Intent – Why is MFL important for our children?
SUBJECT LEAD: MISS B DOWNING
We are ambitious for all our children in the teaching of Modern Foreign Languages. In French our intention is that children develop an interest in learning other languages in a way that is both enjoyable and stimulating. We encourage children’s confidence whilst developing their curiosity as to how language is structured.
Our programme of study is very clear and well sequenced, developing skills in reading, writing, speaking, listening. Grammar is taught systematically to enable children to use and apply their French learning in a variety of contexts laying the foundations for future language learning.
When teaching languages, we aim to:
- Develop a love of languages and an appreciation of how language works
- Enhance confidence in spoken language, pronouncing common graphemes to promote accurate pronunciation and intonation
- Improve confidence in learning new vocabulary including how to use a bilingual dictionary and the strategies need to commit words to memory
- Teach an understanding of key concepts such as gender, adjectival agreement, word order and the use of high frequency verbs
- Provide the opportunity to read and appreciate stories, poems and rhymes along with the ability to respond to language from authentic sources
- Develop confidence in writing, integrating new language into previously learned language
Implement – What will our children learn?
We follow ‘La Jolie Ronde’ Scheme of work in Key Stage 2 to ensure coverage and progression across school. This is written by the Wakefield School Improvement Advisor Rachel Redfearn.
Children are encouraged and supported to develop their speaking and listening skills through conversational work, singing activities and games. As confidence and skill grows, children record their work through pictures, captions and sentences. By Years 5 and 6 children are writing in paragraphs confidently applying key vocabulary, sentence structures and French grammar in their extended writing French is taught weekly throughout the school. We teach French in a logical sequenced order building on and revisiting high frequency language, teaching through topics that allow children to apply their knowledge of grammatical structures and key phrases. In MFL lessons we constantly revisit language skills and build on and recap knowledge.
Impact – How will it help our children?
At Cherry Tree Academy, pupils leave KS2 well prepared for the rigour of language learning at KS3 and beyond. It is our hope that the vast majority of our former pupils will take and be successful in GCSE languages. The teaching of foreign languages supports children to be confident communicators and think as global citizens. The MFL curriculum goes beyond the teaching of a language, it includes intercultural understanding and the aspects of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development. MFL is monitored by our subject leader throughout all year groups using a variety of strategies. These include class assemblies, book scrutinies, lesson observations, staff discussions and pupil voice.