The teaching of a Modern Foreign Language is a statutory requirement of the National Curriculum at Key Stage 2 and 3 and progress in one language is encouraged. At Ashmount our chosen language is French and children are exposed to basic French greetings at registration time from Key Stage 1.
More formal teaching begins in Year 3 and students progress through learning to listen, speak, read and write about a wide range of topics which include;
introducing themselves and asking other people their names
numbers and colours
speaking about their families
using Euros to pay for shopping
Older students continue to strengthen their language knowledge whilst learning about the culture of Morocco, where French is an official language.
Teaching is delivered using a range of methods including games and role play and with a heavy emphasis on exposing learners to French children speaking their own language through videos.
Students equally learn about French culture and this is supported by a developing friendship link with the IME Clair Matin, a school similar to Ashmount in Loughborough’s twin town of Épinal in eastern France. Learners compose and send each other work that gives an insight to their partners of what it is like to grow up in France or England. Learners are assigned a ‘French’ name to encourage them to get over any inhibitions they may have about speaking French.
MFL teaching continues into Key Stage 4 where students regularly study language modules through the ASDAN Transition Challenge programme.
In July 2016 a group of Key Stage 4 and 5 students travelled to Normandy for Ashmount’s first foreign residential trip, visiting the Bayeux Tapestry, Mont Saint Michel and the D-Day landing beaches whilst savouring French cuisine and putting their language skills into practice in real life contexts.
It is recognised that learning a spoken language is much less relevant for certain students and so Modern Foreign Language lessons which focus much more on learners using their senses to experience and communicate about the sounds, smells, sights, tastes and textures of the regions of France and a global range of foreign countries are being developed. These will ensure that all MFL lessons will be meaningful and motivating for all learners at Ashmount School.