MFL- French

Learning a foreign language helps children develop empathy for others, an interest in different cultures and ideas and an openness to differences; preparing them to take their place in a global society. At St Chad’s school we develop positive attitudes to other languages and cultures.

At St Chad’s the Modern Foreign Language we study is French. From Key Stage Two the children use their vocabulary to make simple sentences and across the Key Stage the sentences become more complex and the vocabulary more extensive. Children have weekly French lessons, the lessons are weighted towards spoken language, but there are regular reading and listening experiences as well as the use of written language. Cultural understanding can be both a focus and an additional dimension within lessons. 

The MFL is taught in line with the KS2 National Curriculum programme of study. The national curriculum states that KS2 pupils should:

• • Listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding
• • Engage in conversations, ask and answer questions, express opinions and respond to those of others, and seek clarification and help
• • Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing
• • Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dual language dictionary
• • Write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, expressing their ideas clearly
• • Describe people, places, things and actions in speech and in writing

St Chad’s uses the Rigolo Scheme of Work to support French teaching. The scheme contains many interactive activities, with an emphasis on familiar characters, activities and games supported with material recorded by native French speakers to engage and inspire pupils. Stories, other games and songs are added in to extend the children’s learning. Children become familiar with the written word when each new item of vocabulary is introduced, and they are encouraged to make links between phonemes and graphemes as soon as possible. Pupils steadily extend their vocabulary and use more complex language, extending sentences with connectives and giving simple opinions and reasons as well as core information.

Upper KS2 children are taught by a specialist French teacher.  Lower KS2 are taught with support from the specialist. As we have mixed age/year group classes we use a two year rolling programme for our French in Years 3 and 4. Years 5 and 6 have their own discrete Schemes of Work.