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Languages

Department Overview

At Biddenham, we believe languages should be accessible for all students and therefore have developed an engaging and inspirational course of study that will enable students to manipulate and use the target language effectively, independently and creatively.

Moreover, we strongly believe that studying a language will also broaden our students’ horizons and encourage them to step beyond familiar cultural boundaries and develop new ways of seeing the world.

Year 7 students begin by learning German. This is usually a brand new language for them. In year 8 students carry on studying German in more depth. In addition, some students are given the opportunity to study French alongside German. In year 9, students are able to choose between French, German and Spanish to study for GCSE and the same at A level.

The MFL department runs a variety of learning experiences for students such as trips abroad, foreign film club or language club as we believe that it is vital for students to learn about both the language and the culture.

Subject Learning Journey


Who to contact for extra information:

Miss Calvete
estefania.calvete@biddenham.beds.sch.uk

 

 

Assessments in Languages

French - Key Stage 3 French - Key Stage 4 French - Key Stage 5
Students are assessed summative termly in listening, reading, writing and speaking by completing tests which assess them on their understanding of topics covered in each term.Formative assessments are completed regularly and this may include questioning, regular low-stake vocabulary tests and quizzes and through the marking of their books and homework tasks.

GCSE French has a Foundation Tier (grades 1-5) and a Higher Tier (grades 4-9).
Students must take all four question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same series.

The specification covers three distinct themes. These themes apply to all four question papers.

Theme 1:  Identity and Culture
Theme 2:  Local, national, international and global areas of interest 
Theme 3:  Current and future study and employment

There are four areas of assessment:
Paper 1:  Listening exam (25% of GCSE)
Paper 2:  Speaking Non-exam assessment (25% of GCSE)
Paper 3:  Reading exam (25% of GCSE)
Paper 4:  Writing exam (25% of GCSE)

This is a linear qualification. Students will sit all their exams at the end of the course and in the same series.

Paper 1:  Listening, reading and writing – Assessment of the four sub-themes: current trends, current issues, artistic culture, aspects of political life (50% of A level)
Paper 2:  Writing – One text and one film, or two texts from the list set in the specification (20% of A level)
Paper 3:  Speaking – Discussion of one of the four sub-themes with the discussion based on a stimulus card and presentation and discussion of individual research project (IRP) (30% of A level)

 German - Key Stage 3

German - Key Stage 4 German - Key Stage 5

 Students are assessed summative termly in listening, reading, writing and speaking by completing tests which assess them on their understanding of topics covered in each term.

Formative assessments are completed regularly and this may include questioning, regular low-stake vocabulary tests and quizzes and through the marking of their books and homework tasks.

GCSE German has a Foundation Tier (grades 1-5) and a Higher Tier (grades 4-9).
Students must take all four question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same series.

The specification covers three distinct themes. These themes apply to all four question papers.

Theme 1: Identity and Culture
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest 
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

There are four areas of assessment:
Paper 1: Listening exam (25% of GCSE)
Paper 2: Speaking Non-exam assessment (25% of GCSE)
Paper 3: Reading exam (25% of GCSE)
Paper 4: Writing exam (25% of GCSE)

This is a linear qualification. Students will sit all their exams at the end of the course and in the same series.

Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing – Assessment of the four sub-themes: current trends, current issues, artistic culture, aspects of political life (50% of A level)
Paper 2: Writing – One text and one film, or two texts from the list set in the specification (20% of A level)
Paper 3: Speaking – Discussion of one of the four sub-themes with the discussion based on a stimulus card and presentation and discussion of individual research project (IRP) (30% of A level)

 

Spanish - Key Stage 3

Spanish - Key Stage 4 Spanish - Key Stage 5

Students are assessed summative termly in listening, reading, writing and speaking by completing tests which assess them on their understanding of topics covered in each term.

Formative assessments are completed regularly and this may include questioning, regular low-stake vocabulary tests and quizzes and through the marking of their books and homework tasks.

GCSE Spanish has a Foundation Tier (grades 1-5) and a Higher Tier (grades 4-9).
Students must take all four question papers at the same tier. All question papers must be taken in the same series.

The specification covers three distinct themes. These themes apply to all four question papers.

Theme 1: Identity and Culture
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest 
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

There are four areas of assessment:
Paper 1: Listening exam (25% of GCSE)
Paper 2: Speaking Non-exam assessment (25% of GCSE)
Paper 3: Reading exam (25% of GCSE)
Paper 4: Writing exam (25% of GCSE)

This is a linear qualification. Students will sit all their exams at the end of the course and in the same series.

Paper 1: Listening, reading and writing – Assessment of the four sub-themes: current trends, current issues, artistic culture, aspects of political life (50% of A level)
Paper 2: Writing – One text and one film, or two texts from the list set in the specification (20% of A level)
Paper 3: Speaking – Discussion of one of the four sub-themes with the discussion based on a stimulus card and presentation and discussion of individual research project (IRP) (30% of A level)

 

Exam Board Information

Current Year 11:

AQA Languages GCSE FrenchAQA Languages GCSE German AQA Languages GCSE Spanish

Current Year 9 and 10:

AQA Languages GCSE FrenchAQA Languages GCSE GermanAQA Languages GCSE Spanish

 

AQA Languages AS and A level French AQA Languages AS and A level German AQA Languages AS and A level Spanish