Modern Foreign Languages Policy Sept 2014

Ref/SD
Modern Foreign Languages
Curriculum Policy 2014/15
September 2014
Prudhoe West First School
MFL Policy
Prudhoe West Policy for Languages
September 2014
Rationale
The learning of a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for the
pupils. Pupils develop 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 languages. Learning another language raises awareness of the multilingual and
multicultural world and introduces an international dimension to pupils’ learning, giving them an insight into
their own culture and the diversity of British society. 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.
Aims and objectives
 become increasingly familiar with the sounds and written forms of a modern foreign language.
 To develop language skills and language learning skills
 To understand and communicate in a new language
 To make comparisons between a foreign language and English
 To increase cultural awareness by learning about different countries and their people.
 To foster a positive attitude towards language learning
 To use their knowledge with growing confidence and competence to understand what they hear and
read and to express themselves in speech and writing.
Learning Processes
In accordance with the National Curriculum for Languages children are taught the following strands for learning
a language. These are;
 Oracy- speaking and listening, joining in and responding to stories and songs, presenting ideas orally.
 Literacy – reading and writing phrases and adapting them to create sentences of their own, knowledge
of basic grammar including conjugation of basic verbs.
 Intercultural understanding – learning about the traditions, stories and lifestyle of the country whose
language is being studied
 Knowledge about language – recognising word classes, phonic knowledge and sentence types,
patterns and sounds of languages, developing appropriate pronunciation and intonation.
 Language learning strategies – practising skills and aids to learning.
Organisation
In order to make substantial progress in one language, as well as develop their language learning skills, at
Prudhoe West, we mainly focus on teaching French. French is introduced in FSU and Key Stage 1 in order to
promote a positive attitude to language learning. It is taught in short five- to ten-minute lessons. The time is
extended in Key Stage 2 so that by Year 4, children will experience a forty-five minute session per week with 510 minute reinforcement sessions through the week. An integrated approach to the foreign language is taken
within the primary curriculum, which allows teachers to develop learning on a little-and-often basis. In addition
the school will participate in the European Day of Languages, which takes place in autumn each year, with the
aim of raising awareness of the variety of languages and cultural differences.
Page 2 of 6
Prudhoe West First School
MFL Policy
The curriculum
The curriculum is based on the Key Stage 2 statutory National Curriculum for Languages. In Foundation and
Key Stage 1 the school follows its own scheme of work while in Key Stage 2 we teach the following nonstatutory content; supplemented by additional activities.
Year 3
1 Moi (All about me)
2 Jeux et Chansons
3 On fait la fête
4 Portraits
5 Les quatre amis (The four friends)
6 Ça pousse! (Growing things)
Year 4
7 On y va (All aboard)
8 L’argent de poche (Pocket money)
9 Raconte-moi une histoire! (Tell me a story)
10 Vive le sport! (Our sporting lives)
11 Le Carnaval des animaux (Carnival of the animals)
12 Quel temps fait-il? (What’s the weather like?)
Teaching and learning styles
Pupils are taught to;
 ask and answer questions;
 use correct pronunciation and grammar;
 memorise words;
 interpret meaning;
 understand basic grammar, e.g. feminine and masculine nouns and modifying adjectives;
 use dictionaries;
 work in pairs and groups and communicate in French;
 look at life in another culture;
 explore patterns and sounds;
 write simple sentences;
 read carefully showing understanding;
 broaden their vocabulary;
 conjugate simple –er verbs and important irregular verbs être and avoir
Teaching methods;






Teachers use a variety of techniques to encourage the children to have an active engagement with the
Modern Foreign Language, including games, drama, role play and action songs.
Teachers use puppets and soft toys to demonstrate and present the foreign language.
Teachers also use mime to present new vocabulary, as this serves to demonstrate French without the
need for translation.
Schools invite native speakers into the classroom to provide an excellent model of the spoken
language as well as to involve the children in learning about the culture of France.
Listening, responding and speaking skills are emphasised in KS1 and then simple reading and writing
skills in KS2. A multi-sensory and kinaesthetic approach to teaching is used, i.e. a physical element is
introduced into some of the games, rhymes and songs as this serves to reinforce memory.
Story books and audio-visual resources are also used to model spoken language.
Page 3 of 6
Prudhoe West First School


