Languages

Purpose of Study

We begin with the assumption that all students can learn to speak a foreign language fluently. Our students study Languages in order to become fluent communicators and lifelong language learners. In addition, the close study of another culture builds our students’ understanding of people who are different to them. Through this they learn how better to relate to other people. Finally, the challenges involved in learning another language build our students’ confidence and resilience.

Aims

Our Oasis Silvertown Languages curriculum has three strands- knowledge of vocabulary and grammar, communication and cultural capital.

1.    Knowledge of Vocabulary and Grammar

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Benjamin Franklin

We aim for students to gain a broad knowledge of vocabulary and grammatical structures. This is vital if our students are to become fluent communicators. Students work hard in lessons and at home to learn a huge range of vocabulary across different themes. We begin in Year 7 by discussing ourselves and our identities, our families, our interests and where we live. We progress over time to a discussion of more global themes- tourism, health, the environment, education, future plans, social issues and technology. Through their study of these themes, students build their understanding of themselves and the world around them as well as knowing the vocabulary for each topic. Alongside this vocabulary, students also learn to manipulate language through a range of grammatical structures such as tenses, syntax, conjunctions and idiom. The Languages curriculum at Oasis Academy Silvertown is a spiral curriculum- we revisit our vocabulary and grammar multiple times over the course of five years in order to ensure that all knowledge is embedded in long term memory for students.

2.    Communication

“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing that makes you good.” Malcolm Gladwell

We aim for our students to be fluent speakers by the time they leave us at the end of Year 11. Those who wish to pursue the study of a language at A-Level will be well prepared to do so. We know that the best way to learn to speak a language is to practise speaking it! Students and teachers use only the target language to communicate because we know that this develops excellent communicators. Students are supported in this by an initial focus on classroom language and by well-embedded learning routines. In each lesson students are given multiple opportunities to express themselves on a range of topics, implementing their knowledge of vocabulary and grammar.

3.     Cultural Capital  

 “To speak a language is to take on a world, a culture.” Frantz Fanon

We aim for our students to develop an awareness of other cultures and of their own identity. Cultures live through the languages which express them. Through exposure to films, literature, music, art and festivals, students are guided towards an understanding of and appreciation for the broader culture surrounding the language they learn. We know that in order to be ready for university, students need to have imbibed a great deal of cultural capital. Languages lessons play a vital role in ensuring that students know about the seminal works of art and literature, the songs, films and festivals which shape the lives of people living elsewhere.

Languages Curriculum Overview

	Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1		Summer 2
7	Bienvenue dans la classe de français! Welcome to French!	Mes loisirs- My hobbies	Étude de film- “Une Vie de Chat”- Film study	Moi et ma famille- Me and my family	Chez moi- My place
8	Les médias- the media	La vie scolaire- Life at school	Le temps libre- l’achat et les vêtements- Free time- shopping and clothes	La bouffe et la malbouffe- healthy and unhealthy eating	En vacances- On Holiday
9	Le tourisme- Tourism	Ma région- My region Étude de film- “Les Choristes”- Film study	L’école- School	Les plans pour l’avenir- Plans for the future		Famille et copains- Family and friends
10	Les problems sociaux- Social problems	Une vie saine- A healthy life	Le mariage et les relations- Marriage and relationships	Le temps libre- Free time	On fait la fête! What we celebrate
11	On fait les vacances- Holidays	Les reseaux sociaux et la technologie- Social media and technology	L’environnement – The environment	Révision	Révision