Modern Foreign Language
What does MFL intend to provide for the children at PTM?
The intention of the French curriculum at Pear Tree Mead is that children are taught to develop an interest in learning other languages, while developing their cultural currency, in a way that is enjoyable and stimulating. We aim to encourage children’s confidence and creative skills, strive to stimulate and encourage children’s curiosity about language, and endeavour to help children develop their awareness of cultural differences in other countries. Learning languages contributes to mutual understanding, a sense of global citizenship and personal fulfilment. The ability to understand and communicate in another language is a lifelong skill for education, employment and leisure in this country and throughout the world. Moreover, in learning a language, our pupils at PTM, will learn the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, which are necessary to enable children to use and apply their French learning in a variety of contexts and to lay the foundations for future language learning.
What learning opportunities are given to the children?
Our MFL curriculum is designed to progressively develop children skills in languages, through regular taught lessons. Children progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around topics. 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. All our children in KS2 will have regular language lessons.
How is the subject ‘implemented’ and taught?
We teach MFL using an interactive and practical scheme of work called ‘Salut’. It uses voice recordings of native French speakers so that those who are teaching each unit don’t need to be linguistically trained. Teachers have access to a very specific, resourced and tailored program, which can be easily adjusted to suit all abilities. One unit should be taught every half-term and there are six lessons within each unit.
In year 6, children run regular ‘French Café’ events for other classes. Annually, we have a French day across the school to raise engagement across the community with MFL.
How is the subject assessed?
MFL is assessed through a range of tools;
- Teachers mark their planning with a + or – to indicate whether children have fully understood or not quite understood the lesson taught.
- MME assessment program – Teachers assess whether children are on track or above or below the national expectation levels. Teachers calculate the percentage of children above or below reaching the age expected target by the end of the year, through MME
This information is monitored by the co-ordinator.
How do we overcome PTM learning barriers in this subject?
The resource we use is easily adaptable to ensure that Quality First teaching takes place across KS2, and so pupils can be challenged further if necessary. Pupils are engaged in their lessons as they enjoy the fun games that are a core part of each lesson and all vocabulary is pronounced clearly and correctly by native speakers, so as to avoid incorrect pronunciation.
What is briefly taught in each key stage?
Key Stage 2
The Salut resource is split into LKS2 (Years 3 and 4) and UKS2 (Years 5 and 6). Each unit allows pupils the opportunities of speaking and listening, writing and performing a role play, real –life situation in which they can practise their learning.
In Years 3 and 4, the following units are covered:
- Introducing me!
- Describing others
- Months of the year
- My birthday
- Learning about other countries
- Things I like
- Parts of the body
- At the cinema
In Years 5 and 6, the following units are covered:
- On Holiday
- Eating Out
- A School Trip
- The Environment
- In France
- A Weekend With Friends
- The Future
How can parents assist with this subject?
- 1. Take your child to a museum
France has produced some of the most talented artists, such as Monet and Renoir. Check your local museum’s schedule to see when it is featuring a French-inspired exhibition and bring your child along. The admission for children is typically free.
- Celebrate French holidays
Celebrating important French holidays, such as Bastille Day, will teach your child about French history. Celebrate by making some fun crafts or taking part in holiday traditions. Similar to the Fourth of July, the French display fireworks.
- Cook a French meal
Familiarise your child with French cuisine by having him or her help you whip up a traditional French meal. Your child can channel their inner Julia Child with traditional French dishes, such as quiche and crème brûlée.
- Watch a French movie
Fire up Netflix and host a French movie night with your family. Here are some kid-friendly French movies you and your child can enjoy: “A Monster in Paris,” “The Red Ballon,” and “Tintin and the Lake of Sharks.”
- Listen to French music
Do you have a Pandora or Spotify account? Download some French songs to listen to while at home or on the road. Listening to French music will help familiarize your child with French accents and pronunciations.
You can download and print dozens of free French crosswords and word searches for your child. He or she will have fun playing, while simultaneously learning French vocabulary and simple sentences. Keep a stack in the car for long road trips.
- Memory game
Create some French flashcards and place them face down on a table. Your child will flip over two cards. If the pictures match, your child will flip over two more cards. The point of the game is to match all of the cards from memory.
- Colouring books
Purchase a French coloring book for. These coloring books will spark your child’s creativity, while helping him or her learn various vocabulary words and themes.
- Read French books
There are a ton of beginner French books. Le Petit Prince is one of the most well-known French children’s books. You can find the book in almost any book shop or online.
This French activity is played exactly like the original Hangman version, except you are using French vocabulary words and phrases instead of English