“The limits of my language are the limits of my world.” - Wittgenstein
Intent
At OLSB, we believe that learning a language is an essential skill that all students should have in an increasingly globalised economy. Learning a foreign language enhances future job prospects and provides an enriching experience that improves intercultural understanding, communication skills and broadens horizons.
Our aims are to communicate our enthusiasm and passion for languages to pupils, to help them to realise their potential, gain access to other cultures and ways of life and enjoy their language learning experience. To achieve these goals, we offer language lessons that are lively, interactive and fun to give our students the best opportunity to become independent language learners.
KS3 Curriculum Overview
All pupils study a foreign language at Key Stage 3. We aim to secure knowledge and understanding of one foreign language at KS3 that can then be built upon and developed at key stage 4.
Our KS3 curriculum has been redesigned to follow the three pillars of language learning: vocabulary, grammar and phonics. This is taught through a series of topics, allowing us the opportunity to regularly revisit key vocabulary and structures throughout the 5-year journey, constantly building upon knowledge gained previously.
Through this curriculum, we develop the 4 linguistic skills which are essential to become a linguist: listening, speaking, reading and writing. These skills are embedded within our curriculum from Y7 onwards so that pupils can build on these key skills year on year.
In Y9, pupils have the choice to continue their MFL studies at KS4 in either Spanish or French.
KS4 Curriculum Overview
Our new KS4 curriculum has been developed through collaboration from all Trust schools following the new MFL specification and will start in September 2024 for pupils in Y10. Y11 is currently the only group following the legacy specification as it will be phased out after the June 2025 examinations.
Staff in the MFL department support subject specific literacy and numeracy for all our pupils to help them succeed in their studies and they aim to develop holistically the gifts and talents of each individual within a caring, compassionate, charitable and challenging Christian environment.
Our Enrichment and Cultural Capital
“Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going.” ― Rita Mae Brown
Our MFL Department offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities to support students as they further practise their language skills outside of our classrooms.
Activities including MFL enrichment clubs, educational visits to France and Spain, the Camino project, language competitions (Languagenut, Express Yourself, GCHQ MFL coding competition…) are all used to support our students in developing their skills, confidence and cultural understanding.
Our most recent trips to Barcelona for Y9 and Y10 (2024) and Paris for Y7 (2023) were incredible and enriching experiences for pupils to develop their cultural capital by visiting world-famous landmarks, trying foreign food and experiencing first-hand the value of learning a different language.
Our Recommended Books
“Learning another language is not only learning different words for the same things but learning another way to think about things.” ― Flora Lewis
Available in MFL and at the library!
Le Christ au centre, les enfants au coeur. Con Cristo en el centro y los niños en el corazón.
Progression routes
Students who study languages at GCSE often go onto study them at A level and degree level. Studying a language develops communication skills, as well as open the doors to a wide variety of careers and they are viewed favourably by universities and employers
Future Careers
- Translator.
- Interpreter.
- Conference interpreter.
- Subtitler.
- Secondary school teacher.
- English as a foreign language teacher.
-
Private tutor.