Modern Foreign Languages

Modern foreign languages (MFL) at St. Paul's

French is the modern foreign language that is taught at St. Paul’s to all pupils in Key Stage 2. They will be taught to express their thoughts and ideas in French and to understand and respond, both in speech and in writing.  The learning of French will also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read a range of literature in French.  MFL teaching will provide the foundation for the learning of further languages later in their education.  It will provide an opening to other nations, cultures, and foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world.  Pupils will build a developing ability to understand another language and to communicate in it.

Intent

We offer French lessons to ensure pupils are taught the skills required to meet the aims of the national curriculum.

The intent is to ensure all pupils have an introduction to the culture of French-speaking countries and communities. It aims to foster children’s curiosity and help deepen their understanding of the world.

Our MFL curriculum is designed to progressively develop children’s skills in languages, through regular taught lessons. Children progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around topics.

Lower KS2 children begin to acquire basic skills and understanding of French with a strong emphasis placed on developing their Speaking and Listening skills. These will be embedded and further developed in Upper KS2, alongside Reading and Writing, gradually progressing onto more complex language concepts and greater learner autonomy.

We aim to help children grow into curious, confident and reflective language learners and to provide them with a foundation that will equip them for further language studies.

Implementation

Clear and comprehensive units of work in line with the National Curriculum are being implemented.

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.

Displays are used to remind children of key vocabulary.

Practical activities, songs and games are used to help improve memory and recall.

Outside French lessons, wherever possible, children are given the opportunity to rehearse their French when answering the register or listen to an instruction given in French to expose children to the language as much as possible and I day to day contexts.

Visual prompts are used to support children in translating new vocabulary.

Impact

We want to ensure that French is loved by teachers and pupils across school, therefore encouraging them to embark on further language studies.

All KS2 children will have access to an engaging and stimulating French curriculum, ensuring progressive coverage of skills.

Pupils’ language skills and enjoyment of their French lessons will be further developed.

French displays around school will celebrate pupils’ achievements.

Impact can also be measured through key questioning skills built into lessons, child-led assessment such as success criteria grids and pupil voice.