Courses
We offer a broad and balanced curriculum, for key stage 3 (Years 7-9), key stage 4 (Years 10 and 11) and key stage 5 (Years 12 and 13 - Sixth Form). Click the appropriate button below to find the details for each subject offered in each key stage.
Further details of our curriculum are available on the curriculum page.
Overview
Modern Foreign Languages
Introduction
The Languages Department aims to develop skills, confidence and creativity in the four key areas:
- Speaking
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
Teachers are specialised, experienced and enthusiastic, using a wide range of activities and strategies to help students enjoy learning foreign languages whilst developing their linguistic ability. The use of the foreign language in and outside the classroom are considered a vital part of languages teaching at Silverdale as well as developing cultural awareness of many parts of the world where they speak French and Spanish.
The department offers a range of student support and challenge, as well as trips abroad, when permitted, which enhance students’ language learning experience. The department is based in six classrooms, all of which have interactive smartboards. Students also have regular access to a language laboratory. We are well stocked with a range of up-to-date teaching resources and online textbooks, and we subscribe to a number of excellent websites and interactive resources which students can access in lessons and at home. We have good links with the Learning Resource Centre which also has a number of foreign language books, magazines and films.
Course leader
Ms M Tiernan
Curriculum
Course content
All Year 7 students study French, following the Dynamo course from Pearson. At the beginning of every school year, they have the opportunity to order a CPG revision guide through the school. A number of students will study Spanish in addition to French in Year 8, and into Year 9. At key stage 4 they will then have the opportunity to study French, Spanish or both languages to GCSE.
Some students will only study French in Years 8 and 9, to ensure they make the best progress at key stage 3. This will greatly help them to achieve their full potential in French at GCSE. Teachers’ assessments are based on careful consideration of work across the four skill areas, and we use regular tests to help us track the progress of each pupil and to inform our teaching provision.
Topics
Year 7 French
- Introduce yourself.
- Describe a classroom.
- Likes and dislikes.
- Describing yourself and others.
- Saying what you do.
- Time.
- Talking about school.
- Describing weather.
- Talking about sport and activities.
- Discussing what you like to do.
- Talking about family and animals.
Year 8 French
- Talking about where you live.
- Talking about holidays.
- Talking about festivals.
- Talking about media and leisure.
- Talking about home and daily routine.
- Talking about home and hobbies.
Year 9 French
- Talking about sport.
- Activities, descriptions and celebrations.
- Money, work and future plans.
- Music and holidays.
- Identity.
Year 8 Spanish
- Introducing yourself and family.
- Birthdays and pets/Christmas.
- Likes and dislikes/weather.
- Free time and sports.
- School and school subjects, school facilities.
- Family, physical descriptions and personality.
- Describing where you live.
- Describing your town/city.
- Telling the time.
- Ordering in a café.
- Future plans.
Year 9 Spanish
- Talking about a past holiday.
- Talking about mobile phones, music, TV.
- Past tenses.
- Activities.
- Food.
- Arranging to go out.
- Making excuses.
- Describing clothes.
- Sporting events.
- GCSE preparation.
Skills and requirements
Skills developed
As well as the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, learning a language can develop soft skills such as:
- Problem-solving
- Independence.
- Creativity
- Resilience
- Communication
- Observation
- Team working
- Organisational skill
