1. Learning
  2. Curriculum
  3. Modern Foreign Languages

Modern Foreign Languages 

At Billesdon C of E Primary School, French is taught as our Modern Foreign Language for Years 3 to 6 in Key Stage 2.  The school continues to expose our children to wider world languages through songs and poems, books, spoken phrases and wider curriculum work.  We take part in a French Speaking competition with local schools annually.  

Twinkl MFL French Progression of Skills - click here

Curriculum overview - click here

Intent

The school offers a carefully planned sequence of lessons, ensuring progressive coverage of the skills required by the national curriculum to Key Stage 2 children. Our chosen themes - Time Travelling, Let's Visit a French Town and This Is France - provide an introduction to the culture of French-speaking countries and communities to foster curiosity and deepen understanding of the world. Our curriculum has been chosen to enables children to express their ideas and thoughts in French and provides opportunities to interact and communicate with others both in speech and in writing, whilst building skills and securing prior learning. 

In Lower KS2, children acquire basic skills and understanding of French with a strong emphasis placed on developing their Speaking and Listening skills. These will be embedded and further developed in Upper KS2, alongside Reading and Writing, gradually progressing onto more complex language concepts and greater learner autonomy.

Our intention is to inspire pupils to develop a love of languages and to expand their horizons to other countries, cultures and people, to help children grow into curious, confident and reflective language learners and to provide them with a foundation that will equip them for further language studies and careers.

 

Implementation

At Billesdon, French lessons are sequenced so that prior learning is considered and opportunities for revision of language and grammar are built in and use a two year rolling plan to ensure full coverage of objectives to Lower KS2 and Upper KS2.  The skills are built up throughout KS2 with opportunities to use prior knowledge, secure learning and revise concepts throughout as follows:

 

Milestone 1

Year 3 & 4 initial skills

Milestone 2

Year 3 & 4 secure skills

Year 5 & 6 developing skills

Milestone 3

Year 5 & 6 secure & extended skills

Read fluently
This concept involves recognising key vocabulary and phrases.

• Read out loud everyday words and phrases.

• Use phonic knowledge to read words.

• Read and understand short written phrases.

• Read out loud familiar words and phrases.

• Use books or glossaries to find out the meanings of new words. 

• Read and understand the main points in short written texts.

• Read short texts independently.

• Use a translation dictionary or glossary to look up new words.

• Read and understand the main points and some of the detail in short written texts.

• Use the context of a sentence or a translation dictionary to work out the meaning of unfamiliar words.

• Read and understand the main points and opinions in written texts from various contexts, including present, past or future events. 

• Show confidence in reading aloud, and in using reference materials.

Write imaginatively
This concept involves using key vocabulary and phrases to write ideas.

• Write or copy everyday words correctly.

• Label items and choose appropriate words to complete short sentences.

• Write one or two short sentences.

• Write short phrases used in everyday conversations correctly.

• Write a few short sentences using familiar expressions.

• Express personal experiences and responses.

• Write short phrases from memory with spelling that is readily understandable.

• Write short texts on familiar topics.

• Use knowledge of grammar

to enhance or change the meaning of phrases. 

• Use dictionaries or glossaries to check words.

• Refer to recent experiences or future plans, as well as to everyday activities. 

• Include imaginative and adventurous word choices.

• Convey meaning (although there may be some mistakes, the meaning can be understood with little or no difficulty).

• Use dictionaries or glossaries to check words.

Speak confidently
This concept involves using key vocabulary and phrases to verbally communicate ideas.

• Understand a range of spoken phrases.

• Understand standard language (sometimes asking for words or phrases to be repeated).

• Answer simple questions and give basic information.

• Give responses to questions about everyday events.

• Pronounce words showing a knowledge of sound patterns.

• Understand the main points from spoken passages.

• Ask others to repeat words or phrases if necessary.

• Ask and answer simple questions and talk about interests.

• Take part in discussions and tasks.

• Demonstrate a growing vocabulary.

• Understand the main points and opinions in spoken passages.

• Give a short prepared talk that includes opinions.

• Take part in conversations to seek and give information.

• Refer to recent experiences or future plans, everyday activities and interests. 

• Vary language and produce extended responses.

• Be understood with little or no difficulty.

Understand the culture of the countries in which the language is spoken
This concept involves the background knowledge and cultural capital needed to infer meaning from interaction

• Identify countries and communities where the language is spoken.

• Demonstrate some knowledge and understanding of the customs and features of the countries or communities where the language is spoken.

• Show awareness of the social conventions when speaking to someone.

• Describe with some interesting details some aspects of countries or communities where the language is spoken.

• Make comparisons between life in countries or communities where the language is spoken and this country. 

• Give detailed accounts of the customs, history and culture of the countries and communities where the language is spoken.

• Describe, with interesting detail, some similarities and differences between countries and communities where the language is spoken and this country.

 

Impact

Teaching staff use key questioning skills built into lessons, child-led assessment such as success criteria grids and summative assessments aimed at targeting next steps in learning and to make informed judgements on progress and attainment.  The school also aims to foster a love of languages and both staff and children will feedback regarding enjoyment and enthusiasm for language as part of school monitoring processes.

 

Link to the national curriculum guidance for Modern Foreign languagesclick here