MFL Policy
ICT is used as a media to support and develop work. The internet is used as a valuable resource to
provide cultural links and allow children to hear examples of first language speakers. Rules for safe
use of the internet will be reinforced (see school’s e-safety policy guidelines.)
Teachers try to make lessons as enjoyable as possible so that the children develop a positive attitude
to the learning of Modern Foreign Languages. Children’s confidence is built through praise for any
contribution they make, however tentative.
Equal Opportunities
French is taught in accordance with the school’s policy on equal opportunities and is for all pupils of all abilities.
This includes pupils who have special educational needs who are entitled to a broad and balanced curriculum.
Planning should take into account the individual needs and learning styles of pupils. Staff will also need to be
aware of those pupils within their class who are in receipt of pupil premium and the need to differentiate as
appropriate.
Assessment
Teachers assess children’s progress informally during the lessons, evaluating progress against the single
attainment target in the National Curriculum, which is to know, apply and understand the matters, skills and
processes from the programme of study. This can be broken down into:
Listening and Responding;
Speaking;
Reading and Responding;
Writing.
Progress will be assessed and tracked against these targets.
Established
Reviewed
Review
December 2009
September 2014
September 2017
Modern Foreign Language Resources
French
Page 4 of 6
Prudhoe West First School
MFL Policy
Teacher Resources
100+ Ideas for Practising MFL in the Primary Classroom (Y4)
Folen’s Primary Languages French 1 (Y3)
Folen’s Primary Languages French (Y4)
A.C. Black Developing French 1 (Y3)
A.C. Black Developing French 2 (Y4)
A.C. Black Developing French 3 (Y4)
North Tyneside Scheme of Work for Key Stage 2 CD with worksheets
French Storybooks
La Chenille qui fait des trous - Eric Carle (Y2)
Mon Papa – Anthony Browne (Y1)
Une Histoire Sombre, très sombre – Ruth Brown (Y4)
Selection of Books about France available in school library.
Dual Language Books (4 copies each)
Qu’est-ce qu’on mange ce soir? (Y3)
Bon Nuit à Tous (Y3)
Le Facteur Spatial (Y3)
Dépêche-toi, Molly (Y3)
French Activity Books (Y3)
Je suis trop gros (Y4)
Je veux ma banane (Y4)
Georges le poisson rouge (Y4)
Le petit chien se trouve un ami (Y4)
Interactive Whiteboard Resouces
French Fun (Y3)
Bouclé D’Or storybook, CD and resource pack (Y3)
Le Petit Chaperon Rouge storybook, CD and resource pack (Y4)
Scholastic Primary French in Practice CD and book (Y4)
Dinocroc scheme and CD (Y1)
Dictionaries
3 copies Collins French Picture Dictionary (FSU-Y2)
2 copies First Time French Dictionary (Y3-4)
Music
Comptines à Chanter Vol.1 (FSU)
Comptines à Chanter Vol. 2 (Y2)
Comptines à Chanter Vol. 3 (Y3)
Singing French (Y3)
Page 5 of 6
Prudhoe West First School
MFL Policy
J’aime Chanter! (Y1)
Kid’s French (Songs and Activities CD) (Y2)
Gentille Alouette – 2 copies Y2/3
Chantez Plus Fort (Y4)
Allez Hop! Chantez!(Y4)
Other
Teddy Colour Cupboard (FSU)
“Je vois des bêtes partout!” Storysack Book, puppets, CD-Rom activities (R)
Monsieur Visage (Y2)
Everyday Flashcards – two sets (Y2)
Classroom labels (Y2-4)
French Activity Books (Y3)
Snap in French (Y3)
Allons-y dominoes (Y4)
Le Bonhomme des Membres (Y3)
Weather Chart and Mon Calendrier (Y4)
Talk Balls (FSU – Y2)
A3 Posters – Le Temps, La Famille, Les Emotions, Les Passe-Temps, Les Parties du Corps, En Ville.
(Y2/3)
French beginners poster pack (
Other Languages
Skoldo Spanish Interactive CD-Rom (Y2)
Spanish Colours Game (Y2)
Spanish Activity Books (Y2)
Chinese Made Easy (Y4)
A-Z China (Y4)
Page 6 of 6