Why do we learn French?
Learning a new language creates exciting opportunities to develop a real passion for communication skills and broader cultural curiosity. The emphasis on phonics and literacy skills also feeds into the wider school curriculum, allowing all students an opportunity to engage with the spoken and written word. Through MFL Burlington Danes students embrace a wider cultural capital needed to succeed in modern life: discussing religious celebrations, food customs and wider family occasions in French speaking countries.
Our approach
At KS2 students have one 30-minute lesson per week supplemented by additional vocabulary learning led by their classroom teacher throughout the week. KS3 students have 2 55minute lessons per week alongside homework of vocabulary learning and self-quizzing. For KS4, students have 3 55 minute lessons per week supplemented by vocabulary learning, self-quizzing and example exam style questions to be completed at home. In Year 9 teaching of the GCSE course begins with the majority students taking French to GCSE allowing them to follow the English Baccalaureate route. In general topics are split per half-term allowing students to deep-dive into the language they will be using and develop a metacognitive understanding of the formation of key grammatical constructions and tenses required to master the French language to a high standard. At KS5 students have six hours per week in small tutorial style sessions, currently two sessions per week on course content, one grammar focus, one independent listening practice. The structure of the curriculum has been planned to build upon knowledge cumulatively- revising often key grammatical concepts, tenses and essential vocabulary. Each topic is taught thematically with a greater focus on introducing new vocabulary and using this successfully in simple language before increasing the level of difficulty by manipulating familiar vocabulary in a range of different contexts.
Year 7 - French
| Autumn |
|---|
|
Personal introductions Personal description Personality description Classroom descriptions Family Members Where I live |
| Who am I? |
| Spring |
|---|
|
School life Breaktime activities Telling the time Food and drink Use of technology |
| How does school life in the UK compare with the Francophone world? |
| Summer |
|---|
|
Sports and Hobbies Complex opinions Describing my town Towns and cities in France Summer holiday plans |
| What are the advantages and disadvantages of my local area? |
Year 8 - French
| Autumn |
|---|
|
Hobbies and Free time activities Healthy and Unhealthy lifestyle Life in Paris Describing a past trip abroad Giving extended opinions |
| What can I do on Holiday in Paris? |
| Spring |
|---|
|
My family and friends My style- music, reading, fashion, film Holiday plans for the future Francophone tourism Help with problems on holiday |
| Where else in the world do people speak French? |
| Summer |
|---|
|
Where I live Directions and descriptions of French towns The French speaking World My Daily Routine Life at the weekend |
| What are the pros and cons of my daily routine? |
Year 9 - French
| Autumn |
|---|
|
Family and Friends Present tense and Perfect tense Role Models Future plans |
| How would I describe myself? |
| Spring |
|---|
|
Technology Films and Television Literature Music Imperfect Tense |
| How do my friends enjoy their down time? |
| Summer |
|---|
|
Healthy eating Daily routine Clothing and Shopping Customs and Traditions Religious celebrations |
| How do French speakers celebrate events around the world? |
Year 10 - French
| Autumn |
|---|
|
My house Weather Countries Transport Positives and Negatives The simple future tense |
| What makes my region an exciting place to live? |
| Spring |
|---|
|
Holiday destinations Holiday plans Catastrophic holidays Directions Hotels and accommodation Francophone cuisine Dream Holidays |
| Where would I go on my dream holidays? |
| Summer |
|---|
|
School subjects School rules Qualifications School exchange trips Extended opinions on school |
| How does school life in the UK compare with France? |
Year 11 - French
| Autumn |
|---|
|
Jobs Future plans Ambitions Part-time work Importance of languages Applying for a job |
| Where would I like to work in the future? |
| Spring |
|---|
|
Our planet Environmental problems Taking action Ethical issues Ethical shopping Large scale sporting events and concerts |
| How do we protect the planet from pressing environmental issues? |
| Summer |
|---|
|
Revision of key themes Revision of tenses and grammatical rules Extended reading, writing, speaking and listening practice |
| Can I talk about myself and others in detail? |
Year 12 - French
| Autumn |
|---|
|
Changes in French and Francophone society Francophone music Attitudes towards families French education system |
| How have notions of society changed throughout recent history in France? |
| Spring |
|---|
|
French press and freedom of expression Charlie Hebdo The world of work Equality of the sexes Novel: 'No et moi' |
| When does freedom of expression become dangerous? |
| Summer |
|---|
|
French politics Rise of the Front National Festivals, customs and traditions |
| How do Francophone societies celebrate their identities? |
Year 13 - French
| Autumn |
|---|
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Contribution of immigrants to French society History of Immigration Colonisation Marginalisation of immigrants Film Study 'La Haine' |
| How do issues of Immigration play out on the French political landscape? |
| Spring |
|---|
|
Collaboration Types of Resistance Anti-semitism in France Marechal Pétain and Charles de Gaulle French Resistant Fighters The history of Jean Moulin |
| What has been the lasting impact of the Nazi Occupation of France? |
| Summer |
|---|
|
Revision of Film 'La Haine' Revision of Novel 'No et moi' In-depth independent research project |
| How do authors/directors reflect French societal issues in their work? |