The French Curriculum

Learning another language has many benefits for both the individual and the wider community. It helps to break down social barriers and encourages cross-cultural understanding, as well as helping the individual to boost their problem solving, memory, critical thinking and listening skills. Being able to speak a second language can even help improve understanding of areas such as grammar in their native language.

A Linguist at Clyst St Mary Primary School will:

• have a love of language and be interested by Foreign languages
• be curious in their language learning
• be confident using the language skills they have learned (in listening, speaking, reading and writing) and enjoy experimenting with them
• enjoy talking and interacting in French
• see links between languages
• have a deeper understanding of other cultures (similarities and differences), welcoming differences in our world and seeing themselves as global citizens
• be interested and ready linguistically to continue their language learning at a KS3 level

Intent

At Clyst St Mary Primary School, we offer a relevant, broad and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of themes. The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing will be taught and all necessary grammar will be covered in an age-appropriate way across the primary phase. This will enable pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning and also contribute to the development of children’s oracy and literacy.

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 ultimate aim is that pupils will feel willing and able to continue studying languages beyond Key Stage 2, with an interest in language learning.

Implementation

During Key Stage 2 at Clyst St Mary Primary School, units are selected and lessons planned using the Language Angels scheme of work. Pupils move through Early Language units to Intermediate and then onto Progressive units which drives and guarantees progressive learning and challenge in relation to the four key language learning skills.

During one unit:

• New learning builds on prior knowledge and understanding
• Phonics, vocabulary and grammar are introduced systematically and explicitly
• Pupils are encouraged to answer questions and express themselves in French, both verbally and through written work.
• In addition to the teacher speaking French, native speaker videos and sound files are used, giving pupils the chance to hear a variety of French voices.
• At the end of each unit, a summative assessment is carried out and children are given the opportunity to reflect on and record their learning.

Pupils have ample opportunities to demonstrate their learning through shared talking, games, role-play and actions, rhymes and songs. These all encourage pupils to actively engage with French and build their confidence with the language.

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 make good progress in 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 successfully and will be well prepared to continue and develop their language skills.

Modern Foreign Language

We teach French from Key Stage 1 and our approach is to make learning a new language fun! Young pupils are very receptive to learning a new language so we start by learning songs and rhymes.