Modern Foreign Languages

Through a range of engaging educational activities which focus on developing language awareness and practising listening and speaking micro-skills, we will enable our pupils to grow into confident linguists who can perform real world communicative tasks with spontaneity and fluency. By continuously revisiting vocabulary and empowering pupils on the very best techniques that support memory, we'll nurture confidence in their ability, creating a positive mindset in language acquisition, regardless of their linguistic background.

We will practise the four key skills of communication - speaking, listening, reading and writing – whilst also offering regular opportunities for students to discover the cultures of different countries.  We use new technologies both in lessons and for home learning. Students will be engaged and learn through games, group work, role play, competitions and a variety of apps.

 

Why is MFL important?

Our intent is that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. Learning a second language also offers pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others, and cultural differences. The intention is that they will be working towards becoming life-long language learners. We aim to ensure that pupils of all abilities develop solid foundations in the key language learning skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in order to properly prepare them for the next stage of their language learning journey.

 

When is MFL taught?

In KS2, French is taught in a whole-class setting by the class teacher. Teachers plan their lessons using the Language Angels scheme of work and can supplement this with their own ideas and experience and those of their colleagues. Each class has a timetabled lesson of at least thirty minutes per week. French may also be revisited in short sessions throughout the week in order to consolidate knowledge and ensure new language is retained.

 

How is MFL taught?

The lessons are designed to motivate, captivate, and interest children from the very first moment. They have clear, achievable objectives and incorporate different learning styles. SEN children have access to the curriculum through variation of task, grouping or support from an adult. Each lesson will focus on a combination of the 5 key language learning skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar). 

French lessons include:

• PowerPoints and interactive whiteboard materials
• Interactive games (which pupils can access from home to consolidate their learning)
• Songs & raps
• Differentiated desk-based consolidation activities
• Worksheets (at three different levels of challenge) are provided throughout each teaching unit and can be used in class or can be sent home to be completed as a homework exercise.

Children will study three topics in French over the year. This enables them to have enough time to really secure and deepen their understanding of the vocabulary and grammatical structures introduced, so that they are ready for the next stage of their language learning journey in their next school.  

 

	Cycle A	Cycle B
Autumn Term	J’apprends le Français (I am Learning French).	Je Me Presénte
Spring Term	Animals	Ma Famille
Summer Term	Fruits	Je Peux (I am able to…)

 

In addition to following the lessons provided in the Language Angels scheme of work and resources, we aim to enjoy the following activities across the year:

• Foreign language celebration assemblies.
• Cookery sessions of traditional foods from the country of the language being studied.
• Fashion shows demonstrating typical / traditional clothing from the country of the language being studied.
• Weather forecasts based on maps from the country of the language being studied.
• School celebrations of national feast days from the country of the language being studied when appropriate to facilitate a whole school approach to foreign language learning along with improved cultural awareness.

 

What do we learn in MFL?

Our approach to language teaching and learning is in line with the recommendations of the National Curriculum and the requirements outlined in the Department for Education Languages Programme of Study for Key Stage 2.

 

The National Curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
• 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
• Can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt
• Discover and develop an appreciation of a range of authentic writing in the language studied.

 

By the end of key stage 2, pupils should be able to:

• Listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding.
• Explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words.
• Engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help.
• Speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures.
• Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases.
• Present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences.
• Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing.
• Appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language.
• Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary.
• Write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly.
• Describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing.
• Understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): feminine, masculine and neuter forms and the conjugation of high-frequency verbs; key features and patterns of the language; how to apply these, for instance, to build sentences; and how these differ from or are similar to English.  

 

How do we assess and monitor in MFL?

Two forms of assessment are available at the end of every Language Angels unit:

1. Peer and self-assessment ‘I can do…’ grids. This is a quick and easy way for all pupils in the class to record which units they have completed and the progress they are making.
2. More detailed skills-based assessments using bespoke skills assessment worksheets. This form of assessment enables us to determine the learning and progression of all pupils in the key language learning skills as well as monitoring their progress against the 12 attainment targets stipulated in the DfE Languages Programme of Study for Key Stage 2.

 

Where appropriate worksheets completed by the children will be kept in their books which can be passed through the years and become a portfolio of their learning. Teachers can also upload scans of pupil written work along with audio and video recordings of pupils speaking and presenting in French to a centralised secure file store on their Tracking & Progression Tool.  All of this information, along with the pupil’s individual Learning & Progression Timeline and skills progress reports can be forwarded to their next school at time of transition.