Subject Leader - Mrs Crow

Intent

Studying a language in primary school provides children with essential skills. As well as giving them the opportunity to learn a second language, an increasingly important skill in our globalised society, it also helps to promote and develop a broader intercultural understanding. The study of a second language also supports children’s general literacy and oracy, by raising awareness of their own language and thereby enriching their understanding of both. Furthermore, primary languages are about fun, communication, confidence building, developing learning strategies, learning about similarities and differences and respecting others.

Implementation

At St Paul's, Modern Foreign Languages are introduced formally across all of Key Stage 2. The MFL curriculum is based around active and fun learning with children being encouraged to speak French throughout the lesson.. Culture plays a huge part in MFL lessons. Festivals/celebrations are taught where appropriate throughout the year to each year group e.g European Day of Languages, Bastille Day, Christmas, etc.

In the 2019/2020 academic year St Paul's worked in partnership with Warwick University to hold our own 'World Languages Day'. Children were given the opportunity to work with both students and staff from the university and looked at Mandarin, French and Spanish. The children took part in a wide range of activities looking at not only the languages but also the cultures of the countries where the languages are spoken. As part of the day Mrs Talue visited KS1 and did some activities with the children based around French as a means of introducing MFL to KS1 children who would normally not have that chance.  

Impact

Our MFL curriculum ensures that all pupils develop key language learning skills, as set out by the National Curriculum, as well as a love of languages and an understanding of other cultures.