We want you to develop a coherent repertoire of language that you can use to express yourself. Your knowledge should be like a snowball, where new language sticks to what you already know and you never let it melt.
In French and Spanish, we will work not just on learning more vocabulary and grammar, but also on how to use it to express yourself with increasing spontaneity, confidence and accuracy. This will include using your French for creative outcomes for real audiences.
You can find an article about our curriculum here https://educationblog.oup.com/secondary/mfl/what-does-snow-and-learning-a-language-have-in-common.
french curriculum map
spanish curriculum map
Our KS3 Knowledge Organisers are on Quizlet. Students will be tested on vocabulary regularly. They are based on chunks of language, which by the end of the unit build up to model answers. You will notice that language is recycled so students never forget it.
year 7 knowledge organiser
year 8 knowledge organiser
year 9 knowledge organiser
ks3 spanish knowledge organiser
For KS4 French, students have the Vocabulary Booklet for coverage of the Reading and Listening topics. These will be tested each week in a Vocabulary test. These go together with core repertoire sheets to build up the ability to express yourself.
ks4 french knowledge organiser
Our KS4 Spanish Knowledge Organisers are on Quizlet for coverage of Reading and Listening topics. Students will have a test regularly, with these words in sentences and texts. These go together with test and tick sheets for building up the core of being able to express yourself.
ks4 spanish knowledge organiser
GCSE Board: AQA
You can find the current GCSE French specification here
You can find the current GCSE Spanish specification here
Students are able to continue studying Modern Languages at A Level – You can find out more about A Level French at Dereham Sixth Form here and A Level Spanish at Dereham Sixth Form here
Working Independently
Below are a number of links to resources available to support independent learning:
- SAM Learning
- GCSE Pod
- Quizlet – see Knowledge Organiser links for each year group
- Duolingo (to learn grammar and vocabulary. In Year 8, students will take part in a duolingo House points competition)
- Seneca (to practice vocabulary and reading for different topics)
Recent research by Cambridge University shows that parents and carers supporting pupils to take a language in their GCSE choices has more impact than what the teachers say! And two thirds of adults now wish they had studied a language
Here are some links which might help you discuss this with your son/daughter:
Assessment in Languages
At the start of Year 7, your teachers will want to get to know you and find out information on languages you speak and languages you have studied before.
Your teachers will constantly monitor your work and participation to help them plan how to teach you. They will mark the work in your books before your end of unit assessments, to make sure you are ready.
Your vocabulary learning homework will be tested with regular tests or readings containing the words you have been learning. In Year 7, this may form part of a House Point Competition.
Your skills in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking will be tested at the end of units, depending on the content of the unit. Your results will show if you are on track, above, or below for a pupil of your starting point. In KS3 the starting point will be related to your results in Maths and English at the end of Primary School. In KS4 you will have a predicted GCSE grade.
Personal Development and Cultural Capital in Languages
In Year 7 we want to give you the tools to use your French to express yourself. You will create a work of art and write the accompanying description in French for a public exhibition at a local exhibition centre. You will take part in vocabulary competitions run by the Year 9 International Leaders, including the possibility of being on stage to compete against your Form Tutors. Other possible projects include taking part the the French Staff Café or creating a French version of the Farm Stamper Trail for Gressenhall.
In Year 8, you will take part in the Duolingo House point competition and we like to arrange a Flat Stanley letter exchange with a school in France.
In Year 9, you will have the opportunity to create children’s books in French for primary school pupils. This will also involve you looking at some works of French literature for young people and for adults. If you sign up as an International Leader, you can earn your badge by running competitions and events for younger pupils in Northgate and in primary schools.
Northgate runs a trip to France/Belgium battlefields together with the History department. The longest running trip of all is the adventurous activity trip to the Ardeche river in France. In Year 10 and Year 12, we have a long-running exchange with IES Pilar Lorengar in Zaragoza, Spain.
Who Teaches Languages
Head of Department: Mr. V. Everett, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E.
Email: veverett followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk
BA Hons from Cambridge. Mr Everett has lived in France and in Mexico and has taught in Norfolk schools since 1995. He is the author of best-selling textbooks for Oxford University Press and a popular speaker at teacher CPD conferences.
Other Staff: Mrs. N. Abdouni, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E.
Email: nabdouni followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk
Mrs Abdouni is a native French speaker who also speaks Arabic and is currently learning Spanish. She has taught for 20 years in different schools in the UK.
Other Staff:Mrs. N. Oates, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E.
Email: noates followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk
Mrs Oates has a Double Honours in French, Spanish and Management Studies, as well as a PGCE. Mrs Oates speaks Spanish and French.
Other Staff: Mrs. K. Read, B.A. (Hons), P.G.C.E.
Email: kread followed by @dsfc.unity-ed.uk
Email: csutcliffe followed by @ng6.unity-ed.uk
Mrs Sutcliffe has a BA Joint Hons in French and German, and has recently qualified to become a registered: Hypnotherapist, NLP and Thought Field Therapist. She is also currently studying a further diploma in Logotherapy and Existential Analysis.
