Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) are taught as a regular timetabled subject in Key Stage 2.

INTENT

At Little Gaddesden Primary School our Key Stage 2 language curriculum is not only about acquiring language skills but also about fostering cultural awareness, global citizenship, and lifelong learning. We provide Key stage 2 children with a solid foundation in languages and instil a passion for linguistic and cultural exploration, we are shaping the next generation of empathetic, adaptable, and globally minded individuals ready to succeed in a diverse and interconnected world.

IMPLICATION

Spanish is taught in lower key stage 2 and French is taught in upper key stage 2. Lessons are delivered weekly by class teachers. The school makes use of online such as lightbulb languages to support the teaching and learning of French and Spanish.

The long-term plan provides clear progression for the development of speaking and listening and vocabulary acquisition. Teachers use a variety of the following techniques to encourage children to have an active engagement with French and Spanish:

• Games – in order to develop vocabulary through repetition, reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

• Role-play – these should relate to the situations the children may find themselves in the future.

• Action songs and rhymes – to develop phonetic skills, memory skills and to further vocabulary.

• Reading and writing materials.

IMPACT

Our MFL curriculum exposes children to languages and cultures giving them a broader perspective of the world and an appreciation for cultural differences. This cultural awareness fosters empathy, tolerance and respect for diversity, preparing children to become informed and responsible global citizens who value inclusivity and equity.

During discussions, children express their enthusiasm for their Modern Foreign Language (MFL) lessons and share their love for learning new languages. They exhibit confidence in their ability to grasp vocabulary related to new topics and feel empowered to apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired.

Through the high quality teaching of modern foreign languages taking place we see the impact of the subject in the following ways:

Children are beginning to communicate with each other in other languages
Children are aware that a language has a structure, and that the structure may differ from one language to another.
Children develop their language through development of the four key skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Children enrich their language learning by developing an understanding of other cultures.
Children learn how language skills can be applied to a range of languages.

We supplement and support the learning of languages by giving pupils the opportunity to apply their learning. For example a languages cafe, whereby the pupils have to place orders using the appropriate vocabulary and sentence structures.