Modern Foreign Languages

Statement of Intent

At Whitehall, we are lucky to have a culturally rich and diverse community which includes many different spoken languages. Languages can open us up to new cultures and gain an appreciation of them too. By introducing French to the children of Whitehall, from Year 3 onwards, the children are made aware of all the different French speaking countries in the world and it is a joy to see the wonder and pride that many children have in being able to connect with those places around the world and begin to share in the learning of a new language together. We have chosen a scheme of works that is engaging, fun and interactive while focusing on all the key elements to understand a language: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

We hope to foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world and by doing so, we aim to equip children with the foundation for learning further languages at secondary school.

At Whitehall, we follow a scheme of work called Language Angels, which uses the national curriculum objectives to ensure that language skills progress throughout the whole of KS2. The scheme of works is designed to develop children’s speaking, listening, reading and writing skills which become consolidated in upper KS2, thereby encouraging a long term memory for a newly learnt language. Alongside the skills being taught, children will also be introduced to French culture and French speaking countries; developing their cultural capital.

By the end of KS2, all children will be able to:

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

Teachers ensure there is progression in knowledge and skills by using a progression document, which sets out the objectives taught in each year group. The main theme that runs throughout our languages (French) curriculum is family and every-day living. This theme allows children to start speaking about their own lives as well as listening (and understanding) the lives of others.

Key documents

Year 3 learning animal names and identifying the correct spellings of them in french, as well as beginning to understand the femanine and masculine indefinite artcles that go with them.

Year 5 learning instrument names in french and identifying the definite articles that go with them (Le, La or Les.)