Modern Foreign Languages (French)
Subject Coordinator Mrs K Taylor
A high-quality languages education should foster children’s curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable children to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. The aim of our curriculum is to equip children with the knowledge of other countries and languages to support global citizenship supporting their understanding of equality and diversity within it’s global context.
At Moorside Primary Academy we feel a high-quality languages education should foster children’s curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable children:
- to express their ideas and thoughts in another language
- to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing continuing to build and develop on their communication and language skills.
- to develop their knowledge of the wider world understanding it’s global dimension.
At the Moorside Primary Academy we aim to provide all children with a broad and balanced curriculum which addresses our school priorities one of which is communication and language and prepares them for life beyond primary education.
Our whole school curriculum is planned on a two-year cycle and this year 2022/23 we are covering cycle A. This allows us to support mixed age classes across school where necessary. Knowledge organisers are designed to support teacher subject knowledge and children’s knowledge at Key Stage 2.
Each new unit of work begins with a recap of the previous related knowledge from previous years. This helps children to retrieve what they have learnt in the earlier sequence of the programme of study, and ensures that new knowledge is taught in the context of previous learning to promote a shift in long term memory.
Key vocabulary for the new topic is also introduced as French of this ‘unit introduction’. Teachers provide definitions and accompanying visuals for each word where appropriate to ensure accessibility to all. This approach also means that children are able to understand the new vocabulary when it is used in teaching and learning activities and apply it themselves when they approach their work.
Within all lessons, teachers plan a phase of progressive questioning which extends to and promotes the higher order thinking of all learners. Questions initially focus on the recall or retrieval of knowledge.
Planning involves teachers creating engaging lessons, often involving high-quality resources (from Language Angels) to aid understanding of conceptual knowledge. Tasks are selected and designed to provide appropriate challenge to all learners, in line with the school’s commitment to inclusion.
We build upon the knowledge and skill development of the previous years. As the children’s knowledge and understanding increases, they become more proficient in selecting, using relevant media and materials to support to French development.
