Spanish

Our MFL CURRICULUM

At Coopers learning Spanish offers our pupils the opportunity to communicate with their European neighbours as well as enhancing their understanding of new cultures throughout the Hispanic world.

With over 450 million native speakers, Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world. The ability to speak Spanish allows pupils to discover the rich culture of not only Spain itself, but countries in both Central and South America. Having the ability to speak even a little Spanish whilst travelling provides new experiences and gives valuable insight into the lives of native Spanish speakers. In a globalised world, linguistic skills are crucial for employment and proficiency in a foreign language enhances career opportunities.

As well as learning the language, through the curriculum, pupils are given the opportunity to study Hispanic culture. Hispanic countries, arguably, have some of the most interesting cultural traditions/festivals; world-renowned historic sites and buildings; unusual geographical features and inspirational figures within the world of music, sport and the arts.

Studying Spanish allows pupils to put their own culture into perspective and compare what they consider to be the norm with that of other countries. 

Through our grammar-focussed curriculum we aim to enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in spontaneous speech and in writing.  

Grammar skills are taught explicitly through every unit of work, regularly revisited and sequenced; the emphasis being- equipping pupils with the linguistic skills to unpick and decode unfamiliar language. 

Through the GCSE course pupils learn to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read extracts of great literature in the original language. 

The Spanish curriculum maps are designed to ensure that all four skills (Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening) are covered in every unit and opportunities to revisit key skills, in different ways, are built into pupils’ learning journeys.   

  Coopers Values: Trust, RESPECT AND RESILIENCE

 In MFL we develop trust by:

• enabling our pupils to feel confident in the MFL classroom and to use the foreign language through building trust with staff members and peers.
• using positive framing in lessons to encourage and enhance pupil confidence to use foreign languages.
• pupils receiving live feedback from their teacher in each lesson and responding to this with the aim to improve and make even better progress.

 In MFL we develop respect by:

• ensuring that each pupil can speak and read confidently in Spanish in the classroom where they feel it is a safe, secure environment.
• using pair work so that pupils engage effectively with each other and practice their own language skills.

 In MFL we develop resilience by:

• explicitly teaching vocabulary and retrieval practice so that pupils develop their linguistic skills.
• having high expectations of all pupils regardless of their starting points.
• pupils completing challenging independent work in lessons (reading literary texts/ planning for writing and producing fluently written paragraphs including high-level phrases)

• setting weekly learning homework, which the pupils practice their key vocabulary for low stakes tests.

 WHOLE SCHOOL INTENT: INCLUSIVE

In Spanish we ensure our curriculum is inclusive by:

• Language learning is inclusive because all pupils, despite their prior attainment or special educational need, are included, expected and welcomed into the world of languages.
• Scaffolding by personalising the learning based on individual pupil needs (use of SKOs for pupils in lessons to support those that need it).
• Stretch opportunities provided for students in vocabulary testing and integrating high-level phrases.

 WHOLE SCHOOL INTENT: FOCUSED

In MFL we identify powerful knowledge and ensure we have a good understanding of it as it is a prerequisite for understanding other related content. 

By clearly identifying the powerful knowledge in each unit, teachers can ensure that their teaching and assessment is focused on the content that makes the biggest difference. 

We share this with pupils and their families using Subject Knowledge Organisers.

 WHOLE SCHOOL INTENT: SEQUENCED

In Spanish we sequence our curriculum using spaced practice. This means large areas of knowledge are broken into smaller chunks, with intervals of time between them, to improve pupil learning and recall. 

 WHOLE SCHOOL INTENT: COHERENT

In Spanish we ensure our curriculum is coherent through using 5 Big Ideas that underpin all the learning in our subject. Each lesson is linked to a Big Idea, shared with the pupils at the start of the lesson, so they can call on prior learning and understand where each lesson fits within our curriculum. 

Our Big Ideas are:

• Phonics: Getting key sounds right allows us to be understood.
• Vocabulary: A wide vocabulary allows for deeper and more meaningful communication.
• Gender and agreement: When the grammar is accurate- the language is beautiful.
• Tenses: When referring to different moments in time - the words change.
• Audience and cultural awareness: To appreciate other cultures- we need to understand where they are coming from. 

 KS4 QUALIfICATIONS

AQA GCSE Spanish (8658) – Summer 2024.

Paper 1: Listening

• Written exam: 35 minutes (Foundation Tier), 45 minutes (Higher Tier)
• 40 marks (Foundation Tier), 50 marks (Higher Tier)
• 25% of GCSE 

Paper 2: Speaking 

• Non-exam assessment
• 7–9 minutes (Foundation Tier) + preparation time, 10–12 minutes (Higher Tier) + preparation time
• 60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier)
• 25% of GCSE 

Paper 3: Reading

• Written exam: 45 minutes (Foundation Tier), 1 hour (Higher Tier)
• 60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier)
• 25% of GCSE 

Paper 4: Writing

• Written exam: 1 hour (Foundation Tier), 1 hour 15 minutes (Higher Tier)
• 50 marks at Foundation Tier and 60 marks at Higher Tier
• 25% of GCSE 

The biggest help you can give your child is by ensuring they learn their vocabulary weekly by using their Quizlet account. 

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

We offer the opportunity for pupils to immerse themselves in the Spanish language through exposure to authentic sources in lessons and videos linked to the Hispanic World. Additionally, we have a key focus on accuracy and have introduced a Year 7 MFL spelling BEE. 

PROGRESSION ROUTES

A GCSE in languages helps whichever career route you wish to take as it shows you are able to retain large amounts of information and manipulate your understanding of grammar which you can apply to a second language. We are living in a multicultural world; many companies are opening offices overseas to extend their market. Therefore, the need for bilingual candidates is greater than ever. By acquiring a foreign language, you will double the number of available jobs for you and climb the career ladder much faster. We have had students who have studied Spanish at GCSE then A-level leading to studying Spanish at university, enabling them to spend time in Spanish speaking country as part of their degree.