Modern Foreign Languages
Modern Foreign Languages is a life-long skill. Learning a language opens ways of communication and exploration. It also promotes, encourages and instills cultural understanding.
Learning French at Immanuel & St Andrew allows children to communicate more effectively with others. It helps them understand what it is to be a global citizen as they learn about various cultures which speak French. Learning a foreign language teaches the children the importance of tolerance and understanding, which is crucial knowledge in today’s world and more specifically in our multicultural city and borough. Later, the children observe how French and English history meet up at different moments. Learning French supports analytical skills that will be used to compare the learnt language with English in terms of syntax and word meaning.
Learning of a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for our pupils. It helps them to develop communication skills including key skills of speaking and listening and extends their knowledge of how language works. Learning another language gives children a new perspective on the world, encouraging them to understand their own cultures and those of others. While embracing and celebrating all our languages, the language taught at school is French. Our goal is to inspire children to love learning about languages through enriching and creative games, songs and stories.
Click here for our MfL curriculum overview
Our Approach
We introduce French in Key Stage 1 through songs, activities and during daily tasks. French is explicitly taught in Key Stage 2 using the "Rigolo” scheme of work. We have established links with schools in France to allow children have pen-pals which they keep throughout the years. French is part of educative enrichment activities, such as “Poetry days”, “Black History Month”, “Remembrance Day”, “Pancake Day”, ...and finally “Bastille Day” in July, when French history and culture are celebrated.
The Aims of Modern Foreign Languages Teaching
- The confidence to speak with good intonation and pronunciation.
- Fluency in reading.
- Fluency and imagination in writing.
- A strong awareness of the culture of the countries where the language is spoken.
- A passion for languages and a commitment to the subject.
- The ability to use language creatively and spontaneously.
- An independence in their studies and the ability to draw upon a wide range of resources
- Form a sound basis for further language learning at Key Stage 3 and beyond.
Past Projects with Key Stage 2 students:
Additional Learning
If you would like to practise your French, or even learn something extra, try visiting one of the sites below. Explore games and have some fun!
Grammar: Prepositions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tniyTrqupzk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npniUd2M_vI
Vocabulary: Clothes. “Vêtements” + game: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT8DjcW_HTU
Book read aloud: “Le loup qui voulait changer de couleur”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPe6aHn6u48
Greetings: Comment tu t’appelles? : https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=53&v=9BgyvEXTZbk
Numbers http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/clips/zcwrkqt
Alain le lait songs for vocabulary: J'aime les fruits - alain le lait (I like fruits)
