Contact
Head of Department: Mr P. Traynor
p.traynor@kingsway.stockport.sch.uk
Modern Foreign Languages Curriculum Intent
At TKS, we believe the study of Languages is important because it can enable you to partake in and experience different cultures. The foundations of languages are built on a fundamental understanding of grammar and vocabulary. Learning languages can widen your personal understanding of different people and their ways of life, and further expand relationships with yourself and others.
The core knowledge that learners are expected to acquire in the languages curriculum is: Vocabulary, grammar, phonics and cultural awareness.
Learners are then expected to apply this knowledge by engaging in a wide variety of tasks in their languages lessons. Students will use this knowledge to understand both spoken and written texts. Students will also apply this knowledge by producing their own spoken and written passages.
Our languages curriculum is aspirational because whilst students are learning the core knowledge of this subject, they are also becoming more culturally aware, through the study of traditions and differences in the countries in which the target languages are spoken.
We nurture learners’ curiosity by teaching using extensive processing instruction. Students are provided with sentence builders for every module of vocabulary and lessons are sequenced so that learners build from recognising sounds, then on to recognising written language. The cumulation of their classwork will be learners independently being able to produce language without support.
In addition to this, pupils are given opportunities for rich discussion around topics such as customs, traditions and media in the countries where the languages are spoken. This gives them the opportunity to understand life in the target language countries.
As part of the languages curriculum, learners are provided with a range of high quality academic texts with the aim of exposing them to texts from a variety of sources, which give them the opportunity to see the language they have been learning in the classroom being used in a real way.
The Languages curriculum supports our young people to deepen their understanding of the world around them by encouraging them to celebrate differences and to understand daily life in other countries. We provide a safe space where students can ask questions about different cultures to broaden their cultural awareness.
We also support pupils to be compassionate and keep each other safe by developing a curiosity and appreciation for the differences and similarities of their culture and other cultures. We aim to build pupils confidence to speak publicly in class through formative and summative speaking activities in the target language.
Our Languages curriculum is inclusive and celebrates differences because we discuss a wide range of people and families when putting language into context. Understanding others encourages students to be curious about how other people live their lives and societal differences in other countries. Understanding those who are from another culture or different to us breaks down barriers, reduces ignorance and promotes tolerance and respect.
Beyond our classrooms, we provide meaningful enrichment opportunities such as theatre visits and trips abroad that aim to open pupils’ eyes to a world beyond themselves and see the language they have been learning being used in a natural way beyond the classroom.
Fundamentally, the study of languages at The Kingsway School will enable our young people to positively contribute to society because they will develop confidence in understanding vocabulary and grammar of the language they have been studying, alongside a cultural understanding of the countries in which the target language is spoken.
French Milestone Knowledge Tracker
German Milestone Knowledge Tracker