The MFL department strongly believes that MFL has a key place in the curriculum at all key stages. At Malet Lambert we create a thirst and love of learning through our knowledge of how languages work. Language learning equips pupils with essential life and employability skills. We live in an increasingly global environment and employers around the world thrive from applications they receive from linguists alike. Language learning also embeds the necessary literacy skills needed across a range of subjects. The study of a modern foreign language also enhances the grammatical knowledge of your own language, improves resilience, listening skills and communication which are valuable life skills. Pupils will find themselves able to communicate, be creative, explore new cultures and reflect on their own progress throughout their language learning experience.
Facilities
We have seven dedicated language classrooms, which all have interactive whiteboards. In addition to this, we have video conferencing facilities in one room, which allows us to bring the real world into lessons and create meaningful language learning experiences for our pupils. We have 32 laptops for pupil use across the department, giving pupils access to a range of media based resources. Pupils also have unlimited access to the online software programme Languagenut as part of their weekly homework. Pupils can access this at any time to improve their knowledge of topic vocabulary and language learning experience.
Courses
Pupils study French or Spanish from Year 7 (language assigned by school) until the end of Year 9. Depending on their assigned pathway, pupils will either continue to study this language at KS4 as part of their core curriculum and take their GCSE at the end of Year 11 or they can choose to do GCSE MFL as one of their option choices.
Courses at both KS3 and KS4 focus on all four skills areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing and encourage pupils to communicate and use language for real purposes.
We have 7 qualified linguists (French and Spanish specialists) to enrich our curriculum and provide stimulating learning experiences for all pupils.
Extra Curricular
We offer a weekly lunchtime club that focuses on developing cultural awareness where pupils can learn about the culture and traditions in French and Spanish speaking countries and try out taster sessions in other languages. We encourage pupils to attend the weekly MFL lunchtime homework club to gain support from staff if required and where the MFL department laptops can be used to complete any interactive homework.
In Spring 2023 we visited Madrid, the capital of Spain. We anticipate to offer a trip like this again in the future. This residential visit included accommodation, a tour of the football stadium, shopping experience, food tasting, a flamenco show and a visit to the famous food market, Mercado de San Miguel. We also encouraged as much as possible the use of the language whilst pupils were on the visit.
We hope to offer a trip to France in the near future. Previously we offered a residential trip to Normandy that included accommodation, cheese making, a visit to a French market, food tasting and that all-important practice of the French language.
