© Dormston School. All Rights Reserved. Site by Think Creative
The MFL department is staffed by four enthusiastic, dedicated and well-qualified language teachers, who are passionate about the benefits that learning a foreign language can bring.
Mrs R Palmer – Head of German
Mrs S Parkin – Head of French
Mrs F Mescam- Assistant Head
Mrs S Cattel – Teacher of French & German
Welcome to the French Department.
We bring French to life by embracing French culture and instilling the confidence to speak and be understood in a different language.
KS3
We follow a full, three-year KS3 course, called Dynamo. This enables us to comprehensively cover all themes and topic areas in preparation for GCSE study, starting in year 10.
Pupils learn phonics, vocabulary, language patterns and grammatical rules to give them an understanding of how the French language works. We use phonics to build confidence in speaking and to aid pupils’ spellings when writing.
Our main aim throughout KS3 is to engage, enthuse and inspire our young linguists. We make languages as real as we can within the heart of the West Midlands, whilst building the language foundations to enable pupils to go on to achieve at GCSE level with confidence and competence.
KS3 topics include:
KS4
We follow a full, three-year KS3 course, called Dynamo. This enables us to comprehensively cover all themes and topic areas in preparation for GCSE study, starting in year 10.
Pupils learn phonics, vocabulary, language patterns and grammatical rules to give them an understanding of how the French language works. We use phonics to build confidence in speaking and to aid pupils’ spellings when writing.
Our main aim throughout KS3 is to engage, enthuse and inspire our young linguists. We make languages as real as we can within the heart of the West Midlands, whilst building the language foundations to enable pupils to go on to achieve at GCSE level with confidence and competence.
KS3 topics include:
How we assess
Key Stage 3: Each unit will see an end of Unit Assessment in Listening, Reading and Writing. Speaking assessments take place in topics which lend themselves to speaking, such as shopping dialogues and café role plays.
There will also be an end of year exam, assessing all topics and units covered throughout the year.
Key Stage 4: The GCSE has 4 separate exams, all worth 25%. Pupils will take either higher tier or foundation tier.
Foundation tier = grades 1-5.
Higher tier = grades 4-9
Unit 1. LISTENING.
Foundation – 35 minutes – 40 marks or
Higher – 45 minutes – 50 marks
The listening exam includes 5 minutes to read through the question paper before the listening stimulus is played.
Unit 2. READING.
Foundation – 45 minutes – 60 marks or
Higher – 45 minutes – 60 marks
Unit 3. SPEAKING.
This will be with your own French teacher.
Foundation – 7-9 minutes (plus 12 minutes prep time) – 60 marks or
Higher- 10-12 minutes (plus 12 minutes prep time) – 60 marks
Pupils will prepare a role-play and a photocard during the 12 minutes of preparation time and this will then be followed by a general conversation with their French teacher – pupils must form and ask their teacher one question during the general conversation.
Unit 4. WRITING.
Foundation – 1 hour- 50 marks. This includes a photocard stimulus, a 40 word writing, 90 word writing and a translation into French.
Higher – 1 hour 15 minutes – 60 marks. This includes a 90 word writing, 150 word writing and a translation into French.
For the 90 and 150 word writings there is a choice of 2 topics to write about, guided by bullet points.
Subject specific websites to support independent learning and revision.
www.linguascope.com (password will be given to pupils)
https://www.pearsonactivelearn.com/app/Home (each pupil will have their own login)
https://www.duolingo.com/course/fr/en/Learn-French
Trips & Visits
For learners in Y7/8 we organise a three day trip to northern France, staying in accommodation in the grounds of an old chateau. We sample French cooking, try out our French in shops and cafés, visit local attractions and get to experience hearing ‘real’ French all around us.
For our GCSE linguists we offer an annual trip abroad (obviously again subject to Covid19 status/restrictions)
We spent a hot and sunny Easter week, teamed up with our French department in Germany and France. Staying in The Black Forest with its breath taking scenery and hopping over the border into beautiful Strasbourg.
Welcome to the German Department.
We bring German to life by embracing the German culture and instilling the confidence to speak out and be heard.
KS3
We follow a full, three-year KS3 course, Stimmt! This enables us to comprehensively cover all themes and topic areas in preparation for GCSE study, starting in year 10.
