Modern Foreign Languages

At Charlton Primary School we believe learning a foreign language enables our children to have an educational, social and cultural experience whilst at school. We have chosen to teach the children the French language through the scheme ‘Language Angels’, as our school is situated near the port of Dover and the English Channel, which links us very closely to France. Children learn the interpersonal skills of listening, encouraging others, forgiveness and patience when learning a new language and we feel this enables children to become better learners to enhance their memorization, grammar, sentence structure, ability to identify patterns, broaden vocabulary and enhance conversation skills. Through this skills base the children are then able to unitilize these into other subjects, including music, maths, English and reading.

We also like to link our learning of new languages to our Schools of Sanctuary Award as children are able to think about to those families seeking refuge, who learn English as their second language. Through this, our children are able to show a great level of emotional maturity to discuss the positives and challenges of learning new languages for those seeking refuge or migrating. We are also excited to link this to our UNICEF values, which allows children to think of their own and others’ rights to learn in school and valuing the safe space they have to explore other languages.. Our curriculum learning is not limited to French, as during our Multicultural/Sanctuary week children learn basic vocabulary in other languages such as Polish, German and Swahili and this could be in the form of counting, colours and greetings.

Some of our staff at school also speak English as an additional language which allows them to share their experience and expertise with our children too.  We use our curriculum to prepare children for their future and also their learning in KS3.

Throughout the schoo,l pupils develop communication and literacy skills that help develop linguistic competence and explore how language works.  They are able to make comparisons to French and English words and also raises awareness of our multicultural and multilingual world giving a great insight to different cultures, traditions and ways of life.

At Charlton, we listen attentively,

• Respond
• Explore patterns and sounds in language
• Enjoy rhymes and songs linked to learning the vocabulary,
• Engage in conversations
• Ask and answer simple questions
• Speak in sentences
• Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation

The National Curriculum:

Pupils should be taught 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 Languages – key stage 2 3
• 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.

Although there is no guidance for EYFS and KS1, we still provide opportunities for children to learn a new language by answering their names in a different language, be involved in a Multicultural Week where they learn about a culture different from their own and also link this learning to music, dance and food.

At Charlton, we use a variety of techniques to encourage the children to have an active engagement in the Modern foreign Language. These include: games, role-play and action songs. We use mime and actions to accompany new vocabulary as this serves to demonstrate the language without the need for translation and is a technique used for children with EAL.

We use multi-sensory and kinaesthetic approach to teaching e.g. we try to introduce a physical element into some of the games, rhymes and songs. We make lessons as enjoyable as possible so that the children develop a positive attitude to the learning of Modern Foreign Languages.

We build the children’s confidence through the praise for any contribution they make.

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