Welcome to the Modern Foreign Languages Department

Learning languages can be challenging but can also be lots of fun. Imagine being able to communicate with people from different countries and different cultures. Teaching staff in the MFL department are passionate about languages and are keen to see pupils develop their language skills.

Pupils at Kenilworth School study French in year 7 and can start German and Spanish. Latin is offered to those students who show linguistic flair in Year 8 and 9.

All children study a language until the end of Key Stage 3 and a majority choose to continue with two languages until the end of Year 9.  In the light of the recent Government announcement about EBAC we encourage pupils to continue their language studies to GCSE. Kenilworth School offers A Levels in French, German and Spanish.

We place great importance on cultural awareness.  This is reflected not only in our lesson content but in the number of trips and exchanges which the Faculty offer.  KS3 Pupils can take part in exchanges with partner schools in our twinning towns of Bourg-la- Reine, France and Eppstein,Germany.  Language and culture trips to Spain, Germany(Berlin) and France (Montpellier) are organised for KS4 students.

At KS5 we organise a work experience exchange with a school in Munich, Germany and a cultural exchange with our partner school in Liège, Belgium. As well as being an education and cultural experience, pupils have a fantastic time and make a lot of new friends.

Course Material

The main course material for each subject is as follows:

French
Key Stage 3: Actif
GCSE: Sans frontières
A Level: Élan 1 & 2

German
Key Stage 3: Logo
GCSE: Logo
A Level: Zeitgeist

Spanish
Key Stage 3: Vaya Nuevo
GCSE: Vaya Nuevo
A Level: Al Tanto Nuevo

In addition, we use a wide variety of our own materials including clip art, language games and power point presentations.

These are designed to make language learning fun but also engage different types of learners. Articles from foreign websites and foreign newspapers are also used to stimulate discussion and develop linguistic skills and cultural awareness.

To complement language learning at Kenilworth school, pupils can to take part in exchanges with our partner schools in France, Germany and Belgium. This is the ideal opportunity to practise language skills and experience living with a host family. As well as being an education and cultural experience, pupils have a fantastic time and make a lot of new friends.

MFL AQA GCSE

Years 10 & 11 follow a two-year course towards the AQA GCSE Examination. All students follow the programme of study as outlined by the Board:

Listening and Reading are tiered; candidates can enter for either Foundation or Higher Tier. Speaking and Writing are untiered.

Speaking - 30%

Students are given an opportunity to record three 4-6 minute dialogues on prepared topics.  The two best recordings are used and count towards 30 % of the final GCSE mark. Each recording counts, therefore, as 15% of the final mark.

The assessment criteria for the speaking test is:

Writing - 30%

Students are asked to write three pieces of written work on prepared topics.  Each piece must contain a minimum of 200 words and will count towards 15% of the final mark.  The two best pieces are sent to the Examination Board for external marking and will count towards 30 % of the final GCSE mark.
The assessment criteria for the writing test is:

Listening - 20%
Reading – 20%

The listening and reading skills are tested in May/June of the final year.  Pupils are entered for either Foundation or Higher tier.