MFL
Director of Faculty: Mrs Emma Mannion
Email contact: emannion@johnmason.school
If you enjoy communicating with other people, finding out how language works and learning about different countries and cultures, studying Mandarin, French, German or Spanish is an excellent choice for you! You will learn about the countries where your language is spoken and get a lot more out of a trip there.
You will add an international dimension to your choice of subjects, preparing you for a world of global markets and multinational companies, which is something many future employers and higher education providers look for.
Being able to communicate in more than one language allows us to become more open to other peoples’ cultures and outlook. Learners develop communication skills, self-confidence and independence, together with an underlying understanding of grammatical concepts and language awareness, which could prove invaluable in later life.
Classroom activities will place great emphasis on the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing as well as learning about the grammatical structures of their chosen language. Students will need to commit to learning and revising vocabulary on a daily basis and also to study the structure and grammar of the language.
What else might I need to know?
It is advantageous for students to have a dictionary/dictionary app in their chosen language at home for reference. Students will be expected to revise vocabulary for 5 - 10 minutes every night. You will be encouraged to take part in trips. We currently run annual trips to Berlin for years 10-13 and Valencia for years 10-13 as well as trips to France and Germany for KS3.
German
Year 7
Taster Sessions and skills based learning
Which language would you prefer to study in year 7? German or Spanish, learn some basics as well as about culture festivals to enable you to make this decision!
Hello!
You will learn to introduce yourself ready for your first trip to Germany in year 7. You will be able to ask about and give some personal details such as your name, age, birthday, where you live.
Family, pets and Descriptions
You will be able to go into more detail when you are talking , have a longer, more interesting conversation and be able to talk more extensively about yourself and your homelife.
Freetime
What do you do inside and outside of school? You will be able to discuss your hobbies with your friends and give opinions.
School
We will look at all aspects of school life from timings / clothing / subjects and food. You will be able to describe your school day to a German partner and understand the difference between the school systems. Where would you prefer to go to school?
Year 8
Holidays
Travelling is one of the best things about learning a language. Here you will learn how to describe journeys and visits to see friends, including travel nightmares.
Home and Household chores
Describe where you and your family live in this unit. We will have lively debates to discuss what you do to help at home? Do your parents think the same?
Town
If you’re planning to visit a German-speaking country, this unit will ensure you don’t get lost. You’ll learn how to ask for directions and learn the words for key places in town.
Year 9
Mealtime!
Everybody needs to eat and try out local specialities whilst away in a German speaking country. Here you will learn to order food in supermarkets / restaurants / bakeries etc….
School
Every young person has opinions about school. Here you will learn how to talk about your subjects and teachers, the school day and what our school at JMS is like.
Travel and Tourism
Traveling is one of the best things about learning a language. Here you will learn how to describe journeys and visits to see friends, including travel nightmares.
Technology and Social media
Technology is a massive part of our lives but is it always a good thing? You will think about the pros and cons of mobile phones as well as comparing your online and offline persona. You’ll be able to explain how technology has changed rapidly and predict how you think it will continue to shape the future.
The environment
The world we live in is changing quickly. In this unit you will learn how to talk about your routine and how it can positively affect the planet. You’ll be able to talk about some solutions to environmental problems.
French
Year 8
Me and my things
First things first! You will be learning how to introduce yourself to a French pen friend and you’ll be able to give your opinions on what is important to you, such as school and hobbies.
My life
You’ll learn how to give more information about yourself and what you love doing, including talking about your life online and what you find stressful.
The colours of the world
In this unit you’ll learn how to describe things. You’ll be able to talk about the colours you see in pictures and what you and your friends look like, as well as the clothes you like to wear.
School
Every young person has opinions about school. Here you will learn how to talk about your subjects and teachers, the school day and what our school at JMS is like.
Me and my future
We’re all going to leave school at some point. This unit will teach you how to explain what you would like to do when you are older, as well as looking at role models and the influence they have on us.
The French-speaking world
Find out lots of information about the culture and customs of French-speaking countries around the globe. You will learn about the food they eat and be able to order your own food from a snack bar when you go to a French-speaking country.
Year 9
Let’s take action
The world we live in is changing quickly. In this unit you will learn how to talk about your routine and how it can positively affect the planet. You’ll be able to talk about some solutions to environmental problems.
Holidays
Traveling is one of the best things about learning a language. Here you will learn how to describe journeys and visits to see friends, including travel nightmares.
Life’s stories
You might still be young but already your way of life will have changed since you were at primary school. This unit helps you to compare your life now to your life when you were younger and allows you to describe how you might achieve your life goals.
Technology
Technology is a massive part of our lives but is it always a good thing? You will think about the pros and cons of mobile phones as well as comparing your online and offline persona. You’ll be able to explain how technology has changed rapidly and predict how you think it will continue to shape the future.
French-speaking towns
If you’re planning to visit a French-speaking country, this unit will ensure you don’t get lost. You’ll learn how to ask for directions and learn the words for key places in town.
Health
Your health and wellbeing is an important part of who you are. Here we will look at the impact of eating habits and compare health myths with the reality.
Mandarin
Year 8
Describing my family and saying why I like/ dislike them
First things first! You will be learning some adjectives to describe your family members and express your opinion towards them.
Talking about pets
In this unit, you will learn some vocabulary related to pets and some more adjectives. You’ll be able to describe your pets’ personalities and appearances.
Talking about people’s jobs
You’ll learn different jobs in this unit and describe your family members’ opinion about their jobs.
Comparing people
After learning adjectives from the last three units, you probably can’t wait to put them into more complex structures to compare people.
Saying what’s in my school bag/ classroom
Can you write a lyric of a rap to describe what’s in your classroom/ school bag? At the end of this unit, I’m sure you can achieve it.
