Rationale:

At Burradon Community Primary School, we take our aim for Modern Foreign Languages from our core values:

Be curious about the world around you, ask questions and investigate.

Care and respect yourself, other people, our school and the wider world.

Intent:

At Burradon, we teach a foreign language to our KS2 children as part of the normal curriculum. We do this to:

• foster interest, enthusiasm and curiosity about other languages and countries;
• introduce children to another language in a way that is enjoyable and fun;
• make children aware that language has structure, and that the structure differs from one language to another;
• help children develop their awareness of and respect for cultural differences and customs in other countries;
• develop speaking and listening skills;
• lay the foundations for future study.

Implementation:

We teach French to our Key Stage 2 children on a weekly basis. 

Year 5 and 6:

French in Year 5 and 6 is taught by an HLTA or the class teacher. The focus is on developing reading and writing in addition to speaking and listening skills, building on the vocabulary children have acquired in Y3 and 4. Children also begin to learn about the grammar of the French language and how it differs from English at times.

"I love watching video clips of French children speaking." Year 6 child

"I like learning French because one day I'll be able to go to France and speak to people and make new friends." Year 5 child

Year 3 and 4:

French in lower Key Stage 2 is taught by the class teacher or an HLTA. Games, conversations and songs are used to help children learn, but as children become more confident with the language, they also begin to record their understanding in writing, to support their learning in Year 5 and 6.

"I like playing games to help me remember colours." Year 3 child

"I love everything about French, but especially hearing how the words sound, it's so different from English." Year 4 child

International Learning:

In 2018 we successfully achieved re-accreditation in the British Council International Schools Award. As part of this project we held various themed activities across school, including a House Morning where we learned about Christmas around the World, we celebrated International School Meals Day in March 2018 where we tried foods from around the world and we held an International Week in the summer term 2018. Staff and pupils were praised in the letter from the British Council:

"I hope that the scope of your excellent international activities will continue to develop and benefit the school community; your support, commitment, creativity and innovative international work is greatly appreciated."

What do our children think of MFL?

Year 3:

I really like hearing different accents and languages and playing games like bingo to learn the numbers.

Year 4:

I enjoy learning new languages and doing translation activities.

Year 5:

French is really useful because if we go to France we'll be able to talk to French people.

Year 6:

I like French because we learn and do fun things at the same time. I like doing different lessons each week, so it's not always the same thing.