MFL
What are the benefits of including Modern Foreign Languages in the Curriculum?
Learning another language presents opportunities for the reinforcement of knowledge, skills and understanding developed in English, especially in the development of speaking and listening skills. It also helps compound the skills required to elicit meaning from text and the knowledge and understanding of grammar and sentence construction. Other benefits of learning a language include:
- Develops phonological skills, particularly phonemic awareness in learning familiar and unfamiliar sounds
- Links sound with mime, gesture and facial expression, which consolidates meaning and brings language to life
- Extends children’s understanding of how speakers of different languages use gesture, volume and intonation
- Provides opportunities to develop learners’ listening skills for both gist and detail
- Allows children to revise and consolidate basic discrete listening skills, to look at the person speaking, ignore distractions, and use context of the conversation to increase understanding
- Exposes children to a wide range of genres of listening texts – both interpersonal and information-based and allows for discussion on strategies to cope with these
- Stresses the importance and value of listening to texts more than once in order to build up a clear picture of content
The Learning of Reading and Writing a New Language
Reading and writing skills are supported by, and reinforce, the development of oracy. Children become familiar with the relationship between phonemes and graphemes and they apply this knowledge in their reading and spelling. They understand, read and enjoy different forms of paper and electronic texts, such as stories, poems and messages. It helps them compare text types and styles from different countries and cultures.
Writing in a new language supports and consolidates speaking, listening and reading since children develop a basic knowledge of the writing system, spelling and structure of the language. In the early stages of learning a new language, writing may involve copying accurately or writing words or short phrases from memory, especially those with accented characters as well as labelling items. Other teaching templates and strategies familiar to primary teachers from early writing in the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 are used to scaffold learning and ensure accuracy. An example of this is when learners write simple sentences and short texts, often using a frame or model and from memory.
How is the MFL policy and curriculum at our school structured?
The MFL policy at our School is designed to reflect the primary MFL entitlement as defined in the Primary Languages Framework. The key elements of primary languages learning at our school are:
- It’s inclusive
- French is taught as a discrete subject from Year 3 to Year 6
- It is part of a broader curriculum involving language and culture
- It is expected that pupils reach recognised levels of achievement
Languages Curriculum Intent
At our school, we believe that learning a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience in preparation for future life. We teach French from Year 3 to Year 6 in a fun and enjoyable way by choosing interesting and relevant topics that will engage and stimulate learning. This develops children’s curiosity about language.
Intent
All pupils at our school have the right to a rich and deep learning experience that includes the learning the basics of an additional language. Studying languages prepares them to participate in a rapidly changing world in which work and other activities are increasingly carried out in languages other than English. Language learning provides liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures.
Pupils use language to communicate information responsibly and creatively. Learning how to use languages to enable access to ideas and experiences from a wide range of people, communities and cultures across our school and wider demographic. In addition, understanding a modern foreign language increases a child’s understanding of their own language, and the building blocks which form this. The process of learning a foreign language reinforces fluency and understanding of grammar, syntax, sentence structure and verbal precision. Increased capability in the use of languages can also promote initiative and independent learning, encouraging diversity within society. We teach a curriculum that enables our pupils to become effective users of language. Additionally, they are taught to understand and have respect different cultures in our local, national and global communities.
Through the teaching of French at our school, we aim to ensure:
- Every child has the opportunity to study French as a foreign language; developing their interest in the culture of other nations, communities and beliefs
- Pupils have access to high-quality teaching and learning opportunities
- Children have exposure to simple commands including day-to-day French language, including days, months, numbers and classroom instructions
- They develop an increased wider cultural understanding through our enriched and varied curriculum to which languages contribute
- Provide language informed by the National Curriculum and the skills expressed in this: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing and Cultural Understanding
Implementation of the Curriculum
Teachers use their planning time to plan, prepare and assessment the curriculum. Within their planning time, teachers have access to a comprehensive scheme of work – Primary Languages Network – which covers all aspects of the MFL curriculum: speaking, listening, reading, writing and cultural understanding, and progresses these skills and knowledge for Key Stage 2.
Activities can consist of actions, rhymes, stories, song, drama, grammar focus, video clips, air writing, sentence structure, dictionary work, book making and many more creative ways to extend, embed and combine language skills. Teachers and pupils use French in daily routines, for example, through answering the register and displaying the French date within the classroom. Alongside this, children have access to an online curriculum experience that utilizes a native French speaker to develop language skills further.
The Impact of our MFL Curriculum
Our MFL curriculum is fun and enjoyed by learners, it’s well-resourced and planned to demonstrate progression through Key Stage 2.
In addition, we measure the impact of our curriculum through:
- Pupil discussions about their learning
- Monitoring and reflection against subject-specific skills defined in each year of study; -Moderation, network meetings, transition
- Children applying their knowledge of language to other areas of the curriculum
- Children applying their cultural understanding and tolerance across society and cultures- Enrichment Activities, Rights Respecting Ethos.