Intent
The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing will be taught and all necessary grammar is covered in an age-appropriate way across the primary phase. This enables pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning and also helping the children improve overall attainment in other subject areas. In addition, children are taught how to look up and research language they are unsure of and have a bank of reference materials to help them with their spoken and written tasks going forward.
The 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 will also offer 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.
Implementation
All classes will have access to a very high-quality foreign languages curriculum using the Rachel Hawkes scheme of work and resources. This will progressively develop pupil skills in foreign languages through regularly taught and well-planned weekly lessons in KS2 which are taught by class teachers.
Units, where possible and appropriate, are linked to class topics and cross curricular themes. Children will build on previous knowledge gradually as their foreign language lessons continue to recycle, revise and consolidate previously learnt language whilst building on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
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 the future.
- Action songs and rhymes – to develop phonetic skills, memory skills and to further vocabulary.
- Quality reading and writing materials.
- Building children’s confidence through praise and positive encouragement.
Impact
Through the high quality first teaching of French taking place we will see the impact of the subject in the following ways:
- Children will become aware that a language has a structure, and that the structure differs from one language to another.
- Children will develop their language and communication through development of the four key skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing.
- Children will enrich their language learning by developing an understanding of the French culture.
- Children will transfer to KS3 effectively and successfully and will be well prepared to continue and develop their language skills.