Modern Foreign Languages
A different language is a different vision of life
- Federico Fellini
Curriculum Intent
At Blackthorns Primary Academy, we strongly believe in the benefits of early foreign language learning. We have therefore decided to implement the teaching of a foreign language for all of our pupils, from Reception through to Year 6.
We want to create enthusiastic learners who develop positive attitudes towards language learning throughout life. We guide and encourage them to use their knowledge efficiently so that they can become confident communicators. We also aim to enhance their awareness of the multicultural world surrounding them, so that they can become globally aware citizens and develop respect towards different nations and cultures.
Implementation
Our specialist teacher Senora / Madame Robinson teaches all of our weekly language lessons.
Children in Reception and Key Stage One have 30 minutes of Spanish every week. They discover and explore the language and new sounds through interactive activities such as songs, finger rhymes, stories, repetition, actions and games.
In Key Stage Two, our pupils are immersed in the French language for 30 minutes each week in way that is enjoyable and accessible to all. Lessons are designed to provide children with opportunities to develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills, progressively building on their previous learning through our structured curriculum.
Children who wish to continue learning Spanish in Key Stage Two are encouraged to join our Spanish after-school club led by Senora Miller from La Jolie Ronde. This forms part of a rich extra-curricular offer for Modern Foreign Languages at Blackthorns as we recognise the importance of this subject throughout and beyond our curriculum.
Every year, in September, all of the children throughout the school take part in our Day of Languages celebrations. This is the perfect way to discover new languages and embrace learning about different cultures. In addition, we have strong links with the languages department at a local secondary school and we provide further enrichment opportunities with Year 11 students visiting school to deliver an introduction to German.
We are also very proud of our successful lunchtime Japanese Club, taught by Aya-sensei. It provides a fantastic opportunity for our Key Stage Two pupils to discover a very different language and the fascinating culture of Japan.
Impact
Children leave Blackthorns very well-prepared to excel at secondary schools in Modern Foreign languages. They are confident communicators, with the vast majority able to demonstrate the expectations of the National Curriculum by the time they leave Blackthorns. Our bespoke curriculum, designed to build progressively from Reception upwards, enables pupils to be thoroughly prepared for the Key Stage Three curriculum which supports them with making successful transitions into secondary school languages departments.
How do we assess Modern Foreign Languages?
In order to ensure that children are learning the taught curriculum we use formative assessment within and between lessons, along with regular recapping of information previously learnt. Summative judgements about the children’s learning are made using the curriculum end points that have been designed to match our ambitious curriculum.