Modern Foreign Languages

Curriculum Intent 

The vision of the Modern Foreign Language department is to foster a lifelong love of languages. Our aim is that our students at Sir William Stanier can communicate confidently, that they can understand the spoken word, that they can read longer texts and that they are able to write about a wide range of topics using a variety of vocabulary in a second language. 

EPI methodology 

To achieve our aim, the MFL department is using the EPI method, developed by Gianfranco Conti, to deliver language learning. 
Vocabulary is introduced by modelling and focusing on sounds (phonemes) – noticing sounds and the teaching of phonics is key to the development of good pronunciation. Students are given the opportunity to learn vocabulary in chunks to help them to remember more and to avoid cognitive overload. Sentence builders provide scaffolding and enable students to confidently use more advanced vocabulary and grammar structures, which are introduced implicitly. More explicit instruction comes later. Each group of vocabulary is thoroughly practised by initially concentrating on the receptive skills of listening and reading. Understanding is regularly checked using whiteboards and a variety of retrieval activities. Once students are fully familiar with the vocabulary they move onto the productive skills – speaking and writing. As students’ confidence increases, the scaffolding is removed to encourage autonomy. Less able students are supported for longer if necessary. 

Vocabulary is constantly recycled and interleaved from one topic to another and the components of learning a language (knowledge and skills) are built upon to develop a deep knowledge and understanding of more complex structures. Each lesson includes an opportunity to retrieve vocabulary and grammar from previous learning – this is in the form of quizzes and other retrieval activities in class, and students are also expected to complete weekly quizzes and spelling tests on SMH. 

The sharing of culture is extremely important to the MFL department. Our department is committed to opening doors to diverse cultures, customs and traditions, different people and new ways of thinking. Learning a foreign language has numerous benefits that we want to exploit: it improves memory skills; it deepens understanding of a first language; it develops communication skills, and it delivers confidence – it creates opportunities.