French is taught to our mixed-age Key Stage 2 class for one hour each week by our specialist language teacher, who maintains continuity of curriculum with pupils when they transition into Year 7 at our main feeder school, Appleby Grammar School.  The emphasis is on Oral work, learning vocabulary through games and rhymes.  The culture of France is also studied.   

Aims and objectives 

• to foster an interest in learning other languages

• to introduce young children to another language in a way that is enjoyable and fun

• to make young children aware that language has structure, and that the structure differs from one language to another

• to help children develop their awareness of cultural differences in other countries

• to develop their speaking and pronunciation, listening, writing and grammatical skills with another language

• to lay the foundations for future study.

Intent

The intention of our MFL curriculum is to develop an interest in and thirst for learning another language. We aim to introduce the French language and the understanding of its culture in enjoyable and stimulating ways. To promote an active learning, a range of teaching methods are implemented to ensure that the children are developing their linguistic skills through listening, speaking, reading and writing. The linguistic skills gained will assist and lay foundations for further language learning. It will provide pupils with the confidence and independence to explore and be able to attempt manipulation of the structure of language and will give the children a new and broader perspective on the world, encouraging them to understand their own cultures and those of others.

Implementation

Lessons are sequenced so that prior learning is considered and recapped at the start of each session.  Opportunities for revision of language and grammar are built in. 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.

Our school follows the Primary Languages Network scheme of work. It is a live scheme which is continually updated and revised in order to meet with current curriculum standards. Alongside the planning provided, the network and subject teacher also enrich this through accompanying PowerPoints, podcasts (spoken by native speakers) links to authentic literature, songs, games, culture points of reference, links to appropriate websites. In order to promote an active learning of languages, a range of teaching methods are implemented to ensure that the children are developing their linguistic skills through listening, speaking, reading and writing. Activities can consist of actions, rhymes, stories, song, drama, grammar focus, video clips, air writing, sentence structure, dictionary work, and many more creative ways to extend, embed and combine language skills.

Impact

Using the full range of resources will increase the profile of languages across school. Whole-school and parental engagement will improve through the use of language knowledge organisers found on the school website. Progress and attainment is assessed informally at the end of each topic where all 4 skill areas will be assessed. Assessment is based on the Assessment Benchmarks (working towards/emerging, meeting, exceeding). These are recorded by the subject teacher and made available to the school. Pupils are also able to track and assess their own achievement through their ‘Assessment Record Clouds’ held in their French folders