Modern Foreign Languages

A language is not just words, it’s a culture, a tradition, a unification of a community….

- Noam Chomsky

Spanish Curriculum Map

At Hollinwood Academy, we believe that learning a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for our children and young people. It not only helps children and young people to develop their communication skills, but it also strengthens grammatical knowledge, along with other key skills such as reading, writing and listening that pupils learn in their own language.

In addition, learning a foreign language allows our children and young people to access more equal opportunities and gives a new perspective on the world, encouraging them to understand other cultures as well as their own.

Learning a foreign language, particularly for children and young people who are neurodiverse, has been shown to have many benefits such as strengthening memory and helping children and young people to improve their executive functioning skills, which includes helping their organisational skills.

All the teaching of MFL is done in a multi sensory way, using lots of repetition to build up confidence in the language for our learners.

Modern Foreign Language lessons at Hollinwood Academy

At Hollinwood Academy, our aim is to make language learning accessible and enjoyable for all our children and young people. We believe that every child and young person deserves the opportunity to succeed and flourish in their language abilities.

In our Modern Foreign Language lessons, we place a strong emphasis on supporting oracy and literacy, specifically in developing speaking and listening skills. We understand the importance of effective communication and aim to equip our children and young people with the necessary tools to express themselves confidently in a foreign language.

We strive to broaden our children and young people’s cultural awareness. We believe that learning a language is not just about acquiring words and phrases, but also about understanding and appreciating different customs, traditions, and perspectives. By exposing our children and young people to diverse cultures, we encourage them to embrace a global mindset from an early age.

Our language lessons are designed to stimulate curiosity and foster a genuine interest in linguistics. We use engaging activities, interactive resources, and real-life scenarios to make the learning experience immersive and captivating.

For primary children and young people at Hollinwood Academy, our aim is to introduce the basics of Spanish and make language learning fun. Using puppets, games, songs, and lots of repetition, we ensure an enjoyable and interactive learning experience. Children and young people will be taught key introductory verbs in Spanish and as they progress, they will gradually build on their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.

At Hollinwood Academy, we are committed to ensuring that each child and young person thrives in their language learning journey. Our Modern Foreign Language lessons provide the foundation for a lifetime of embracing languages and cultures beyond our own.

Schemes of Work

At Hollinwood Academy, we have developed our own scheme of work to teach modern foreign languages at the primary level. Our scheme focuses on providing children and young people with a comprehensive understanding of various topics. Throughout the course, they will delve into areas such as introductions, numbers, months, colours, dates, body parts, likes and dislikes, family and animals, weather and countries, activities, food, weather, and time. By covering these themes, we aim to enhance their language skills while exploring different aspects of culture. Our engaging and interactive approach ensures that learning a foreign language is both enjoyable and rewarding for our students.

Curriculum Adaptations and Pedagogy

The curriculum adaptations and pedagogy at Hollinwood Academy is centered around meeting the unique needs and abilities of every learner, ensuring equal opportunities for academic, personal, and social development. The primary goals include:

1. Inclusivity: Adapt the curriculum to ensure that all learners have access to quality education, regardless of their individual needs.

2. Adaptive Teaching: Provide personalised learning experiences that cater to the diverse abilities, interests, and learning styles of the children and young people.

3. Progression: Foster a holistic and sequential approach to learning, allowing children and young people to build on their prior knowledge, skills, and understanding from their identified starting points.

4. Empowerment: Develop independent learners who are equipped with the skills, resilience, and self-confidence required to succeed academically and, in their future lives.
Curriculum Adaptations and Pedagogy

Qualifications

Hollinwood Academy is proud to offer young people the opportunity to gain a Spanish qualification.

Young people have the option to study Spanish GCSE, which follows the AQA Exam Board. This comprehensive course allows young people to explore various Spanish themes, including:

• Theme 1: Identity and culture
• Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest
• Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

GCSE Spanish

At Hollinwood Academy, our dedicated Spanish department ensures that students receive high-quality teaching and support to excel in their Spanish qualifications and beyond, fostering a lifelong passion for the subject.

Revision Guide

CGP GCSE Spanish Complete Revision and Practice: ISBN 978 1 78294 545 1

Assessment

At Hollinwood Academy we follow the 2014 National Curriculum in England, and use the Evidence for Learning platform to record children and young people's evidence and progress on a weekly basis. To ensure personalised support, we have created individualised modern foreign language progress targets for each child and young person. These targets are closely monitored, and we maintain a strong partnership with parents by sharing them on a termly basis through Arbor, our digital communication platform. Through this approach, our aim is to provide comprehensive support and effectively track the progress of our children and young people.

Technology

We believe in the power of technology to enhance learning, and we have made it an integral part of our Modern Foreign Language curriculum at Hollinwood Academy. Within the primary stage, we embrace the use of iPads and other technological tools, making sure all children and young people actively engage with their learning.

Our use of technology in Modern Foreign Language not only enhances learning experiences but also equips our children and young people with valuable tools for communication and collaboration. We are dedicated to fostering creativity, curiosity, and confidence in our children and young people through the integration of technology in their Modern Foreign Language.