Modern Foreign Languages
Vision
Our vision in MFL is to develop confident, articulate, and culturally aware linguists who are well-equipped to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world. Through the study of French and German at Key Stages 3 and 4, students gain the linguistic skills and cultural knowledge necessary for effective communication, both personally and professionally, in diverse global contexts.
Overview
At Goffs-Churchgate, our MFL curriculum opens doors to the wider world. We want every student to feel confident communicating in another language, while enjoying the process of discovering new cultures. Rooted in our values of Respect, Aspire, Nurture, and Achieve, lessons encourage curiosity and global awareness through real-life contexts and cultural experiences.
In Year 7, students begin by learning to introduce themselves and talk about school life, building strong foundations in pronunciation and key vocabulary. By Year 8, they progress to expressing opinions about hobbies and food, using a range of connectives and tenses. In Year 9, students move on to giving opinions on films and music genres and explore future career plans, developing more complex structures and cultural understanding. Events like the European Day of Languages deepen global citizenship by celebrating linguistic diversity and explore why languages matter in todays’ world.
At Key Stage 4, the focus shifts to mastering exam skills across themes such as identity, health, holidays, and future aspirations, ensuring students are fully prepared for GCSE success. Along the way, students gain not only language skills, but resilience, problem-solving abilities, and confidence to engage meaningfully with people from different backgrounds—skills that will serve them well in life beyond school.
Our curriculum is carefully designed to build knowledge and skills through a spiral approach, revisiting topics with greater complexity, such as adding opinions, comparisons, and varied tenses. This progression is supported through retrieval practice, which strengthens memory through SDN tasks, role-play scenarios, and writing activities.
We enrich learning through cultural experiences and opportunities for leadership. Students celebrate diversity during events like the European Day of Languages, take part in language clubs, and enjoy themed Curriculum Enrichment Days focused on culture and careers. House competitions, such as the Bake Off for European Day of Languages, allow students to showcase their love for culture and creativity in a fun, collaborative way.
By the end of Key Stage 4, students master themes such as Healthy Living, Holidays, Environment, and Career Plans. Whether ordering food in a café, debating the pros and cons of social media in French or German, or planning a dream holiday, they apply language skills in real-world contexts, leaving school confident and globally aware.
