New Assessment and Teaching Approaches in Modern Languages GCSE and A-levels
Explore the latest developments in Modern Languages education, including changes in assessment methods for GCSEs and A-levels, thematic content focus, and teaching techniques. Emphasis is placed on literary texts, grammar, translation, and speaking skills. Discover the thematic areas covered in the syllabus, such as identity and culture, local and global interests, and current/future study and employment topics.
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York PGCE Wed 28thOctober Morning New GCSEs - presentation Discussion - pairs Example of classroom oral techniques Teaching grammar and vocabulary Afternoon New A-levels presentation Teaching film and literature Teaching with texts pairs Example game
MODERN LANGUAGES GCSE First teaching September 2016
Linear exam no controlled assessment 25% of marks for each of the four skills All assessment done in May/June from 2018 New grading structure from 1 to 9 Foundation and Higher Tiers as before, but no mixed tiering Greater emphasis on literary texts, grammar, translation and spontaneous speaking
Thematic content (1) All awarding bodies directed by DfE and Ofqual Three broad themes: Identity and culture Local, national, international and global areas of interest Current and future study and employment
Thematic content (2) - AQA identity and culture Me, my family and friends Relationships with family and friends Marriage/partnership Technology in everyday life Social media Mobile technology Free-time activities Music Cinema and TV Food and eating out Sport Customs and festivals in French-speaking countries/communities
Thematic content (3) AQA Local, national, international and global areas of interest Home, town, neighbourhood and region Social issues Charity/voluntary work Healthy/unhealthy living Global issues The environment Poverty/homelessness Travel and tourism
Thematic content (4) AQA Current and future study and employment My studies Life at school/college Education post-16
Assessment AQA listening Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language Written exam: 35 minutes (Foundation Tier), 45 minutes (Higher Tier) 40 marks (Foundation Tier), 50 marks (Higher Tier) (Each exam includes 5 minutes reading time of the question paper before the listening stimulus is played.) Questions Foundation Tier and Higher Tier Section A questions in English, to be answered in English or non-verbally Section B questions in TL, to be answered in TL or non-verbally
Assessment AQA speaking Non-exam assessment conducted by teacher, recorded, marked by exam board 7 9 minutes (Foundation Tier) + preparation time 10 12 minutes (Higher Tier) + preparation time 60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier) Questions The format is the same at Foundation Tier and Higher Tier Role-play 15 marks (2 minutes at Foundation Tier; 2 minutes at Higher Tier) Photo card 15 marks (2 minutes at Foundation Tier; 3 minutes at Higher Tier) Conversation 30 marks (3 5 minutes at Foundation Tier; 5 7 minutes at Higher Tier)
Assessment AQA reading Understanding and responding to different types of written language Written exam: 45 minutes (Foundation Tier), 1 hour (Higher Tier) 60 marks (for each of Foundation Tier and Higher Tier) Questions Foundation Tier and Higher Tier Section A questions in English, to be answered in English or non-verbally Section B questions in TL, to be answered in TL or non-verbally Section C translation from TL into English (a minimum of 35 words for Foundation Tier and 50 words for Higher Tier)
Assessment AQA writing Foundation Tier Question 1 list task (student produces six nouns) 6 marks Question 2 message (student produces nine sentences in response to nine tasks, approximately 60 words in total) 18 marks Question 3 translation from English into TL (minimum 35 words) 10 marks Question 4 structured writing task (student responds to five compulsory bullet points, producing approximately 90 words in total) there is a choice from two questions 16 marks Higher Tier Question 1 structured writing task (student responds to five compulsory bullet points, producing approximately 90 words in total) there is a choice from two questions 16 marks Question 2 open-ended writing task (student responds to four compulsory bullet points, producing approximately 150 words in total) there is a choice from two questions 32 marks Question 3 translation from English into TL (minimum 50 words) 12 marks
Task types: what will you do in lessons? Vocabulary acquisition Grammar explanation and practice Working with written texts Working with recorded texts Translation Pair and group oral work Teacher-led oral work Games ICT-based work Compositional writing Preparing for assessment Extensive reading Extensive listening (film) Developing learning strategies
Pros of teacher-led oral work (1) It allows the teacher to carefully control the input students receive. It provides a lot of listening input, released in small manageable chunks. So question-answer should not just be seen as oral activity, but, more importantly, a listening activity. It is part of a whole pedagogical approach which assumes grammar and vocabulary can be internalised by controlled practice. It can be effective as a class-controlling activity. The teacher controls the pace and is the only person talking. It can be entertaining and motivating for pupils when done well. It can be an effective way of differentiating between faster and slower pupils. With a "hands up" approach, the teacher can direct harder, more open-ended questions at faster pupils, easier closed questions at slower pupils.
