Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)
Our modern foreign languages curriculum develops pupils’ confidence and curiosity as language learners. We intend for pupils to acquire the vocabulary, grammatical knowledge and pronunciation needed to understand and communicate in the language taught, while developing an appreciation of other cultures and the value of multilingualism.
Learning is sequenced so that pupils revisit and extend previously taught vocabulary, phonics, grammatical structures and sentence patterns. Through regular practice, pupils develop the ability to listen, speak, read and write with increasing accuracy and independence. They learn to recognise patterns, manipulate language and apply familiar structures in new contexts.
Oracy is fundamental to language learning. Pupils have regular opportunities to listen attentively, practise pronunciation, ask and answer questions, take part in conversations and perform short dialogues. We explicitly teach the vocabulary and sentence structures pupils need to communicate meaningfully, encouraging them to take risks, learn from mistakes and develop confidence when speaking another language.
We celebrate the linguistic diversity within our school community and encourage pupils to recognise the knowledge and experiences that different languages bring. Through exploration of cultural traditions and everyday life, pupils develop curiosity, respect and an understanding of perspectives beyond their own. Visual prompts, repetition, modelling, scaffolded speaking activities and appropriate adaptations ensure that all pupils can participate and make progress. Our ambition is for pupils to leave primary school with a secure foundation for further language learning and a positive attitude towards linguistic and cultural diversity.
Our Languages Offer:
At St Mary’s we offer the choice of two languages being taught so that when the children leave primary school they will have the benefit of being introduced to two languages.
We offer Spanish at Year 3 and 4, whilst we offer French at Year 5 and 6. After speaking to our local feeder schools, we decided to teach these languages as these are both offered to the children in Year 7.
We believe when our Year 6 children leave school, they will have experienced two languages giving them a good insight into both languages. We believe by learning two languages and cultures is extremely important, as this will broaden their understanding of the world, other people and different cultures.
Our lessons use a variety of resources that promote the use of rich vocabulary. We make our weekly lessons fun, exciting and creative and our children look forward to learning new things in their lessons. We provide opportunities for children to participate in role play to support their learning. With this in mind we believe all children will be able to progress with their speaking, listening and writing skills. We use interesting, and exciting resources such as games and rhymes. It is hoped the skills gained by all children will provide them with a good foundation in MFL as they continue their learning at their chosen secondary school.
| Advent 1 | Advent 2 | Lent 1 | Lent 2 | Pentecost 1 | Pentecost 2 | |
| Year 3
Spanish |
N/A | Greeting, number 0-10, Christmas in Spain. | Greeting, age, and classroom instructions | Number, colours and Easter traditions in Spain | Phonics, days of the week and months of the year | Fruit, food and drinks, likes/dislikes, healthy and unhealthy foods and the weather |
| Year 4
Spanish |
To ask questions, colours and parts of the body. | Animals, Alphabet and Christmas in Spain | Family and Pets | Revision of colours, Revision of pets and describing | Revision of numbers, hobbies and Spanish Conversation | Weather, hobbies and translation/listening activities |
| Year 5
French |
Numbers to 10 and classroom instructions | Ask and answer Questions, Say my name and Christmas in France | Colours and Days of the Week | Names of fruit and food items naming parts of the body | Families, pets and translations. | Weather, hobbies and translation/listening activities |
| Year 6
French |
Numbers to 20 and hobbies | Animals, Alphabet and Christmas in France | Family and Pets | Revision of colours, Revision of pets and describing. | Revision of numbers, hobbies and French Conversation | Weather, hobbies and translation/listening activities |
