Paloma Bather, Esther Rubio, Lisa Burrows, Heather Fisher, Eric Depose, Thomas Webster, Eva Garcia, Vanessa Merchadier, Carmen Gil 

Welcome to the MFL department!

A language enables students to develop an appreciation of other people’s culture and linguistic systems. Learning a language towards communicative proficiency obviously develops cognitive abilities that can be applied to other subjects using different parts of the brain. Students are given opportunities to develop their awareness of the target language culture.

By offering languages at BIS Abu Dhabi, we aim to stimulate students’ interest in and enjoyment of discovering a foreign language, to develop a critical understanding of the language (structure, grammar and culture) and to enable them to acquire a sound ability to understand oral and written text as well as participate in simple communicative situation in familiar topics.

Eric Déposé, Head of Languages.

Our current learning

This term in Year 7, students are learning and/or revising basics in each of our taught languages. The topics and linguistic contents vary slightly from one language to the next.

In French, this term, we are starting with a quick revision of basics, such greeting, introducing oneself, including age, birthdays, where you live, numbers, dates, etc. In our first topic module we will learn to talk about likes and dislikes (J'aime, Je n'aime pas) as well as describe oneself and others, using -er verbs in the present tense, être and avoir. we will then move onto our Module 2, where we will learn about school subjects, routines, timetables, day and give our opinions about subjects, teachers, etc. and justify them.

In Spanish, throughout the term, we are learning basics such as greeting, introducing oneself, family and pets, using numbers, writing dates, talking about age and birthdays, describing personality, describing oneself and others, using 'ser' y 'tener'. In Module 2, we are talking about free time, sports and hobbies, what we like, dislike, what we do in our free time, using -ar verbs in the present tense. We are also looking at key question words.

In German, this term, we are learning basics such as greeting, introducing oneself, family and pets, using numbers to 31, writing dates, talking about age and birthdays, describing your character using the verb 'sein', saying what you have using 'haben' and where you live using 'wohnen'. In Module 2, we are learning all about family and pets, using pronouns, 'kann' + infinitive, describing members of the family.

Curriculum Overview

New Starters

Here is what new students should do and expect when they start a language: 

1. Make sure you can access your Class One Note, ask your MFL teacher if you are unsure.
2. Make sure you can access your class MS Teams channel for the languages you are learning.
3. Ask your teacher to create your Education Perfect account (see link to the log in page in the website list below.
4. On Education Perfect, complete the Starter Tasks your teacher has set for you. 

Resources List

Recommended reading and core textbooks required for this subject.

These are the most common websites used withing [Subject Name]

Home Learning

Although MFL is not a core subject and homework is not included in the encouraged home learning page, we know that, to learn a language efficiently, and more specifically, to extend our vocabulary, it is essential that learners do a 10-15 minute vocabulary task (drilling) every week.

For this reason, we do encourage our students to revise their vocabulary weekly on one of our platforms (Education, Language gym, Quizlet...).

Assessments and Revision

Every module of work is followed by a formal assessment, assessing 2 skills (From Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking). 

There are also quizzes and smaller tests throughout the module to assess students' progress more informally. 

All revision material (including a e-copy of the textbook) is on MS One Note and in the students' exercise book

Meet the team