“Speak a new language so that the world will be a new world.”

Rumi

Intent

The intention of the French curriculum at Lordswood School is that children are taught to develop an interest in learning other languages in a way that is enjoyable and stimulating. We enhance children’s confidence and we strive to stimulate and encourage children’s curiosity about language. We develop children’s cultural awareness of France and other French speaking countries, comparing them with Britain, through curriculum enrichment opportunities. We strive to embed the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing necessary to enable children to use and apply their French learning in a variety of contexts and lay the foundations for future language learning.

Our French curriculum is designed, following National Curriculum objectives, to develop children’s skills in languages, through regularly taught lessons. Children progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around topics. We follow La Jolie Ronde scheme of work in KS2 to ensure coverage and progression across school.

By the end of Key Stage 2, we aim to have enabled pupils to be able to engage in simple conversations in French and understand key terms and phrases. We hope, through our teaching of French, our pupils will develop an appreciation and respect for other nationalities and cultures.

In preparation for studying French in depth in KS2, children in KS1 and FSU are exposed to songs and some simple words to introduce vocabulary and an understanding of a different language.

Implementation

Children are encouraged and supported to develop their speaking and listening skills through conversational work, singing activities and games. As confidence and skills grow, 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;
• In the classroom, wherever possible, instructions are given in French to expose children to the language in use;
• Visual prompts are used to support children in translating new vocabulary;
• A French Day is held every year so that all children can be totally immersed in the language and culture of France;
• French is incorporated further through enrichment activities and clubs.

We strive to ensure that our pupil’s attainment is in line or exceeds their potential when we consider the varied starting points of all our children. The teaching ensures that children are accessing work at age-related expectations, with regular opportunities to be challenged through higher-level objectives.  The MFL lead delivers all lessons to children in KS2 and supports KS2 teachers in developing their own subject knowledge.

French is evaluated throughout all Key Stage 2 year groups using a variety of strategies such as work scrutiny, lesson observations, staff discussions and pupil interviews. Pupils are assessed regularly against National Curriculum objectives. Mini-quizzes at the start of each lesson allow pupils to revise key knowledge to address any misunderstandings.

Impact

Our curriculum allows pupils to develop their communication and literacy skills that lay the foundation for future language learning. They develop linguistic competence, extend their knowledge of how language works and explore differences and similarities between foreign languages and English.

Learning new languages raises awareness of our multi-lingual and multi-cultural world, and introduces an international dimension to pupils’ learning. The learning of a foreign language provides a medium for cross-curricular links and for reinforcement of knowledge, skills and understanding developed in other subjects.

How to Help at Home

Here are some suggestions for ways you can help your child:

Cook a typical French meal. Familiarise your child with French cuisine by having him or her help you whip up a traditional French meal. You could try coq au vin, boeuf bourguignon or any other exciting recipes from the internet!

Watch a French movie. Host a French movie night with your family watching films such as ‘Le Petit Nicolas’ or ‘Ernest et Celestine’. You could also watch cartoons on YouTube presented in French, such as ‘Les Aventures de Tintin’ or Babar.

Listen to French music. 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.

Puzzles. You can download and print dozens of free puzzles for your child. He or she will have fun playing, while simultaneously learning French vocabulary.  Keep a stack in the car for long trips. https://www.puzzles-to-print.com/french-puzzles/ https://www.lightbulblanguages.co.uk/resources-fr-pz.htm

Memory game. Create some French flashcards and place them face down on a table. Your child flips over two cards. If the pictures match, your child flips over two more cards. The point of the game is to match all of the cards from memory.

There are a wide selection of beginner French books available. You can also find some stories for beginners online for example at: https://www.thefrenchexperiment.com/stories