French

Modern Foreign Languages: French

_{Mademoiselle R Hillary (MFL Lead)}

Welcome to our French page! In Lower Key stage 2 , the children have been learning how to have short conversations with each other whilst presenting themselves. In upper Key stage 2, the children are using their reading skills to read short phrases and sentences. They have also been using aspects of grammar in order to write short sentences and say them out loud.  We have been using Kagan strategies for group work and the children are really enjoying this method of learning. Across both Key Stages, the children have been learning French through stories, songs and drama. 

French Curriculum and Resources

Curriculum Intent

 Learning a foreign language is a necessary part of being a member of a multi-cultural society and provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education should foster children's curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping children to study and work in other countries.

At St Stephen’s Primary School, we celebrate language learning and have a large number of pupils who are linguistically bilingual. Foreign languages spoken within the school include: Urdu, Punjabi, Gujarati and Hungrian. The Modern Foreign Languages curriculum reflects our school’s local context by providing our pupils with linguistic skills that they can use and make connections within their own languages. Children have weekly lessons in French throughout Key Stage 2, using the ‘French Languages project’. It is intended that when children leave St Stephen’s Primary, they will have a natural curiosity and confidence to explore other countries, cultures and languages, accepting that, in a multi-lingual society it is a valuable skill to be able to communicate effectively with others in another language.  They will be engaged and prepared to continue language learning at High School. Our choice for teaching French has arisen from the knowledge that within the local area, French is the main language that is taught in High Schools as part of EBACC. 

Curriculum Implementation

The ‘French Languages Project’ is designed and delivered in a way that allows pupils to transfer key knowledge to long-term memory. It is sequenced so that new knowledge and skills build on what has been taught before and pupils can work towards clearly defined end points. Pupils in this way develop fluency which in turn commits to long term memory. Furthermore the scheme supports teacher’s existing subject knowledge with in-depth training materials and resources for them to access. St Stephen’s benefits from a French consultant who works in partnership with the Subject leader and the school in order to support teachers.

Pupils are taught to:

1. Listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding.
2. Explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words.
3. Engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others.
4. Speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures.
5. Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases.
6. Present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences.
7. Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing.
8. Appreciate songs and rhymes in the language.
9. Broaden their vocabulary, including through using a dictionary.
10. Understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): feminine/masculine 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.
     

Curriculum Impact

Our assessment criteria in line with the national curriculum aims to enable teachers to assess the progress of children in their language learning as they move through Key Stage 2. This data is analysed on a termly basis and next step priorities are monitored during the year. Working together with our French partner school, promotes engagement in the subject as well as provides children with the knowledge and skills necessary, to continue their studies successfully at High School. Pupil Voice is also used to further develop the MFL curriculum, through questioning of pupils' views and attitudes to learning a language.

Pen pals

Our children in 4 Lilac have been fortunate to form a partnership with a school in France: Ecole élémentaire de Lardenne. The children have been writing and receiving letters from their very own pen pals. Have a look at some of our work below:

MME Visits Carcasonne by Ms Lalsing

Useful websites, games and songs