Modern Foreign Languages

Vision

Our MFL curriculum vision and intent is for students to ‘Dare to Shine’. We achieve this by:

  • Fostering students’ curiosity about the world around them.
  • Providing them with opportunities to access other cultures while deepening their understanding of their own.
  • Developing their communication skills.
  • Learning new ways of thinking.

Curriculum overview

The Spanish and French curriculums are designed to enable students to respond to, and understand, a variety of texts including authentic resources to expose them to the target culture and broaden their horizons. Across all key stages, we educate our students on a variety of topics such as holidays, free time activities, local area, school and future ambitions. Students not only get the chance to consider these topics from their own perspective, but they also gain a wider understanding of these topics in the context of Spanish-speaking countries to examine cultural differences.

At Key Stage 3 we embed a strong understanding of grammatical concepts and knowledge of vocabulary which enables students to learn topics outside of their main interests. At Key Stage 4, we build upon the foundations which have been laid at Key Stage 3 and deepen students’ existing knowledge of vocabulary and grammar to allow students to articulate their thoughts and ideas in more detail, and to think critically about local and global issues.

OBA language students are inspired to show courage by taking themselves out of their comfort zone and speaking and writing in a foreign language using a minimum of three tenses. Our wide variety of themes and topics covered provide students with an insight into making good life choices, ranging from how to interact appropriately with their peers, to making future plans.

All KS3 students study Spanish when they join OBA, it is then an option, but highly recommended subject, at GCSE and A Level.

We are also pleased to offer French as an option in Year 8, for study to study as an additional language.

Learning another language enables you to gain appreciation and awareness of different cultures. At OBA students develop their knowledge of the language through learning a range of vocabulary and grammar structures across a wide variety of topics. From KS3 through to KS5 students gain desirable skills that will well equip them for future study or job opportunities, such as communication, working as part of a team and problem solving.

Year 7 curriculum:

  • My life: personal info, numbers, months, colours & pets
  • Free time and weather
  • School life
  • Describing family and friends
  • My city and telling the time

Year 8 curriculum:

  • Holidays
  • All about my life
  • Food and drink
  • Going out with friends
  • Making plans for summer

Year 9 curriculum:

  • My interests
  • Jobs and future plans
  • Staying in shape and healthy lifestyles
  • Social problems
  • Travel

Year 8 curriculum:

  • Personal identity
  • Hobbies & Free time
  • Family & Pets
  • School life
  • My city

Year 9 curriculum:

  • Holidays
  • Celebrations & Events
  • Jobs & Future plans
  • My World
  • Staying in shape & Healthy lifestyles

Students study the two-year GCSE course. We study a variety of themes and topics across the two years, while working on our listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.

  • Identity and culture: family life, personal interests, daily life, festivals and celebrations
  • Local area, holiday and travel: holiday destinations, accommodation, activities, weather, places to see, things to do
  • School: school day, school rules, pressures, school trips
  • Future aspirations, study and work: travel, employment, further studies, volunteering, careers and professions
  • International and global dimensions: sporting events, music events, global issues and the environment

All four skills are assessed equally in exams at the end of Y11. 25% listening, 25% speaking, 25% reading and 25% writing.

Students study the two-year A level course and are assessed at the end of Year 13 in listening, reading and translation, speaking and essay writing. 

During the course students spend the first term recapping and learning the essential grammar tenses and structures required for the A level course. We then learn about current affairs and historical events in Spain and Latin America, as well as studying a film and a novel in the target language. 

  • Social issues and trends: traditional and modern values, cyberspace, equal rights for women and LGBTQ, immigration, racism, coexistence and integration
  • Political and artistic culture: influence of idols, regional identity, cultural heritage, monarchies republics and dictatorships, social movements and young people in Spain and Latin America
  • Film study: El Laberinto del Fauno
  • Literature study: La casa de Bernarda Alba

Please download the Spanish learning journey below.