Holy Cross Catholic Primary School

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

French Prayer

Dear God,

Help us to recognise the importance of languages.

Just as the Holy Spirit allowed the disciples to speak other languages,

we ask for your guidance as we study this beautiful language;

that it may become a tool for communication, understanding

and connecting with others and to spread the word of God.

‘Nous grandissons ensemble dans l'amour de Dieu’

We Grow Together in God’s Love

In Jesus’ name,

Amen

Psalm

God can reveal himself to people in and through any language, and no speech or language is foreign to him.

(Ps. 19:3)

French Flag

Intent

‘A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing.’ (National Curriculum 2014 )

The skills, knowledge and understanding gained through learning a language contribute to the development of children’s oracy and literacy skills and to their understanding of their own culture and those of others.

At Holy Cross Primary School, we believe that the earlier a child is exposed to a foreign language, the faster the language in question is acquired. We believe that the early acquisition of French will facilitate the learning of other foreign languages later in life. We prepare children for the KS3 language curriculum to enable them to transfer confidently and successfully.

Implementation

At Holy Cross French is taught across Key Stage 2. The school uses the "Primary Languages Network" scheme of work to support the teaching and learning of French. This provides clear progression for the development of speaking and listening and vocabulary acquisition. There are resources to support the teaching and learning opportunities for pupils.

The following techniques are used 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 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.
Reading and writing quality materials.
We build children’s confidence through praise for any contribution they make in the foreign language, however tentative.

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.

National Curriculum by subject and by year group.

MFL Policy.pdf

Long Term Overview - Primary Languages Network.pdf

Progress over 4 Stages in the Core Skills.pdf

MFL Driver Words and End Points.pdf

In Key Stage Two, French is taught every half term, building on prior learning and building confidence and vocabulary lesson upon lesson. Through the Primary Languages Network’s virtual learning environment, children are taught by an experienced primary languages teacher and native French speaker, through high-quality pre-recorded video lessons. These lessons are supported by class teachers and are taken at a pace to suit the needs of the children. During these video lessons, new vocabulary is introduced and children have the opportunity to rehearse and revise spoken language elements. Each lesson begins with a simple recap of the previous learning, where children retrieve and apply taught vocabulary, through questioning and games. There are several opportunities for children to hear correct French intonation and pronunciation, and a focus on repeating what they have heard, in order to build their knowledge, understanding and confidence. Verbal activities are carried out as whole class or with learning partners. There are regular follow-up activities built into the programme to support core reading and writing skills.

All four core skills of learning are targeted through the scheme and therefore allow children to make progress in listening, speaking, reading and writing.