MFL - Francais
MERSTHAM PRIMARY SCHOOL
At Merstham Primary School our vision statement A community growing learning and achieving together clearly sets out what we wish to achieve as a school community. Embedded in our vision are our values:- Community, Aiming High, Learning to Learn and wellbeing
Merstham Primary School aims to develop an interest in other cultures and languages. Learning a second language provides the children with the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, key individuals and cultural similarities and differences.
The intention is that pupils will feel able and encouraged to continue studying languages beyond key stage 2 and ultimately be working towards becoming life-long language learners.
Rationale for MFL (French) At merstham Primary School
Language learning supports oracy and literacy. Children spend most of their time in language lessons speaking, listening and interacting with each other. This emphasis on communication, including language learning’s important role in ‘educating the ear’, underpins children’s capabilities in oracy, which is critical to effective communication as well as a key foundation for literacy.
Learning a language stimulates children’s creativity. Children enjoy taking an active part in active language lessons. They join in with singing, reciting rhymes and poems, and respond to stories. They play games, take turns and experiment creatively with language.
Language learning supports and celebrates the international dimension. At a time when the United Kingdom has fewer second language speakers than many other European countries, it is even more important that we give all children the chance to learn a language in order to gain insights into their own lives and those of others around the world.
The children need the chance to learn about people in other countries and cultures and to reflect upon their own cultural identities and those of other people. Learning French, and learning about the countries where it is spoken, are also intended to promote aspiration for travel and a broadening of life experience.
Intent
Foster an interest in learning another language; Develop speaking and listening skills; Apply and develop their knowledge of languages and language learning; Gain enjoyment, pride and a sense of achievement; Explore their own cultural identity and those of others; Increase personal aspiration.
By the end of Key Stage 2 most pupils should be able to:
- 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.
- Speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures.
- Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases.
- Present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences.
- Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing.
- Appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language.
- Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary.
- Write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly.
- Describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing.
- Understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): feminine, masculine and neuter forms and the conjugation of high-frequency verbs; key features and patterns of the language; how to apply these, for instance, to build sentences; and how these differ from or are similar to English.
During key stage 2, our children learn how to express themselves in French and develop their understanding of how to respond to speakers in both speech and writing. In early years and key stage one, teachers are encouraged to teach ‘incidental French’.
The school uses the Early Start French scheme of work. This resource was carefully selected as it provides a range of resources that enable the children to learn about French culture (food, family and special events such as the kite festival in Boulogne), to learn about French towns, cities and regions as well as hearing children speaking. The regional accent in the videos is Northern French from the Boulogne area, and is clear, understandable and accessible to the children
Useful weblinks to support learning
BBC short clips and songs –French
| Curriculum area MFL - FRENCH | |
| Intent – our rationale | Merstham Primary School is fully aware of the importance of children’s exposure to other cultures. Learning a modern foreign language is an essential element of the children’s education. The school offers weekly French lessons to our Key Stage 2 children using the Early Start scheme. As children progress through the school they learn the essential vocabulary and move on to hold conversations and learn about French culture. |
| Implementation (How do we teach it) | Each KS2 class will have a French lesson on a weekly basis. The school uses the Early Start French scheme that exposes the children to native French speakers. Through song and practical lessons children will begin to recognise and learn French greetings, colours, days of the week and months of the year before building on to talking in full sentences. |
| Impact What are the outcomes) | Children build upon their knowledge and skills from each year. The children learn to appreciate and enjoy other cultures and to immerse themselves in the learning of a new language. We want to develop children’s confidence and prepare them for when they move on to further language learning at secondary school. |
