Intent:
At Richmond Methodist Primary School, we aim to stimulate children’s curiosity about languages and cultures from around the world, with a particular focus on French language and culture. We aim to liberate our children from insularity and provide an opening to other cultures. This mirrors our whole school ethos of inclusion and we aim to construct an appreciation 'for all' of 'all' who live in our local and global community.
We aim that our children will understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources. Our children will speak with increasing accuracy, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of 'doing all the good they can', communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation. We will teach our children to write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learned. Our children will discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied.
Implementation
The children at KS1 and KS2 have 30 minutes of French per week. At KS1, the children learn about the language and French culture in a fun way through songs, games and creative activities. At KS2, where a foreign language is now statutory, French is taught following the North Yorkshire Scheme of Work and is delivered by a French language specialist. Here children extend their oracy skills and develop literacy skills as well in a variety ways including songs, games and poetry. As far as possible, cultural knowledge and oracy skills are consolidated and extended in other areas of the curriculum.
French is taught from Year 3 to Year 6. MFL is taught in blocks throughout the year, so that children achieve depth in their learning. Teachers have identified the key knowledge and skills of each topic and consideration has been given to ensure progression across topics throughout each year group in the juniors. Our curriculum has been sequenced to enable pupils to gradually widen their grasp of the spoken and written French language. Our French planning includes games, video clips and songs. Lessons also exposes children to francophone countries and culture, allowing them to develop an understanding for the wider world, as well as allowing them to relate French language and culture to their own. By exploring aspects of French grammar, they can gain a more secure understanding of English grammar as well.
Impact
Children will be able to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and writing. They will develop a life-long love of discovery and interest in other cultures, literature and travel. Learning another's language brings cohesion to societies and Methodism is about connections. Our children will be equipped to continue to 'do all the good they can' appreciating 'all' who they meet. Wherever they live or travel, our children, as able communicators, will be enabled to deepen their understanding of the world and our languages curriculum will provide our children with many opportunities within our local and global communities.