others Using adjective agreement
• Saying what you do
• Telling the time
• Saying what you think of your school subjects and why
• Using present tense
• Talking about which sports you play

 
Year 3

• Description of family members
• Home and living conditions
• Carnival
• Life in town
• Holidays (past tense)
• Clothes
• Future tense

 
Years 4 & 5 – IGSCE

• Vocabulary and grammar as per Edexcel specifications
• Development of listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills
• Assessment Topics:
  • Home and Abroad
  • Education and Employment
  • Personal Life and Relationships
  • The World Around Us
  • Social Activities, Fitness, and Health

 
A-Level (French, German, Spanish)
IAS (Year 1)

• Youth matters
• Lifestyle, health, and fitness
• Environment and travel
• Education and Employment

IAL (Year 2)

• Youth matters
• Lifestyle, health, and fitness
• Environment and travel
• Education and Employment
• Technology in the respective language-speaking world
• Society in the respective language-speaking world
• Ethics in the respective language-speaking world