S1-S2 Modern Languages Report Comments (Scotland)

Modern languages covers listening, talking, reading and writing in the language, grammar and vocabulary, using a dictionary and support materials, knowledge about language (comparing it with English) and cultural awareness of countries where the language is spoken.

Below are 13 sample sentences for S1-S2: two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Secure / Consolidating / Developing / Beginning), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 288 modern languages sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.

Jump to: Secure · Consolidating · Developing · Beginning · Writing tips

Student name Pronouns

Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.

Secure S

Strengths

In reading tasks on familiar topics such as food, hobbies or the local area, [Name] works out unfamiliar words from context on [his/her/their] own.
[Name] explains clearly how sentences are built differently from English and uses this knowledge to avoid word-for-word translation.

Next steps:

[Name] could create a short reading quiz in the language for classmates, picking out the key details of a text for others to find.

Consolidating C

Strengths

[Name] reads short texts on familiar topics, such as school or free time, and can note down most of the facts they contain.
Asked how the language differs from English, [Name] can point to some main features, such as how questions and negatives are formed.

Next steps:

Reading the questions first and predicting the kind of information needed will help [Name] find answers in texts more quickly.

Developing D

Strengths

When reading short texts about familiar topics such as pets or hobbies, [Name] recognises key words and uses a word list to work out others.
When prompted, [Name] can point out a difference between the way a sentence is built in the language and in English.

Next steps:

With a word list beside [him/her/them], [Name] should read short texts on familiar topics regularly to build up recognition of key words.

Beginning B

Strengths

[Name] matches familiar words in a short text to pictures or English meanings, using the vocabulary lists in [his/her/their] jotter.
When working alongside the teacher, [Name] can spot one or two differences between how a sentence is built in the language and in English.

Next steps:

Matching words to pictures in short reading tasks, then checking with a partner, will help [Name] recognise more key vocabulary.

Support at home

Once a day, you could ask your child to say the day, the date and the weather in the language, then explain the answer in English.

How to write modern languages comments for S1-S2

Pupils start secondary having learned a language in primary, so build on what they know. Name the skill and context: giving opinions with reasons about school, describing where they live, or understanding the gist of a short recording.
Describe talking separately from writing. A pupil may write accurate sentences but hesitate to speak, so name the strength and suggest one step, such as practising answers aloud with clear pronunciation.
For vocabulary, note whether the pupil learns and reuses words and phrases. A next step such as learning ten words a week with look, say, cover, write, check is concrete and works at home.

Watch out: Avoid summing up language learning as confidence alone. Describe what the pupil can do in listening, talking, reading or writing, and name the language if your department teaches more than one.

The four levels describe how secure, accurate and independent the learning is in what has been taught, never a CfE level. Secure suits detailed, accurate work applied to unfamiliar tasks; Consolidating suits a sound grasp with occasional guidance; Developing suits sometimes, or with a model or worked example; Beginning names what is starting to show and the support that helps. Show the level through the work rather than writing the level word.

What Modern Languages covers

In these comments, modern languages covers these behaviours:

listening: understands spoken language in familiar and new contexts
talking: pronunciation, conversation, presentations and giving opinions with reasons
reading: understands written texts and works out unfamiliar words
writing: writes accurate sentences and paragraphs using a dictionary and support materials
grammar and vocabulary, knowledge about language and cultural awareness

More Scottish secondary subjects comments

How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.