MFL

One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.

- Frank Smith

Students at Whitecross experience that learning a language is a journey of discovery.  It has many challenges, just like those we meet when learning our first language.  

However, the benefits of being able to communicate in a second language such as French or Spanish are far-reaching.  Learning a second language frees us from insularity, opening our minds to different cultures and allowing us to express our thoughts and ideas with increasing fluency and creativity.

We believe that learning is best where there is as much exposure to the spoken language as possible, whilst giving opportunities to think about how the language works, practising regularly in an ordered way that focuses on high-frequency structures and vocabulary. Our curriculum includes a range of teaching and learning methods, with a strong emphasis on re-using and recycling language in a variety of contexts and regularly checking the mastery of these high-frequency structures, such as key vocabulary and grammatical concepts.

This means:

• Students recognise that language learning is a cumulative process, which takes consistent effort and requires resilience.
• Students develop understanding and tolerance of others’ way of life and point of view.
• Students are capable of articulating ideas, needs and desires in a range of contexts.
• Students experience foreign cultures and have the opportunity to converse with native speakers.
• Students learn and use the language they have acquired to communicate successfully.