General Introduction
The MFL curriculum at Ada Lovelace is rich and engaging. We are particularly proud of our unique commitment to teach German as our primary foreign language because we believe this links excellently to Lovelace’s commitment to computational thinking and problem solving. We are motivated by the opportunity to make links between German and the wider curriculum and to be a beacon of excellence for German teaching. Our provision is enhanced by a full and varied portfolio of extra-curricular activities and we hope to resume our full range of trips abroad once it is safe to do so. These will include a trip to Normandy for Year 8, a German trip to the Rhine valley, a German exchange, and a joint History trip to Berlin in Year 10.
KS3 Overview
All Year 7 students at Ada Lovelace study German four times a week. In Year 8 some students will then become dual linguists, adding a second language to their timetable. In Year 7, students learn to introduce themselves, talk about where they live, their school, their free time and holidays. They will learn to use different tenses and will develop their skills in Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking, as well as establishing a deeper understanding of grammatical patterns. In Year 8, students begin to study units with a cultural focus including studying film, poetry and literature. They also learn to talk about new technologies, food and drink and the world of work.
KS4 Overview
At Ada Lovelace, we aim for as many students as possible to study languages to GCSE, and some students will have the opportunity to study a second foreign language at GCSE. At GCSE, students study their main language every day, following the AQA GCSE course which involves the three broad topics of identity and culture, local and international areas of interest and future study and employment.
Assessment
Students are assessed at quarterly points throughout the year. They are assessed in Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing.
Lesson Prep & Homework
Ada Lovelace CofE High School encourages all students to take responsibility for their own progress. Students are expected to complete preparation tasks before each lesson which help consolidate learning and prepare for the next lesson. In addition to lesson preparation after every lesson, students will receive 1 assessed homework task per half-termly unit which will either be centred around the four key language skills or will be focussed on encouraging memorisation or grammatical understanding.
Stretching Students
There is a rich and varied range of extra-curricular opportunities available for students. Teachers are passionate about languages and cultures, and there is a range of regular
extracurricular activities as well as the formalised visits and exchanges. Extended Electives in Languages include Foreign Language Media (Music, Poetry, Film, Literature, Art) and Wider Languages outside the curriculum. Students also have the opportunity to apply for a language scholarship when applying to Ada Lovelace.
