Languages

What Are Languages?/Why is learning a language important?

Modern Foreign Languages are an important part of the curriculum at Appleton C of E Primary School. All children in key stage 2 study French, but we also celebrate the different languages spoken in our school community and enjoy learning greetings and other words from those of us who come from all around the world. We believe studying a language at a young age is important, as primary age pupils are very receptive to language learning. They find it easier to mimic pronunciation and enjoy playing with language without the inhibitions of older students. Our French teaching provides the foundation for learning further languages later in life.

‘To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world. – Chinese proverb.’

Aims of Languages

At Appleton C of E Primary School, we believe that our high-quality languages provision enables children to:

• Communicate in a different language through songs and games.
• Develop their confidence and self-esteem – through opportunities to speak and perform in front of their peers.
• Improve their understanding of English. Through studying a foreign language, grammatical concepts and rules in English become clearer, as children use what they learn in one language to reinforce what they’ve learned in another.
• Enrich and enhance their mental development - studies have repeatedly shown that foreign language learning increases critical thinking skills, creativity, and flexibility of mind in young children.
• Develop positive attitudes to foreign languages – by showing children that language learning can be fun, pupils will approach secondary school language lessons with greater enthusiasm and anticipation.
• Broaden their horizons - language learning is more than just learning to speak and write in a different language. Learning about festivals and traditions from countries where the language is spoken helps children appreciate other cultures so that they can take a place in our global society.

How is French Taught?

 We follow the French with Mr Innes scheme of work which fosters pupils’ curiosity and deepens their understanding of the world. Our high-quality curriculum enables pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in French, as well as understand and respond to French speakers, both in speech and in writing. Opportunities are provided for pupils to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read French literature. 

Intent

At Appleton C of E Primary School, we believe that learning a language enriches the curriculum, helping to create enthusiastic learners who develop positive attitudes to language learning throughout life. The skills, knowledge and understanding gained contribute to the development of children’s oracy and literacy and to their understanding of their own culture and those of others.

We feel that the earlier a child is exposed to a foreign language, the faster that language is acquired. 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

We teach French across key stage 2. There are resources to support the teaching and learning opportunities for pupils. The materials used are differentiated according to the year group. 

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 future situations in which the children may find themselves.

• Action songs and rhymes – to develop phonetic and memory skills, and to further vocabulary.

• Reading and writing quality materials.

• ICT programs and websites; the use of ICT to develop communication skills.

• We build children’s confidence through praise for any contribution they make in the foreign language, as well as celebrating their achievements through displays.

Impact

Through the high-quality teaching of French that is taking place, we will see the impact of the subject in the following ways:

• Children will be able to communicate with each other in French.
• 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 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 learn how language skills can be applied to a range of languages.
• Children will transfer to KS3 effectively and successfully and will be well prepared to continue to develop their language skills.