Languages

By the end of year 6, Jesse Gray pupils will have been INSPIRED to continue language learning as they move to year 7. They will ENJOY learning languages and learning about different cultures. They will have the confidence and resilience to face the CHALLENGES that learning a new language presents. They will be equipped with basic language learning skills to ACHIEVE their potential in this area of the curriculum.

They will:

Listen attentively to spoken languages 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.

Intent

At Jesse Gray we believe that learning a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for all pupils. Pupils develop communication and literacy skills that lay the foundation for future language learning. They develop linguistic competence, develop their knowledge of how language works and explore differences and similarities between the foreign language and English. Learning another language raises awareness of our multi-lingual and multi-cultural world and introduces an international dimension to pupils’ learning, giving them an insight into their own culture and that of others. The learning of a language provides a medium for cross-curricular links and for reinforcement of knowledge, skills and understanding developed in other subjects.

We intend:

To introduce children to another language in a way that is enjoyable and fun
To foster an interest in learning other languages
To stimulate and encourage children’s curiosity about language
To help children develop their awareness of cultural differences in other countries
To develop their speaking and listening skills
To encourage children to be aware that language has structure, and that the structure differs from one language to another
To lay the foundations for future study

Implementation

At Jesse Gray the Modern Foreign Language taught is French. It is taught weekly to all pupils in KS2, by a specialist teacher and sessions are 35-45 minutes long.

We use a variety of techniques to encourage the children to have an active engagement in the modern foreign language. We use songs, rhymes, stories, plays, games, role-playing and video clips of native speakers. We often use mime and actions to accompany new vocabulary to assist immediate understanding. Basic classroom instructions are usually given in French, but the teacher also explains in English, when more details are necessary, so that the children have a clear understanding of a particular learning intention.

Impact

Children will enjoy their language lessons and be confident in their approach to language learning. Some will demonstrate their enthusiasm for language learning by participating in language learning activities outside of the classroom e.g. playing the playground games taught in the lesson on the playground or playing on language learning apps at home. This will be evidenced through pupil interviews (pupil voice).

Speaking and listening skills are assessed informally during the lessons by the teacher. The reading and writing skills are assessed via work carried out in lessons and via a short written assessment at the end of each term. Progress is evaluated with reference to the National Curriculum and our subject standards (skill progression) map for languages.