Talking about food part 1
Food is an important part of Chinese culture. This unit explores Chinese dining etiquette, some popular Chinese snacks and expresses what you like/ dislike to eat and why.
Year 9
Talking about food part 2
This unit includes more food and drink vocabulary, it enables you to be able to order food and drink in a Chinese restaurant. You’ll also learn more about Chinese tea culture.
Talking about clothes
What colored clothes do you like to wear in your spare time? What type of clothes and accessories do you wear at school?
Free time activities
How do you like to spend your free-time? You’ll be able to describe what you like to do on the weekends and the types of things you like to watch, read and listen to.
Talking about weather and free time
In this unit, you’ll learn more activity vocabulary and words related to weather. Here you’ll also learn what Chinese young people like to do in their free time.
GCSE German
Exam Board AQA
Specification 8668 current year 11 / 8662 new year 10 spec
Year 10
Identity and relationships
In this unit you’ll be able to present yourself and explain what kind of a person you are. We’ll be able to explain who we get on with and describe problems with family and fallings out.
Healthy living and lifestyles
They say you are what you eat. This unit is all about the food we eat and how our choices have health consequences.
Education and work
You’ll be able to voice your opinions about school. What do you think of the rules? What does your dream school look like? What are your plans for further study and the world of work?
Free-time activities
How do you like to spend your free-time? You’ll be able to describe what you like to do at the weekends and the types of thing you like to watch, read and listen to.
Customs, festivals and celebrations
Customs and festivals change a lot between countries, they are a key part of a country’s identity. Here you’ll learn about how other cultures celebrate and you’ll be able to talk about the festivals you celebrate and how you like to spend your birthday.
Celebrity culture
Whether we like it or not, celebrity culture can have a big influence on youngsters these days. In this unit, we’ll investigate routes to fame, how and why people become famous and consider whether fame is all it’s cracked up to be.
Year 11
Travel and tourism
Everybody likes visiting new places and this unit allows you to talk about trips that you have been on and travel plans for the future, gap year anyone?
Media and technology
The internet has changed the way we see the world but it is not without online risks. Here we will talk about all types of media and the influence of the digital world.
The environment
There are things that we can all do to help protect the planet. This unit explores actions that we can take individually, as well as looking at what we can do at a local level to improve the environment in our own town.
Trips and visits:
Year 7 Cologne
Year 11 Berlin
GCSE French
Exam Board AQA Specification Year 11 8658 / Year 10 new spec 8652
Year 10
Identity and relationships
In this unit you’ll be able to present yourself and explain what kind of a person you are. We’ll be able to explain who we get on with and describe problems with family and fallings out.
Healthy living and lifestyle
They say you are what you eat. This unit is all about the food we eat and how our choices have health consequences.
Education and work
You’ll be able to voice your opinions about school. What do you think of the rules? What does your dream school look like? What are your plans for further study and the world of work?
Free-time activities
How do you like to spend your free-time? You’ll be able to describe what you like to do on the weekends and the types of things you like to watch, read and listen to.
Customs, festivals and celebrations
Customs and festivals change a lot between countries, they are a key part of a country’s identity. Here you’ll learn about how other cultures celebrate and you’ll be able to talk about the festivals you celebrate and how you like to spend your birthday.
Celebrity culture
Whether we like it or not, celebrity culture can have a big influence on youngsters these days. In this unit, we’ll investigate routes to fame, how and why people become famous and consider whether fame is all it’s cracked up to be.
Year 11
Travel and tourism
Everybody likes visiting new places and this unit allows you to talk about trips that you have been on and travel plans for the future, gap year anyone?
Media and technology
The internet has changed the way we see the world but it is not without online risks. Here we will talk about all types of media and the influence of the digital world.
The environment
There are things that we can all do to help protect the planet. This unit explores actions that we can take individually, as well as looking at what we can do at a local level to improve the environment in our own town.
GCSE Mandarin
Exam Board AQA
Specification 8673
Year 10
Talking about my daily routine
When do you usually eat lunch? What time do you normally take a break? This unit explores how to say time in Chinese and some common daily routine vocabulary.
Describing my house
We all have opinions about the house we live in. Here you will describe your house and where you’d prefer to live in the future.
Saying what I do at home
What do you often do in different rooms? Do you prefer to watch TV series on Netflix in the living room or read comics in the garden? In this unit, you’ll be able to describe it.
My holiday plans
Everybody likes visiting new places and this unit allows you to talk about trips that you have been on and travel plans for the future, gap year anyone?
Describing my neighborhood
What’s your opinion about your local area? What’s in your local area? Where would you like to live in the future? Here you’ll learn how to describe your community.
Talk about school and dream job
Every young person has opinions about school. Here you will learn how to talk about your subjects and teachers, the school day, what our school at JMS is like and what your dream job is.
Year 11
Travel, tourism and customs
Customs and festivals change a lot between countries, they are a key part of a country’s identity. Here you’ll learn about how other cultures celebrate and you’ll be able to talk about the festivals you celebrate and how you like to spend your birthday.
Media and technology
The internet has changed the way we see the world but it is not without online risks. Here we will talk about all types of media and the influence of the digital world.
Environment
There are things that we can all do to help protect the planet. This unit explores actions that we can take individually, as well as looking at what we can do at a local level to improve the environment in our own town.
Healthy living and lifestyle
Your health and wellbeing is an important part of who you are. Here we will look at the impact of eating habits and compare health myths with the reality.
Part time job and volunteering
At some point, you will be leaving school and finding a job. Maybe you’ll be doing a part time job or volunteer work to gain some experience. This unit explores your work choices and your family’s opinions.
To find out more about MFL at Key Stage 5, please visit the JMF6 website: https://www.jmf6abingdon.co.uk/curriculum/curriculum-subjects/