Languages at Millom School
In French, we learn Language, we learn about Language and we learn through Language… it is a truly complete experience!
The French classroom is situated in Ulpha, but it certainly has a French feel to it (something to do with the French flag in U17, or even the singing that takes place at our end of our school day, maybe…)
The Languages department embraces 21st century technology. We regularly make use of the teaching and learning opportunities afforded us by hand-held technology, such as our class set of iPads. This technology is used to develop speaking, reading, writing and listening skills, and are a great hit with the students!
Taught by:
Mrs E de Cadenet
Miss S Faulkner
French at KS3
All students study French at KS3 for 2 hours.
In Year 7, students begin their course with a ‘Getting Started’ unit, where we cover basic classroom language.
Students will then study an Art unit, where they will learn to discuss Art in French.
This unit is followed by a unit on Chocolate (which does include some chocolate tasting!) and a unit on Sport, where we look at the where previous Olympic Games have taken place, design Mascots, and discuss Olympic values.
In Year 8, students are at the moment working on the Chocolate Unit, which will then be followed by a Spooky Tales unit (a ghost story in a haunted castle!) and a Secret Agent unit, where we will be using cipher wheels and solving a ‘whodunit…’
In Year 9, students are, at the moment, completing the Sport unit and will then move onto the Space Unit (learning about life in an international space station), followed by a Music and TV unit which will give us the opportunity to look at GCSE style questions and, if time allows, a Dragon’s Den unit which will develop students’ understanding of ‘business’/employment related language.
Students are taught in mixed ability sets until Christmas and are then ‘setted’ in time for the commencement
French at KS4
At KS4, we follow the AQA Specification for French, code 4655.
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/french/gcse/french-4655
This specification develops language skills in a variety of contexts and gives a choice of contexts and purposes for the Writing and Speaking units. It also builds on the KS3 study and prepares students for further study, eg GCSE to AS; AS to A2 etc.
All students will study the following topics:
– Lifestyle
a) Health
b) Relationships and Choices
– Leisure
a) Free time and the Media
b) Holidays
– Home and the Environment
a) Home and local area
b) Environment
-Work and Education
a) School, college and future plans
b) Current and future jobs
KS4 (Y10)
We follow the AQA Specification for French, code 8658
http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658
Students study all of the following themes on which the assessments are based.
Theme 1: Identity and culture
Topic 1: Me, my family and friends
•• Relationships with family and friends
•• Marriage/partnership
Topic 2: Technology in everyday life
•• Social media
•• Mobile technology
Topic 3: Free-time activities
•• Music
•• Cinema and TV
•• Food and eating out
•• Sport
Topic 4: Customs and festivals in French-speaking countries/communities
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
Topic 1: Home, town, neighbourhood and region
Topic 2: Social issues
•• Charity/voluntary work
•• Healthy/unhealthy living
Topic 3: Global issues
•• The environment
•• Poverty/homelessness
Topic 4: Travel and tourism
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment
Topic 1: My studies
Topic 2: Life at school/college
Topic 3: Education post-16
Topic 4: Jobs, career choices and ambitions
In Key Stage 4, students are taught in mixed ability sets.
It is recommended that students use the ‘Vocab Express’ website / app to practise/develop their vocabulary.
It would also be helpful to students if they have their own bilingual dictionary. The most helpful one is the Oxford Learner’s French Dictionary, ISBN 978-0-19-912745-0