December 2025 Languages Update
Welcome to the December 2025 Languages update.
Quick links
In this update you will find:
- Languages qualifications support contacts
- Digital Sequencing Tool Demo Walkthrough video (GCSE French, German and Spanish 2024)
- Multi-Factor authentication for the Digital Sequencing Tool
- Specimen papers for GCSE (2024) French, Spanish and German
- Speaking mats for the picture task in paper 1 GCSE (2024) French, Spanish and German
- Guidance for the International GCSE Picture task
- Our More than Words student event July 2025
- Associate Vacancies
- Upcoming training
- The January Challenge
- My Lens on Languages (GCSE 2024)
- Languages teachers Facebook group
If you’re new to Pearson Edexcel Languages qualifications, hi! I’m Rebecca Waker, your Subject Advisor for Languages. My job is to support you in delivering our qualifications — whether that’s GCSE, A Level, International GCSE or International A Level
I create these monthly updates, run our Facebook group, and share resources to make your life easier. Before this role, I taught Spanish and French for nearly 10 years, so I know the joys (and the challenges!) of languages teaching. I use that experience every day to help improve yours.
Here’s how to reach out:
• 📧 Email me at teachinglanguages@pearson.com
• 📅 Book a 1:1 Teams meeting — perfect for personalised support
• 📞 Call our Teaching Services team on +44 (0)344 463 2535
• 💡 Visit our Support Portal for quick answers
🎯 Try the Demo: Digital Sequencing Tool for GCSE French, German and Spanish (2024)
If you’re teaching GCSE French, German or Spanish (2024) and haven’t yet tested out our Digital Sequencing Tool we highly recommend you take a look soon. Not only is it really useful to familiarise yourself with the tool prior to the live series but it is also really important to check that you have the appropriate access to the tool.
For a walkthrough guide to the tool you can watch our video and more details can be found within our news update.
You can also sign up to attend our monthly drop-in sessions to ask your questions about using this tool. See the training section below for more information.
🔐 Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Quick Guide for MFL Teachers
If you're teaching GCSE French, German or Spanish, you'll need access to our Digital Sequencing Tool to run the Speaking Assessment in Summer 2026.
✅ How to Access It
You’ll log in via the Pearson Portal, using Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
• Already using Edexcel Online, Results Plus or Exam Wizard?
You’re good to go — no action needed.
• New to the Portal?
Just install the Pearson Authenticator app on your phone or smart device to get started.
🛠 Need Help?
Changed devices or having trouble logging in?
We’ve got step-by-step support ready for you.
We’ve just added the second set of specimen papers for GCSE French, German and Spanish.
You’ll find them on the relevant qualification pages, alongside the specification, and in the Teaching and Learning materials section.
This is the final set of assessment papers before the 2026 live exams, so now’s the perfect time to explore and plan ahead.
In many cases, centres will use the first locked set during the autumn term, and these papers will support spring assessments. We know this will differ depending on how centres chose to assess at the end of Year 10 (using unlocked SAMs or end-of-year assessments on ActiveHub) and whether you’re using our mocks or moderation services.
Looking for a practical way to boost confidence in the picture-based speaking task? We’ve got you covered with our speaking mats.
What’s included?
For each language, you’ll find:
• A speaking mat in the target language
• A translated version for extra support or as a solution sheet
• A Top Tips mat in English to guide students through the task
How can you use them?
• Keep the translated version for students who need extra help
• Or challenge learners to translate the target language mat themselves
• Use the mats for focused practice and revision throughout the course
These mats aren’t an exhaustive vocabulary or grammar list, but every word and structure comes from the specification. Higher Tier-only vocabulary is clearly marked. You can teach extra productive vocabulary if you wish, but students will get equal but not extra credit for using it.
Take a look at the speaking mats on our website:
Guidance for the International GCSE Picture task
A reminder that when it comes to the pictures selected for the International GCSE MFL speaking exams centres must follow the guidance in our Administrative Support Guide (page 8), which states: “The picture must be a photo” and “ensure it is a picture of real people and objects (a photo)”.
