Purpose of study

Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures. A high quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.

Vision

The Cathedral School MFL curriculum aims for the children through teaching French are:

·         To foster an interest in learning another language;

·         To become aware that language has a structure, and that this structure differs from one language to another;

·         To develop speaking and listening skills;

·         To gain enjoyment, pride and a sense of achievement;

·         To explore and apply strategies to improve their own learning;

·         To explore their own cultural identities, and those of others.

Organisation

The French curriculum is organised into a rolling programme, similar to the other Foundation Subjects, and is linked, where possible, to other Foundation Subjects. Our current rolling programme provides the children with opportunities to develop their skills in reading, writing, speaking and listening and clearly demonstrates the journey of progression.

MFL is taught weekly for a minimum of 30 minutes per week across Key Stage 2, either by the Class Teacher or a language specialist HLTA. In Key Stage 1, children are exposed to French through a French day of continuous provision activities linked to their current theme.