The linguistic objectives of the MFL
Curriculum at Mereway Middle School can be expressed in terms
of
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
In practice these are not discrete skills
and are usually combined and very closely integrated. The most
practical skills are those of speaking and listening. These are
followed closely by reading which affords learners the opportunity
to work independently at their own rate. Writing is the skill
which takes longest to master and extended writing tends to limit
itself to the most able.
Listening
The ability to understand:
1. the gist
2. specific details
in simple questions, dialogues, accounts,
announcements and weather forecasts.
Speaking
The ability to ask and answers questions
and engage in simple conversations on topics, using pronunciation,
intonation and stress which render their speech comprehensible
to a native speaker.
Reading
The ability to read common street signs
and simple menus, timetables, advertisements, descriptions, conversations
and narratives.
Writing
The ability to write simple messages
and letters. While there may be errors of spelling, grammar and
syntax, what is written should be comprehensible to a native reader.
For the less able, writing is used less as an end in itself and
more as an aid to memory in the learning process.
Students study French for 30 minutes
a week in Years 5 and 6.
Topics are covered aurally I orally
with some reference to the written word.
Other than basic topics which form part
of the Key Stage 3 Programme of Study such as
Personal Identification, students are
introduced to instructions and vocabulary to familiarise them
with the language and to provide a basis for further study.
Areas which are covered in Key Stage
2 are revised and extended in Key Stage 3 when Reading and writing
are introduced.
Students who join the school in Year
7 can therefore benefit from peer-tutoring by children who already
feel confident with the subject matter.
Students from Year 8 also peer-tutor
groups of less confident children from Year 6.
Unit I
Moi et ma femille I La Rentree
Classroom objects and language, greetings,
name, age, brothers I sisters, family, pets, birthdays,
colours, descriptions
Unit 2
Les Re pas
Food, food groups, recipes, meals, eating,
hunger I thirst, likes I dislikes, table I eating customs
Unit 3
Au Cafe
Ordering hot and cold drinks and snacks,
prices, currency, cultural aspects
Unit4
L'e'co/e et le Sport
French school system, name of school,
subjects, likes I dislikes, reasons, teachers, opinions, sports,
likes I dislikes
Unit 5
Routine Journaliere
Countries, compass points, town I
village, house I flat, furniture, rooms, weather, placec
in town, directions
Unit 6
Autour de mol
Time, daily activities, review meals, transport
%â_ _Unit 7
Les Vacances
Review of countries, weather, transport,
where you went, with whom, past tense of weather
Unit 8
Souvenirs de vecances
Review places in town, past tense leisure
activities, extended writing
Unit 9
Dens le coin
Local environment, description of town,
facilities, preferences
Unit 10
On felt
les megesins
Shops, prepositions, shopping, review
directions, preferences, amounts, currency, items for purchasing,
Unit II
Le Look
Clothing, colours, review descriptions,
fashion
Unit 12
Les M~dias
Names of types of programmes and films,
preferences, review of all above