Pros of teacher-led oral work (2) Cleverly scaffolded question sequences can encourage pupils to infer language rules on their own. Many pupil enjoy taking part in whole class question-answer, Younger ones especially often enjoy showing off what they can do. A "hands down" approach should encourage all pupils to listen intently and be ready to answer. At higher levels it allows the teacher to adapt instantly to student answers, challenging them further and taking conversation in interesting directions. It is highly adaptable. You can do all kinds of variations on question-answer e.g. giving false statements, seeking questions to answers, getting a pupil to play teacher at the front, doing true/false or instant multi-choice and so on.
Pros of teacher-led oral work (3) It is a useful starter or what used to be called oral warm-up. It brings the group together and allows the teacher to review previous work, giving the class confidence in what they have already learned. Although an artificial form of communication, pupils are willing to play the game, especially if you explain to them why you are doing it. It can be part of a multi-skill activity e.g. teacher asks question, pupils answer orally then write down the answer. Skilled question-answer allows you to keep the class running in the target language.
Cons of teacher-led oral work (1) When used to promote oral practice it has limitations. Only one person can speak at a time so it is highly inefficient. Pair work is far more productive. It places high demands on concentration so can be hard to make work with some classes. It can be boring. Although the teacher is in control, it places demands on the teacher's energy and, at higher levels, oral skill. If the teacher's skills are limited the quality of input will be low. You can never be certain if pupils are actually listening, even with a "hands down" approach. Students would appear to be very inactive most of the time. With both a hands down and hands up approach it puts pressure on pupils to perform in front of their peers. Many students dislike this and some argue that it hinders progress. We learn less well when anxious. Many pupils prefer pair or small group work where there is less pressure to be correct.
Cons of teacher-led oral work (2) Some classes may be less well-behaved during question-answer than is pair or group work situations. If the main role of question-answer is to promote listening comprehension then there may be better ways to do this. Question-answer exchanges are usually very artificial in a classroom setting. "Where is the pencil"? "It is on the table." (It's pretty obvious where the pencil is, so it's a redundant question.) Some would argue that the "accoutrements" of question-answer (powerpoint slides, flashcards etc) are an unnecessary and inefficient way to improve students' skills. Translation, they might argue, is more effective.
Translation L1 to L2 - pros It probably helps fix grammatical accuracy and revise vocabulary. Some pupils enjoy it. It satisfies the puzzle-solver and accuracy fan. As a testing tool it can be made to be quite unpredictable and therefore hard to learn up for. As a testing tool it can be marked quite objectively. It reflects a reality that language learners often work from L1 to L2. Why not develop this skill? It is challenging for students when set at the right level. There may be an element of real life activity involved. Adults do sometimes need to translate, even if technology makes this less likely nowadays.
Translation from L1 to L2 - cons It limits the amount of target language use in the classroom. It is an uncommunicative sort of activity - it's talking about the language rather than using it for communication. When used as a testing tool, because of the washback effect, teachers may do too much of it in the classroom. Teachers love to teach to the test. It offers almost no new comprehensible input to further language acquisition. It may encourage interference from the first language, based as it is on a cognitive rather than natural approach to second language acquisition. It may suit able learners, who are good at cognitive problem solving and pattern spotting, more than students of lower aptitude. Some may see this an unfair and argue that naturalistic methods do not have this bias. Many students find it boring and would be more motivated by other tasks.
Translation into English - pros Sentences and passages in the TL are a source of comprehensible input. Translation requires a fine attention to detail. Everything must be understood and rendered accurately. Some pupils enjoy the challenge of doing it. It can be satisfying to find the solution. There may be some real life use for it, despite changes in technology. We often translate in our heads so why not help develop this skill?
Translation into English - cons Beyond a certain level it becomes a test of English usage as much as a test of comprehension. Students are writing English when they could be writing in the traget language. This limits acquisition. Detailed comprehension can be assessed in other ways which provide more language input e.g. TL multiple choice. Teaching this skill in the classroom involves using English, not communicating in the TL. It is a task which involves talking about the language not using it.
Literary text issues Matching difficulty level with students maturity Can be prose, drama, poetry, letters, song Text books will have examples Best done in moderation? Problems with using authentic sources
Learning-acquisition continuum Learning Conscious Form-focused Formal Synthetic Skill-building Output Acquisition Unconscious Meaning focused Natural Analytic Comprehension Input ---------------------
