MFL is a foundation curriculum area at St Francis Primary school
In Key Stage 2 we teach a modern foreign language (MFL) - at St Francis this language is French.
Here at St Francis, we promote a love of language learning and strive for pupils to make outstanding progress at all levels. We believe in creating an environment where pupils develop their potential and where all individuals succeed in making themselves and others proud. We recognise the importance of languages and therefore aim to provide our pupils with maximum opportunities throughout Key Stage 2.
We believe that learning a foreign language provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education fosters pupils’ curiosity and deepens their understanding of the world.
The teaching at St Francis aims to enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to further understand and respond to its speakers; providing opportunities for the children to communicate for practical purposes. Ultimately, we want our pupils to have a love of languages and aim to achieve this by nurturing a linguistic curiosity and an intrinsic motivation to explore and respect other cultures and people.
The core language taught at St Francis Catholic Primary School is French. Our planning follows the La Jolie Ronde scheme of work which covers all the components of The National Curriculum Programme of Study. It is the intention that all children in KS2 will access first quality teaching of French in order to be adequately prepared for KS3.
In line with the National Curriculum for MFL, pupils in KS2 at St Francis Catholic Primary school are taught French weekly, by their class teacher or PPA cover HLTA, who fully support the skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing and cultural understanding.
As from September 2021, we will be using the resources and units of work from ‘La Jolie Ronde’ Scheme of Work. Children will progress through the key stage building on their previous learned skills and knowledge, constantly revisiting all prior learning. Activities will consist of actions, rhymes, stories, song, drama, grammar focus, video clips, sentence structure, dictionary work, ICT-recording videos, taking photos, searching the internet, making books and cards, even exploring recipes; all used to extend, embed and combine language skills.
Teachers will continue to encourage pupils to use French vocabulary and phrases in their daily routines, for example, through answering the register and displaying the date within the classroom.
Children are taught to:
- listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding
- explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words
- engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help
- speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures
- develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases
- present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences
- read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing.
- appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language.
- broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary.
- write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly.
- describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing.
- understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): feminine, masculine and neuter forms and the conjugation of high-frequency verbs; key features and patterns of the language; how to apply these, for instance, to build sentences; and how these differ from or are similar to English.
Children will contribute to, and have access in their learning to: Learning walls; Vocabulary Displayed; Bilingual Dictionaries; Maps/atlases or/and Globes highlighting French Speaking Countries, Famous French Composers/Singers, Famous French historians, Famous French Landmarks, Mountains; French Themed Days/Weeks, French Dance/Musicians. By developing endless cross-curricular opportunities, we will be initiating, valuing and promoting interest.
Our MFL curriculum is fun, creative and enjoyed by our learners. French is 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;
- Pupil Voice Evaluations of each topic taught;
- Monitoring and reflection against subject-specific skills defined in each year of study;
- Children applying their knowledge of language to other areas of the curriculum;
- Providing opportunities for children to display their cultural understanding of wider societies;
- Observing children speaking and listening in another language;
- Marking of written work;
- Images and videos of children completing speaking and listening activities.;
- Interviewing the pupils about their learning (pupil voice);
- Moderation staff meetings where pupil’s work is shared and there is the opportunity for a dialogue between teachers to understand their class work;
- Annual reporting of standards across the curriculum to parents;
- Learning walks;
- Subject tracking.
Staff ensure the knowledge taught is retained by the children through revisiting and checking that the learners are able to apply the skills they have been taught to a variety of different settings, showing independence with their learning. Impact will also be measured through key questioning skills built into lessons, child-led assessment such as success criteria grids, and summative assessments aimed at targeting next steps in learning.
Effective foreign language learning will equip children with a skill which is advantageous to high school education, adult life and work. Success in industry and commerce can depend increasingly on our willingness and ability to communicate with potential customers in their own language. With the greater mobility of the work force within the European community it is very likely that children will later need to use a foreign language in employment. Others will use it for reading, travel, recreation and personal contacts, either at home or abroad.
Mamalisa - poetry, songs and links from around the world.
Primary Resources - French: numbers, colours, animals, time, weather, food & drink, the body, clothing, friends & family, hobbies & sport, school, around town, seasonal
Momes.net - a fabulous French site, always up to the minute news, good for inter-cultural development
BBC - Topic related
Duolingo- Learn languages from all around the world.
- Topmarks- KS2 French A BBC site with French skills, phonics, songs, stories and a game.