‘A different language is a different vision of life’ Federico Fellini
‘One language sets you in a corridor for life, two languages open every door along the way’ Ludwig Wittgenstein
‘Language is the road map of a culture’ Frank Smith
Students of MFL at Sandymoor Ormiston Academy are able to immerse themselves in the passion and vibrancy of Spain and Latin America as we explore all that Spanish culture has to offer.
We want our students to understand what it is to be a linguist. We wish to inspire our students to have a curiosity and fascination in discovering the world and its people, as well as having an interest and intention to travel in order to deepen their understanding of different cultures and societies. We strive to develop a student’s understanding of the ways in which languages are interconnected and how languages play a part in our daily lives.
Students will develop an extensive core of vocabulary and grammatical structures which are regularly practised and retrieved so that students are confident communicators with informed and tolerant attitudes to the views of others, ensuring success in future employment, personal relationships and life beyond Sandymoor Ormiston Academy. This is aligned with the whole school ethos that aims to foster ambition: a curiosity and a thirst for learning through the development of effective communication. We encourage all students to find ways to achieve their potential with skill and confidence, overcoming self-consciousness and promoting resilience, whilst promoting an awareness of the wider world in which they live.
Key Stage 3
At Key Stage 3 students develop their linguistic ability as they grow in their understanding of spoken and written language and increase their confidence and fluency in the reading, writing and speaking and listening of the Spanish language, opening a pathway to further explore language and ideas.
Key Stage 4:
Continue on a further 2 year learning journey with GCSE Spanish to develop a higher level of fluency and confidence. Our curriculum at this stage is tailored to maximise our students’ success within the AQA GCSE Specification here. This covers 3 ‘Themes’:
British Values, Cultural capital and SMSC
Studying a language naturally enhances students’ cultural awareness and develops them spiritually, morally and socially. Our Spanish curriculum is packed with opportunities for students to experience genuine Spanish customs and heritage, for example, food tasting, celebrating festivals and exploring age-old traditions. By exposing our students to diverse cultures and habits they consider their own routines and perspectives in a different light.
As well as covering SMSC through topic work, such as family, hobbies, relationships and healthy living, students are also encouraged to debate and reflect on the differences and similarities between the UK and other countries.
Cultural visits to Spain and France support our students to embark on an exciting voyage of discovery.