Please avoid cartoons or drawings, as these do not meet the requirements. This rule is in place to make the task fair for all candidates and ensure they are describing a realistic photo that relates to the topics of the course.
To make this even clearer, we’ll be adding additional wording to the guide soon – but for now, please ensure all submitted pictures are genuine photographs featuring real people and objects.
Our More than Words: Languages for the Future Student Event July 2025
For the second year running, in July 2025, we welcomed hundreds of year 9 and 10 secondary students from across the UK to our More than Words summer student event at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium.
The day was jam-packed with engaging discussions on the benefits of language learning, interactive sessions and performances that celebrate languages and cultures and opportunities for students to act, sing or perform in our Languages Got Talent competition.
We want the next generation to get excited about what language learning has to offer.
Examiner Vacancies – Be Part of the Team That Shapes Language Learning
We’re currently recruiting for several exciting roles in our Languages examiner team, and we’d love you to consider joining us.
Here’s what’s available:
• Examiners – GCSE French, German and Spanish
These roles are a chance to:
✔️ Make a real impact – Your insights help shape assessments that reflect what learners know and can do.
✔️ Grow professionally – You’ll deepen your understanding of assessment and gain valuable experience.
✔️ Join a supportive network – Work alongside experienced colleagues who care about language education as much as you do.
✔️ Fit it around your teaching – Many of our examiners teach full-time and find the role complements their classroom work brilliantly.
Whether you’re ready to step into a senior role or want to build your experience as an examiner, we’d love to hear from you.
Upcoming training
If you’re in need of support with our Languages qualifications, as well as getting in touch with me and joining our Facebook group we have a wide range of training on offer via our Pearson Professional Development Academy.
Whether you're new Pearson Edexcel or looking to deepen your practice, these online courses are designed to support your teaching. We also have monthly drop-in sessions for GCSE (2024) where you can have your questions answered live by our qualification experts:
We have also created a new guide to our Professional Development Training.
🎥 Recorded Training – Available Anytime on YouTube
If you’ve missed a live session or want to revisit key topics, our Pearson Edexcel Languages YouTube playlists are packed with free, high-quality recorded training. These include full-length webinars and CPD sessions covering the 2024 GCSE French, German and Spanish specifications, as well as International GCSE and A Level MFL.
International GCSE and A Level
International GCSE English as a Second Language
GCSE French, German and Spanish (2024)
The January Challenge
Join the final January Challenge!
Pearson is proud to partner with 64 Million Artists for the last-ever January Challenge – a free programme of daily creative prompts throughout January. Perfect for classrooms, staff rooms, and whole-school activities.
This year the theme is ‘Courageous Change’ with each of the prompts designed to help us get a new perspective, build our courage and helpus collaborate so that we can be more prepared for this ever changing world.
At Pearson, we've helped create the schools resource pack again this year and two prompts were written by your Subject Advisors!
To get involved, you can:
- Sign up to receive daily creative prompts in January
- Download the schools pack
- Use the schools pack to help your school get creative and make change
Last year 360,000 people took part and we’re hoping to make the last one the biggest and best. There’s no better time to make change than now, so sign up and take part, and we’ll see you there!
We know that the best ideas often come from the classroom next door. That’s why we’re launching my-lens-on.languages—a video series by teachers, for teachers. It’s all about sharing what works: your go-to strategies, your proudest moments, and the little tweaks that make a big difference. We’d love you to be part of it. Just record a short video (think under 2 minutes!) showing your approach to any aspect of language teaching, and send it our way.
When you’re ready to share, fill in this form . If you’d like a bit more detail before diving in, I’ve got an information sheet ready to support you—just drop me a message on the usual email address below and I’ll send it over.
👋 New to Pearson Edexcel? Join Our Languages Teachers Facebook Group
If you’ve just started teaching our qualifications, there’s a brilliant space waiting for you.
Our Languages Facebook group is a friendly, professional community where teachers share ideas, swap tips, and support each other — all year round.
Here’s how to join: Just answer the automatic joining questions when you request access. It helps us keep the group a safe and focused space for teachers like you.
We’d love to welcome you in.
Subject advisor
Rebecca Waker
Languages
