The learning of a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for the pupils. Pupils develop communication and literacy skills that lay the foundation for future language learning. They develop linguistic competence, extend their knowledge of how language works and explore differences and similarities between the target language and English. At St Luke’s our focus language is French, however the children may learn other languages as part of a topic or curriculum day. Learning another language raises awareness of the multilingual and multicultural world and introduces an international dimension to pupils’ learning, giving them an insight into their own culture and those of others. Pupils will begin to understand and appreciate different cultures, people and communities.
Intent
At St. Luke’s we strive to develop children’s enjoyment and interest in modern foreign languages. We aim to ensure that a full curriculum is planned and taught throughout school, whilst building on children’s prior knowledge and capabilities. We believe that the early acquisition of French will facilitate the learning of other foreign languages later in life. We aim to prepare children for the KS3 language curriculum to enable them to transfer confidently and successfully.
Implementation
At St. Luke’s we use a variety of the following techniques to encourage children to have an active engagement with French:
• Games – in order to develop vocabulary through repetition, reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
• Role-play – these should relate to the situations the children may find themselves in in the future.
• Action songs and rhymes – to develop phonetic skills, memory skills and to further vocabulary.
• Reading and writing quality materials.
• ICT programs and websites; the use of Cyber Coach to develop communication skills.
• We build children’s confidence through praise for any contribution they make in the foreign language, however tentative.
Impact
At St. Luke’s teachers regularly assess children and upload data onto our assessment system ‘Depth of Learning’. Clear progress is demonstrated across the year groups using this system. The short-term assessments that teachers make as part of every lesson help them to adjust their lesson plans. They match these short-term assessments closely to the teaching objectives. Written or verbal feedback is given to help guide children’s progress. Older children are encouraged to make judgments about how they can improve their own work.
The documents below explain how Modern Foreign Languages will be taught at St Luke's. We have focused on French as our main language, however other languages may be taught as part of a topic or language day. As MFL is optional in Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1, our plans reflect this but also demonstrate what may be taught to children of this age within our school.