Languages

Intent

Learning a foreign language is a necessary part of being a member of a multi-cultural society and provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education should foster children’s curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. We strive to create a respectful and inclusive environment that celebrates diversity and all cultures. The teaching should enable children to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping children with the skills to succeed and have confidence in their language ability.

The national curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:

  1. understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
  2. speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation
  3. can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt
  4. discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied.
Implementation

Children develop their love of language learning and develop skills throughout their time in school. We have many multi-lingual children in school with over 38 different languages spoken at home, therefore, French provides a common language to learn and explore together. The class teacher, on a regular basis, uses a scheme of work we have collaboratively produced in house to teach French. The scheme uses interactive resources to encourage whole class participation and provides opportunities for both spoken and written activities. As we acknowledge children’s different learning styles, our children learn through active participation in actions, rhymes, stories, song, grammar focus, video clips, sentence structure, dictionary work, book making and many more creative ways to extend, embed and combine language skills.

Impact

By the end of KS2 the impact is an increased enjoyment and understanding of different cultures and to master skills that are transferable in the next stage of their education.

French is monitored by class teachers and the subject leader throughout KS2 using a variety of strategies such as book scrutinies, lesson observations, staff discussions and pupil interviews.  Feedback is given to teachers and leaders use the information to see if the children know more and remember more.

How to Help at Home

Here are some suggestions for ways you can help your child:

  1. 1. Take your child to a museum

France has produced some of the most talented artists, such as Monet and Renoir. Check your local museum’s schedule to see when it is featuring a French-inspired exhibition and take your child along. The admission for children is usually free.

  1. Celebrate French holidays

Celebrating important French holidays, such as Bastille Day, will teach your child about French history. Celebrate by making some fun crafts or taking part in holiday traditions. Similar to the Fourth of July, the French display fireworks.  

  1. Cook a French meal

Familiarise your child with French cuisine by having him or her help you whip up a traditional French meal. Your child can channel their inner Julia Child with traditional French dishes, such as quiche and crème brûlée.

  1. Watch a French movie

Fire up Netflix and host a French movie night with your family. Here are some child-friendly French movies you and your child can enjoy: “A Monster in Paris,” “The Red Ballon,” and “Tintin and the Lake of Sharks.”

  1. Listen to French music

Do you have a Pandora or Spotify account? Download some French songs to listen to while at home or on the road. Listening to French music will help familiarise your child with French accents and pronunciations.

  1. Puzzles

You can download and print dozens of free French crosswords and word searches for your child. He or she will have fun playing, while simultaneously learning French vocabulary and simple sentences. Keep a stack in the car for long road trips.

  1. Memory game

Create some French flashcards and place them face down on a table. Your child will turn over two cards. If the pictures match, your child will turn over two more cards. The point of the game is to match all of the cards from memory.

  1. Colouring books

Purchase a French colouring book to spark your child’s creativity, while helping him or her learn various vocabulary words and themes.

  1. Read French books

There are many beginner French books with Le Petit Prince being one of the most well-known French children’s books. You can find the book in almost any book shop or online.

  1. Hangman

This French activity is played exactly like the original Hangman version, except you are using French vocabulary words and phrases instead of English.

 

Pupils in KS2 have French lessons every term and enjoy additional short, activities to deepen their knowledge, skills and understanding

Further Information
  • For information on the National Curriculum for Languages please click here
  • For information on our school’s Long Term Plans for Languages please click here
Interactive support for learning
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