Modern Foreign Language
You live a new life for every language you speak. If you only know one language, you only live one.
- Czech Proverb
Modern Foreign Languages Curriculum Intent Statement
At Looe Community Academy, our MFL curriculum is designed to cultivate intellectual curiosity, linguistic precision, and cultural fluency. We believe that learning a language is an academic discipline that develops analytical thinking, creativity, and global awareness. Our curriculum builds meaningful connections between grammar, phonics, and vocabulary, enabling students to understand the structure of language and apply it with confidence and sophistication.
Central to our curriculum are the big ideas and these concepts underpin every stage of learning, helping students master accurate pronunciation, manipulate complex grammatical structures, and expand their lexical range. Through these lenses, learners develop the ability to communicate spontaneously and accurately, while appreciating the cultural, historical, and literary richness of the world.
We aim to provide high challenge with low threat, creating a culture where students feel safe to take risks, speak with confidence, and refine their linguistic skills. Students encounter authentic materials—articles, songs, films, and literary extracts—developing critical reading and listening skills alongside cultural understanding. They learn to express nuanced opinions, justify arguments, and engage in meaningful dialogue, preparing them for academic success and real-world communication.
Our curriculum prioritises academic depth, cultural literacy, and linguistic competence. Students’ progress from foundational phonics and simple sentence structures to mastering multiple tenses, complex syntax, and idiomatic expressions. They explore themes such as identity, global citizenship, and ethical issues, linking language learning to wider intellectual and moral development.
Ultimately, our intent is to ignite a lifelong passion for languages, equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to thrive as articulate communicators, critical thinkers, and culturally aware citizens in an interconnected world.
Progression from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 4
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Year 7: Foundations in phonics, spelling, and core grammar. Students learn to introduce themselves, describe school life, and express likes and dislikes using regular verbs and basic structures.
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Year 8: Challenge increases with the introduction of past and future tenses. Students expand vocabulary to discuss identity, home life, and ambitions, while developing confidence in extended speaking and writing.
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Year 9: Learners deepen grammatical understanding through modal verbs, comparatives, and conditional forms. Topics include health, careers, and global issues, with emphasis on cultural awareness and authentic texts.
KS4: Students master a range of tenses and structures, applying them to GCSE themes such as media, technology, holidays, and the world of work. They develop fluency and spontaneity in speaking, refine written accuracy, and engage critically with authentic materials, preparing for examination and higher-level study.
Curriculum Pathways
French
Spanish
Additional Opportunities Beyond the Classroom
- French Pen Pal
- French Twinning town