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Higham Lane School

Higham Lane School

Modern Foreign Languages

Modern Foreign Languages FAQs

What does a French lesson look like?

In a French lesson, you will be practising how to speak and hold a conversation, but also how to write sentences and paragraphs in French. You will develop your vocabulary and grammar knowledge in French. You will also listen to French extracts and read French texts. Sometimes you may be asked to practise your French on websites such as linguascope.com. French lessons are very entertaining, challenging and engaging!

Can you study French at GCSE and A-Level at Higham Lane School?

Yes and yes! All students will have the opportunity to study French at GCSE as it is now a compulsory subject and a government's expectation that all students learn a language at GCSE. Higham Lane Sixth Form centre also offers the opportunity for students to continue with their language learning at A-Level. Learning a language is very rewarding. It is challenging, entertaining and stimulating. It opens up lots of doors for universities and colleges, as well as in the world of work. It develops your communication skills, as well as your reading skills. It also makes you more aware of the different cultures around the world.

Are there any trips abroad at HLS?

Yes, over the past 5 years, we have taken approximately 40 students from Year 7 to 10 to Paris or Le Touquet, northern France for 3 days and 2 nights. We saw Paris main touristic sights, and we also went to Eurodisney for a day. In Le Touquet we visited a snail farm, a bakery, a sweet factory and a chocolate factory. We also had the opportunity to do some shopping in a big shopping centre before returning to the UK. Now that the COVID restrictions are lifted, we will be resuming our trips to France.

In Modern Foreign Languages, we aim to promote an enjoyment in language learning and an interest in finding out about different countries and cultures.

All pupils will study French in their time at Higham Lane School.

French is now a compulsory subject as it is a government's expectation that all Key Stage 4 students learn a foreign language at GCSE level. Key Stage 4 students may have the opportunity to be spoken to by various guest speakers who will demonstrate the importance of language skills in their professional life.

In Key Stage 5, we offer A-level in French.

Extra-curricular activities may include whole-school celebrations for European Day of Languages (26th September) and French Bastille Day (14th July), sessions at lunch or after school to support Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 students with their studies. We also offer a residential to France (Le Touquet, northern France) for Year 7-10 students who are currently studying French in order to enable students to gain real life experience of the language.

Year 7 Curriculum

In Year 7, students will receive a bespoke programme of study tailored to introducing them to French and/or to develop their language skills further.
We use the NCELP (National Centre for Excellence in Language Pedagogy) Schemes of Learning and this means that the teaching of phonics is paced and explicit. The vocabulary is carefully selected based on word frequency. In terms of grammar, no more than one new grammatical function is taught every two weeks.

Students who have studied some French in primary school will have the opportunity to consolidate and develop their knowledge further, whilst students who have never studied French or studied a different foreign language in primary school will be accompanied and supported to develop their knowledge of French. They will have a weekly vocabulary test for homework.  

Year 8 Curriculum

In Year 8, the students will continue to receive a bespoke programme of study tailored to build on their knowledge by using the NCELP Schemes of Learning. By focusing on the most frequently occurring vocabulary in the French language and providing a strong spine of grammar, the course provides the foundations for all future language study, including the current GCSE.

They will have a weekly vocabulary test for homework.  . 

Year 9 Curriculum

In Year 9, students will begin studying the Studio GCSE course (Edexcel exam board) which allows them to begin to access the language in more depth which they will later need to achieve excellent results in their French GCSE exams at the end of Year 11. Students will continue their training of the different elements of the French GCSE course in order to achieve their potential. They will have a weekly vocabulary quiz based on the vocabulary which has been provided by the exam board.  Units of study include: family & friends / free time / daily life & celebrations

Year 10 Curriculum

In Year 10, students will continue studying the Studio GCSE course (Edexcel exam board) which allows them to access the language in more depth which they will later need to achieve excellent results in their French GCSE exams at the end of Year 11. In Year 10, students will continue their training of the different elements of the French GCSE course in order to achieve their potential. They will have a weekly vocabulary quiz based on the vocabulary which has been provided by the exam board. Units of study include: my town, holidays and school.

Year 11 Curriculum

In Year 11, students studying French will continue studying the Studio GCSE course (Edexcel exam board) which allows students to access the language in more depth which they will need to achieve excellent results in their French GCSE exams at the end of the year. Students will continue their training of the different elements of the French GCSE course in order to achieve their potential. They will have a weekly vocabulary quiz based on the vocabulary which has been provided by the exam board. They will also sit four exams in Listening, Reading and Writing, which normally take place around mid-May, and a Speaking exam, which normally takes place shortly after the Easter holidays each year. Units of study include: work/work experience and the environment as well as a lengthy period of revision and practice prior to their end of year exams.

In Year 11, some students studying German will continue studying the Stimmt GCSE course (Edexcel exam board) which allows students to access the complicated language in more depth which they will later need to achieve excellent results in their GCSE exams at the end of the year. Students will continue their training of the different elements of the German GCSE course in order to achieve their potential. They will have a weekly vocabulary quiz based on the vocabulary which has been provided by the exam board to students. They will also sit four exams in Listening, Reading and Writing, which normally take place around June, and a Speaking exam, which normally takes place after the Easter holidays each year. Units of study include: holidays, my town, work/work experience and the environment as well as a lengthy period of revision and practice prior to their end of year exams.

Year 12 Curriculum

In Year 12, students studying French will be studying their A-level using the Eduqas exam board and a combination of the AQA and Elan coursebooks. This allows students to access the various elements of the course which they will later need to achieve excellent results in their French A-level exams at the end of Year 13. Students will study the full A-level course at Higham Lane Sixth Form, sitting their final exams in the summer of Year 13. Units of study include:

  • The area you live in and speaking about yourself.
  • Regional culture and heritage in France, French speaking countries and communities.
  • France, Canada and Switzerland and Les Domtoms in a European context, Literature, art, film and music in the French-speaking world.
  • Youth trends, issues and personal identity.
  • Employment and education.
  • Family structures, traditional and modern values, friendships/relationships, citizenship.
  • Study of 'Les Choristes' film.

Year 13 Curriculum

In Year 13, students taking French will be studying their A-level using the WJEC exam board and a combination of the AQA and Elan coursebooks. This allows students to access the various elements of the course which they will later need to achieve excellent results in their French A-level exams at the end of Year 13. Students will study the full A-level course at Higham Lane Sixth Form, sitting their final exams in the summer of Year 13. Units of study include:

  • June 1940-May 1945, Life in occupied France, The French resistance.
  • Cultural dimension in occupied France, The political context of theatre and drama productions.
  • 1945-1950 Rebuilding and restructuring society in post-war years.
  • Oral exam Independent research project preparation time.
  • Migration and integration: Reason for migration, factors which make migration/integration easy/difficult.
  • Cultural enrichment and celebrating difference: The positive aspect of a diverse society.
  • Cultural identity and marginalisation: reasons for marginalisation; ways to eliminate marginalisation.
  • Discrimination and diversity: Life for those who are discriminated against.
  • Study of the book “No et Moi” by Delphine de Vigan.

N FINLEY, Subject Leader for Modern Foreign Languages

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