Learning French at Treeton

Intent

Our intent is to develop the confidence and competence of each child in the foreign language they are learning. Our goal is for them to be passionate, curious and confident about their own foreign language learning abilities when they finish the primary school phase of their education. We aim for all children to speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation. We also aim for children to write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt. We will continually extend their knowledge of how language works and explore the similarities and differences between French and English. We will also help strengthen their sense of identity through learning about French culture and comparing it with their own.

Teaching and Learning

The National Curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
• Speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation
• Can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt
• Discover and develop an appreciation of a range of authentic writing in the language studied.

By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils should be able to:

1. Listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding.
2. Explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words.
3. Engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help.
4. Speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures.
5. Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases.
6. Present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences.
7. Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing.
8. Appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language.
9. Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary.
10. Write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly.
11. Describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing.
12. 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.  

Language learning in Key Stage 2 is French, although other languages may be taught on suitable occasions to ensure that the linguistic expertise of all staff is used; Christmas carols, festivals, geography projects are examples which foster possible foreign language elements. The focus of Language learning is on practical communication and provides an appropriate balance of spoken and written language and should lay the foundations for further foreign language teaching.

Implementation

French is taught in LKS2 and UKS2 on a 2-year rolling programme and delivered in a whole-class setting. Teachers use the Language Angels scheme of work and can supplement this with their own ideas, resources, experience and those of their colleagues. The scheme meets National Curriculum expectations and also marries with the Chris Quigley language milestones for each key phase. Each lesson begins with a short retrieval activity which helps children to know and remember more.

In addition to this, children are taught about key French cultural events: Le Bleuet de France (November) La Galette de Rois (January), Le Carnival de Nice (February), Le Poisson d’ Avril (April) and Bastille Day (July). These are revisited each year in each year group to consolidate understanding and to develop an appreciation of French culture.  

Lessons are designed to motivate, captivate and interest children from the first moment. They have clear, achievable objectives that take into consideration different learning styles. All children are able to access the curriculum through variation of task, use of groupings or support from an adult.

Each class has a timetabled lesson of at least thirty minutes per week.

French lessons include:

• PowerPoints and interactive whiteboard materials
• Interactive games (which pupils can access from home to consolidate their learning)
• Songs & raps
• Differentiated desk-based consolidation activities
• Worksheets (at three different levels of challenge) are provided throughout each teaching unit and can be used in class or can be sent home to be completed as a homework exercise

Each lesson will focus on a combination of the 5 key language learning skills: speaking, listening, reading (including phonics) writing and grammar.

Core Vocabulary

Throughout the units there are opportunities to revisit core vocabulary lessons these include; Classroom Commands; Colours; Days of the Week; Maths Calculations; Months of the Year; Numbers 1 – 100; Maths Calculations. These core vocabulary units can also be taught as a stand-alone lesson to recap prior learning.

Resources

The Language Angels scheme is a fully online resource enabling all teachers and children to have instant and continuous access to all the resources they need to teach or learn. 

Link to the National Curriculum 

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239042/PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_Languages.pdf