Modern Foreign Languages

At Ladysmith Junior School, we aim to give pupils a well-rounded knowledge of the basics of our chosen language, French, and to foster children’s curiosity of the world around them. All children are provided with opportunities to explore French as a Modern Foreign Language through the skills of Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing, whilst meeting the requirements of the National Curriculum. Through a wide variety of topics and themes in a broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum, we hope to inspire and excite our pupils to develop a genuine interest and positive relationship with foreign languages, whilst also building a deeper understanding of other cultures. 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.

All classes have access to a high-quality MFL curriculum (Spanish) which will progressively develop pupil skills in regular lessons throughout KS2. Children will acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes which fit into their wider curriculum. Units are progressive within themselves as lessons within a unit build steadily on the language and knowledge taught in previous lessons. As pupils proceed though the unit, they will build their knowledge and develop the complexity of the language they use, building on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Pupils will be able to understand and communicate ideas, facts and feelings in speech and writing with a main focus being on practical communication. Lessons offering appropriate levels of challenge and stretch will be taught at all times to ensure pupils learn effectively, continuously building their knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the language they are learning.

Progressively building their language skills and cultural awareness through the Primary phase, children will become confident to engage in simple conversations and will have an awareness of the vocabulary and language needed in a variety of situations. Children will have gained a clear insight into similarities and differences between themselves and those of French speaking children. Our aim, at Ladysmith Junior School, is that that pupils will develop key language learning skills (as set out by the National Curriculum), and feel excited to continue studying languages beyond key stage 2.