Modern Foreign Languages
Intent
At Belton Primary School we believe a high-quality MFL curriculum will enrich their education. It fosters children’s curiosity and thirst for knowledge. The teaching of MFL enables children to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond in both the spoken and written language. It also provides exciting opportunities for them to use the language for practical purposes and to rise to the challenge that this presents. We believe that learning a new language helps children develop confidence and resilience as well as adding a depth and breadth to the whole school curriculum.
The Modern Foreign Languages curriculum at Belton C of E Primary School develops knowledge beyond the everyday experience of the children and inspires pupils to want to know more about the world in which they live. It provides them with the skills needed to be able to engage with the wider world, equipping them for life beyond the classroom and in their onward journey of language to KS3. Due to the strength of our MFL lead being French, our chosen language is French, which is taught through the comprehensive and progressive ‘Language Angels’ scheme in Key Stage 2. The scheme of work and its resources ensure we offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes. 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. As a small and non- diverse village school our MFL curriculum is also designed to enable pupils to: grow in their global understanding of different cultures, to challenge stereotypes and to appreciate diversity. We have links with schools in a variety of countries and use these in our language learning when appropriate.
Implemenatation
All classes across Key Stage 2 will have access to a very high-quality foreign languages curriculum using the Language Angels scheme of work and resources. The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing are taught and all necessary phonics, grammar and vocabulary is covered in a logical and progressive way across the primary phase. We follow the guidance for Mixed Age language teaching by Language Angels to ensure that all elements of the National Curriculum are taught by the end of Key Stage Two. This enables our pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning.
Units are progressive within themselves as subsequent lessons within a unit build on the language and knowledge taught in previous lessons. As pupils progress though the lessons in a unit they will build their knowledge and develop the complexity of the language they use. We think of the progression within the 6 lessons in a unit as ‘language Lego’. We provide blocks of language knowledge and, over the course of a 6-week unit, encourage pupils to build more complex and sophisticated language structures with their blocks of language knowledge..
At Belton C of E Primary, our linguists are taught to read, write, listen to and speak parts of the French language. Opportunities for pupils to read and listen to the language being spoken are built into each lesson, allowing them the opportunity to analyse the vocabulary and practice applying it confidently themselves. Our linguists are also given the opportunity to record and verbalise their knowledge and understanding; this is also a key component in each lesson. Our children learn through active participation in actions, rhymes, stories, song, grammar focus, video clips, sentence structure, dictionary work and may other creative ways to extend, embed and combine language skills.
As well as each subsequent lesson within a unit being progressive, the Language Angels units also directs, drives and guarantees progressive learning and challenge. Units increase in level of challenge, stretch and linguistic and grammatical complexity as pupils move through Key Stage 2.
Pupils will continuously build on their previous knowledge as they progress in their foreign language learning journey through the primary phase. Previous language will be recycled, revised, recalled and consolidated whenever possible and key units are revisited to ensure the consolidation of key vocabulary.
Pupil learning is documented in language books and progression will be assessed at the end of each unit and teachers will assess each language skill (speaking, listening, reading and writing).
In addition to following the lessons provided in the Language Angels scheme of work and resources we celebrate language learning in the following ways:-
- French Breakfast
- European Day of Languages
- Foreign language celebration assemblies
- Celebrations of national days from France eg Fete des Rois, Bastille Day
- Links with our French partner school to support our unit language learning.
These elements will link into our International Schools Award and shared with the whole school during our cultural assemblies.
Impact
MFL assessment is ongoing throughout each module to inform future planning, lesson activities and differentiation. Summative assessment is completed at the end of each module when each MFL objective has been covered; an objective tracker is used to inform leaders of school improvements or skills that need to be further enhanced. Pupil voice is also used to enable leaders to assess the impact of the MFL curriculum and whether pupils know more and remember more examples of French vocabulary. Book monitoring throughout all year groups also takes place once a term to compliment
As well as each subsequent lesson within a unit being progressive, the Language Angels units also directs, drives and guarantees progressive learning and challenge. Units increase in level of challenge, stretch and linguistic and grammatical complexity as pupils move through Key Stage 2.
Pupils will continuously build on their previous knowledge as they progress in their foreign language learning journey through the primary phase. Previous language will be recycled, revised, recalled and consolidated whenever possible and key units are revisited to ensure the consolidation of key vocabulary.
Children are expected to make good or better than good progress in their foreign language learning and their individual progress is tracked and reported to pupils and parents / carers.