Key Stage 4 Modern Foreign Langauges

Modern Languages are now nationally an option at KS4. Currently about 50% of pupils opt to continue study of a language and encouraging numbers do two. Pupils have either two lessons per week in year 10 and then three in year 11, or vice versa. The AQA linear syllabus is currently followed by all pupils, although the faculty is considering introducing the AQA modular course. Level of entry is at Foundation or Higher in four skills: Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. Each skill is worth 25% of the GCSE The Writing element is covered by Coursework and involves production of three pieces of written work over the two years. Pupils can ‘mix and match’ levels of entry in each different skills – eg do Higher Reading but Foundation Listening. Target grades for each pupil, are set during Year 10.

Resources follow very much the system in KS4 – a mixture of self produced materials using Interactive Software and also commercially produced text books, past papers, audio resources etc.

Breakdown of Themes /topics for terms in KS4

The four topics are:
1 My world
2 Holiday Time & Travel
3 Work and lifestyle
4 The Young Person in Society

Each of these topics is divided into FIVE sections – A, B, C, D and E. These are broken down into relevant chunks to fit in with the speaking test topics below. We then allocate those topics/sub sections to particular terms in key stage 4.

AQA Speaking Test topics:

• Personal relationships
• Tourism
• The Environment
• Leisure
• Home life
• Education/work

In choosing particular times/terms for these we look at issues such as:

• The link with KS3.
• Particular events in pupils’ life during KS4 eg work Experience/mocks/year 10 exams
• Coursework.

Coursework:

A minimum of 2 pieces of coursework is be done in year 10.
The third piece is be completed by February half-term in year 11

Some successful and enjoyable projects and titles we have covered over the last few years are:Titles:

Theme 1 My world

Theme 2 Holiday Time & Travel

 Theme 3 Work and lifestyle

 Theme 4 The Young Person in Society