Pupils learn phonics, language patterns and grammatical rules which give them an understanding of how German works. We use phonics to build confidence in speaking and to aid pupils’ spellings when writing.
Our main aim throughout KS3 is to engage, enthuse and inspire our young linguists. We make languages as real as we can within the heart of the West Midlands, whilst building the language foundations to enable pupils to go on to achieve at GCSE level with confidence and competence.
KS3 topics include:
KS4
GCSE
Pupils begin the GCSE course in year 10. Currently, German remains an option subject, but it is advisable for pupils with linguistic flair to continue through to GCSE level. Also if pupils are considering attending university the EBACC route will give them a real advantage. A good command of German can open many doors of opportunity in the future – not just for study, but for work, travel and cultural awareness.
Exam Board – AQA
At GCSE level, pupils are taught to communicate effectively in a variety of situations whilst developing their grammatical understanding. Pupils study the following themes on which the assessments are based in all 4 key skills, listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Theme 1: Identity and culture.
Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest.
Theme 3: Current and future study and employment.
How we assess
Key Stage 3: Each unit will see an end of Unit Assessment in Listening, Reading and Writing. Speaking assessments take place in topics which lend themselves to speaking, such as shopping dialogues and café role plays.
There will also be an end of year exam, assessing all topics and units covered throughout the year.
Key Stage 4: The GCSE has 4 separate exams, all worth 25%. Pupils will take either higher tier or foundation tier.
Foundation tier = grades 1-5.
Higher tier = grades 4-9
Unit 1. LISTENING.
Foundation – 35 minutes – 40 marks or
Higher – 45 minutes – 50 marks
The listening exam includes 5 minutes to read through the question paper before the listening stimulus is played.
Unit 2. READING.
Foundation – 45 minutes – 60 marks or
Higher – 45 minutes – 60 marks
Unit 3. SPEAKING.
This will be with your own German teacher.
Foundation – 7-9 minutes (plus 12 minutes prep time) – 60 marks or
Higher- 10-12 minutes (plus 12 minutes prep time) – 60 marks
Pupils will prepare a role-play and a photocard during the 12 minutes of preparation time and this will then be followed by a general conversation with their German teacher – pupils must form and ask their teacher one question during the general conversation.
Unit 4. WRITING.
Foundation – 1 hour- 50 marks. This includes a photocard stimulus, a 40 word writing, 90 word writing and a translation into German.
Higher – 1 hour 15 minutes – 60 marks. This includes a 90 word writing, 150 word writing and a translation into German.
For the 90 and 150 word writings there is a choice of 2 topics to write about, guided by bullet points.
Subject specific websites to support independent learning and revision.
www.linguascope.com(password will be given to pupils)
https://www.pearsonactivelearn.com/app/Home (each pupil will have their own login)
https://www.duolingo.com/course/de/en/Learn-German
https://www.germany.travel/en/home.html
https://ukgermanconnection.org/kids/
Trips & Visits
For our wonderful German GCSE linguists we offer an annual trip abroad( obviously subject to Covid19 status)
To date we have enjoyed 7 extremely successful and fun trips to the continent, where both staff and pupils have formed exceptionally fond memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. We ensure that all activities and tours have cultural significance, whilst utilising our budget and maximising our time in Germany. This is a magical opportunity for pupils to be immersed in culture, which will enrich and develop skills.
We have previously visited Köln (Cologne) with its impressive cathedral, München (Munich) where we paid a visit to the Allianz Arena – home of Bayern München and also a visit to BMW Welt and the famous Hofbräuhaus.
We spent a hot and sunny Easter week, teamed up with our French department in Germany and France. Staying in The Black Forest with its breath taking scenery and hopping over the border into beautiful Strasbourg.
Our most recent trip was to the beautiful German city of Aachen, situated on the Dutch border. We visited the exact place where the 3 countries of Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands meet. Our pupils had great fun literally hopping from country to country, seeing their mobile phone network change!
Knowledge Organisers
Y Population – German
X Population – French
4 lessons per fortnight
Tutor group (mixed ability)
Y Population – German
X Population – French
4 lessons per fortnight
Grouped by assessment and according to ability and aptitude
Y Population – German
X Population – French
4 lessons per fortnight
Grouped by assessment and according to ability and aptitude
Option Subject: French and/or German
5 lessons per fortnight
Ability sets where possible or mixed if fewer numbers