Modern Foreign Languages

A different language is a different vision of life.

Intent

At St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Primary we foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world through the learning of a foreign language. We focus on practical communication throughout Key Stage Two using a balance of spoken and written language which will lay the foundations for further language learning and inspire a natural curiosity and confidence to explore: other countries, cultures and languages. Spanish is our chosen language.

The national curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:

  1. understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
  2. speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation
  3. can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt
  4. discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied

 

Implementation

Lessons are taught by a peripatetic MFL expert Spanish teacher, who enables pupils to become confident, capable and articulate linguists. Pupils gradually acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around topics, which are progressively built upon. Pupils are encouraged and supported to develop their speaking and listening skills through conversational work, singing activities and games. As confidence and skill grows, pupils record their work through pictures, captions and sentences.

Pupils will: listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding; Explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words; engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help.

Impact

Pupils are equipped with the skills to achieve and be successful in lessons and build the confidence to be effective linguists outside of school. Working together with our local secondary school also enables pupils to prepare for their next stages. We measure the impact of our curriculum through the following methods: Observing children speaking and listening in another language. Marking of written work. Interviewing pupils about their learning (pupil voice). Annual reporting to parents. Learning walks.

 

Gallery