Modern Foreign Language - French Learning

Subject Lead for French:

Madame Le Moal

Subject Policy:

MF French Language Policy 2020

Subject Document:

MF French Curriculum Coverage 2020-2021

Subject Gallery:

At Oak Tree Primary School we believe that the learning of a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for our pupils. It helps them to develop communication skills including key skills of speaking and listening and extends their knowledge of how language works. Learning another language gives the children a new perspective on the world encouraging them to understand their own cultures and those of others.

There is a statutory requirement for children in KS2 to learn a foreign language. At Oak Tree Primary School, children entering KS2 will have a basic foundation in MFL learning thanks to the provision provided in EYFS and KS1. There is no statutory requirement for children in EYFS or KS1 to learn a foreign language. However, we believe that, the younger the child learns another language, the more confident they will become in speaking it. French is taught by a native French speaking specialist teacher throughout the school, from Reception to Year 6.

Children in EYFS and Y1 receive a weekly 30 minutes lesson, which enable them to develop their early language acquisition skills and facilitate their understanding of the patterns of language. Children in year 2 and KS2 receive a weekly 1 hour lesson, which is designed to meet the attainment targets of the KS2 Languages Programme of Study.

The approach is multi-sensory through games, songs, rhymes and role-play, with the aims of developing listening and speaking skills in an enjoyable way and introducing pupils to the French culture. KS2 children also develop their reading and writing skills in the target language

At Oak Tree the aim of teaching MFL throughout the school is to enrich the curriculum, and to encourage and celebrate diversity. By developing children’s linguistic competence, we equip them with a lifelong skill and instil a broader cultural understanding. Children at Oak Tree are encouraged to understand the relevance of what they are learning in languages and how it relates to everyday life, work and travel. We emphasise how learning a language will help them with communicating when travelling abroad, and will ease the acquisition of further languages, both now and in their future careers.