Modern Foreign Languages

"To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world."

-Chinese Proverb

Our main objective in the teaching of a modern foreign language (French) at primary school is to promote the early development of linguistic competence. We believe that to accomplish this, we should help both staff and children to:

•  Develop a positive, enthusiastic attitude to MFL learning within a secure and supportive environment.
• To foster an interest in learning other languages.
• Learn a new language in a way that is enjoyable, interactive and fun.
• Build on their speaking and listening skills, responding to and communicating in a new language.
• Use their knowledge of foreign language to express themselves in both speech and writing.

MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES: INTENT

At St. Mary’s, we offer a coherently planned sequence of lessons, ensuring progressive coverage of the skills required by the national curriculum. We aim to foster children’s curiosity and help deepen their understanding of the world. Through our teaching of French, we enable children to express their ideas and thoughts, providing opportunities for them to interact and communicate with others for practical purposes both in speech and in writing. We aim to expose children to authentic French and offer regular opportunities to listen to native speakers.

The intent in lower Key Stage 2 is that children acquire basic skills and understanding in French with a strong emphasis placed on developing their Speaking and Listening ability. These will be further developed in upper Key Stage 2 alongside Reading and Writing skills, gradually progressing to more complex language concepts and greater learner autonomy. Through our Twinkl French scheme, we aim to inspire pupils to develop a love of languages generally and to expand their horizons to other countries, cultures and people.

We intend to help children grow into curious, confident and reflective language learners and to provide them with a foundation that will equip them for further language studies.

IMPLEMENTATION

Lessons are sequenced so that prior learning is considered and opportunities for revision of language and grammatical concepts are built into lessons. Our lessons and resources help children to build on prior knowledge alongside the introduction of new skills. A series of lessons are suggested, providing structure and context as well as offering an insight into the culture of French-speaking countries and communities. The introduction and revision of key vocabulary and grammatical structures is built into each lesson. This vocabulary is then included in display materials and additional resources so that children have opportunities to repeat and revise their learning.

We recognise that language learning in its broadest sense has 3 core strands:

• Learning to communicate (with the emphasis on oracy, i.e. speaking, listening and interacting).
• Learning about language (using literacy i.e. reading and writing in the foreign language, to learn about the writing system, spelling and structure of the language.
• Learning about and comparing different cultures (developing inter-cultural understanding).
• We base teaching on the 2014 National Curriculum programme of study for MFL for Key Stage Two.

IMPACT

Our MFL curriculum ensures that children develop their knowledge of where different languages, including the range of home languages spoken by the families of the school, as well as French, are spoken in the world. 

Our pupils become confident in having a go at communicating in another language and are keen to ‘have a go’ at communicating with others.

Languages-Learning-Progression-1.doc