Gwyn Jones Primary School

Intent 

The intention of the Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum at Gwyn Jones Primary School is that children are taught to develop an interest in learning other languages in a way that is enjoyable and stimulating. Gwyn Jones Primary school  uses the Language Angels scheme of work and resources to ensure we offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes. All pupils will be expected to achieve their full potential by encouraging high expectations and excellent standards in their foreign language learning - the aim being that pupils will feel willing and able to continue studying languages beyond key stage 2.

At Gwyn Jones Primary School, there are many different languages spoken and so it is vital that we help children develop their awareness of cultural differences. We aim to embed the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing skills necessary to enable children to use and apply their French learning in a variety of contexts and lay the foundations for future language learning. The intent is that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. Learning French will also offer pupils the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences. The intention is that they will be working towards becoming life-long language learners. 

The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing will be taught and all necessary grammar will be covered in an age-appropriate way across the primary phase. This will enable pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning and helping the children improve overall attainment in other subject areas. In addition, the children will be taught how to look up and research language they are unsure of and they will have a bank of reference materials to help them with their spoken and written tasks going forward. This bank of reference materials will develop into a reference library to help pupils recall and build on previous knowledge throughout their primary school language learning journey.

Implementation 

• Our MFL curriculum is designed to progressively develop children’s skills in languages, through weekly taught lessons in KS2.

• Teachers deliver MFL lesson supported by planning by the Language Angels Scheme. 

• Children progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around topics. 

•  Children are encouraged and supported to develop their speaking and listening skills through conversational work, singing activities and games. 

• As confidence and skill grows, children record their work through a range of tailored activities to ensure that all children can access the MFL curriculum that is outlined in the National Curriculum. 

• Units are progressive within themselves by building on the language and knowledge taught in previous lessons. As pupils progress through the lessons in a unit they will build their knowledge and develop the complexity of the language they use. 

Impact 

Through the use of planning supported by the Language Angels scheme we aim to ensure that eventually children are accessing work at age related expectations. They will be able to recognise and apply key vocabulary within conversations and will be challenged in a range of speaking and listening, reading and writing activities. Early Learning units will start at basic noun and article level and will teach pupils how to formulate short phrases. By the time pupils reach Progressive units they will be exposed to much longer text and will be encouraged to formulate their own, more personalised responses based on a much wider bank of vocabulary, linguistic structures and grammatical knowledge. Pupils will continuously build on their previous knowledge as they progress in their foreign language journey through the primary phase. Previous language will be recycled, revised, recalled and consolidated whenever possible and appropriate.