Modern Foreign Languages.

t Christ Church we pride ourselves on giving our children the opportunity to have a broad and balanced curriculum. We believe learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.
Our goals are that pupils will learn to:

• 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.

• 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 writing in the language studied.

MFL in our school is taught in accordance with the National Curriculum for Modern Foreign Languages.

All Key Stage 2 classes will have access to a very high-quality French curriculum using the Language Angels scheme of work and resources as the main resource in addition to other ad-hoc resources. This will progressively develop pupil skills in French through regularly taught and well-planned weekly lessons in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6, which is taught by the class teacher. All children in Ks1 will also receive French lessons through the Language Angels scheme, concentrating mainly on using song to learn basic French vocabulary and learn about French culture. Children will progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes – building blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic language.  The planning of different levels of challenge and which units to teach at each stage of the academic year will be addressed dynamically and will be reviewed in detail annually as units are updated and added to the scheme. Lessons offering appropriate levels of challenge and stretch will be taught at all times to ensure pupils learn effectively, continuously building their knowledge of and enthusiasm for French. Language Angels lessons are categorised by ‘Teaching Type’ to make it easier for the class teacher to choose units that will offer the appropriate level of challenge and stretch for the classes they are teaching (Early Language, Intermediate and Progressive/Creative Curriculum).  Grouping units into these Teaching Type categories ensures that the French taught is appropriate to the level of the class and introduced when the children are ready. Children will be taught how to listen and read longer pieces of text gradually in the foreign language and they will have ample opportunities to speak, listen to, read and write the language being taught with and without scaffolds, frames and varying levels of support. Where possible and appropriate, French is linked to cross curricular themes. Children will build on previous knowledge gradually as their French language lessons continue to recycle, revise and consolidate previously learnt language whilst building on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Knowledge and awareness of required and appropriate grammar concepts will be taught throughout all units at all levels of challenge.  A Progression Map and Grammar Grid enable teachers to ensure all children are progressing their French language learning skills and are taught the appropriate grammar at the right time in their foreign language learning journey. Grammar is integrated and taught discreetly throughout all appropriate units. Teachers may also use the specific Grammar Explained units to ensure pupils are exposed to all of the appropriate grammar so they are able to create their own accurate and personalised responses to complex authentic French language questions by the end of the primary phase.

The Progression Map shows precisely how pupil foreign language learning across the key skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar progresses within each Language Angels ‘Teaching Type’. Planning for each year group shows what is taught for each year group for the entire year. Each teaching unit is divided into 6 fully planned lessons. Each unit and lesson have clearly defined objectives and aims. 

If teachers have issues with their teaching of MFL, these can be addressed on an individual basis by our in-house specialist MFL teacher and appropriate support or CPD is given.

The opportunity to assess pupil learning and progression in the key language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and against the 12 DfE Languages Programme of Study for Key Stage 2 attainment targets is provided at the end of each 6-week teaching unit. This information is recorded and monitored by class teachers using the Language Angels assessment tool and they may use this data to ensure teaching is targeted and appropriate for each pupil, class and year group as well as to feedback on progress to SLT and stakeholders. Class teachers are able to record, analyse and access this data easily using the Tracking and Progression Tool that will monitor school, class and individual progress in French. Pupils will also be offered self-assessment grids to ensure they are also aware of their own progress which they can keep as a record of their progress. If pupils are not progressing in line with expectations, this will be identified in the End of Unit Skills Assessments provided in the Language Angels Tracking & Progression Tool. This will enable the class teacher to put in place an early intervention programme to address any areas that require attention in any of the language learning skills.

In addition to French taught within the classroom, children are able to consolidate their learning by accessing the Language Angels games website either at home or by attending our Language Angels ICT club which is run at lunchtimes by our KS2 Language Ambassadors. In KS2, children will have the opportunity to apply for the position of a Language Ambassador.  Language Ambassadors have responsibility in the following areas: – Environmental, Digital and Outdoor Learning.

In addition to our French lessons, we have a focus on international awareness.  We have applied for the foundation level International Award from the British Council to celebrate our cross curricular links to other countries, languages and culture. In The Summer term each year, we host a Chance to Shine festival when classes focus on a particular country and culture and learn more about the language too. Children and staff get to dress up in a costume to celebrate international and cultural diversity and a “World Museum” is held in the school hall.