Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)
At St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that learning another language opens children's minds to new cultures, experiences and ways of seeing the world.
We teach French as our Modern Foreign Language and aim to develop confident, curious and enthusiastic young linguists. Through learning French, children develop their ability to communicate with others while gaining a deeper appreciation of the richness and diversity of the world around them.
Our French curriculum is carefully sequenced so that children build their knowledge and confidence over time, developing the skills they need to listen, speak, read and write in another language.
Developing Language Skills
Children develop their French through the four key language skills:
• listening and understanding spoken French
• speaking with increasing confidence and accuracy
• reading and understanding French texts
• writing words, phrases and sentences in French.
Children revisit vocabulary and language structures regularly so that knowledge becomes secure and can be used confidently in new contexts.
As pupils progress through the school, they move from using individual words and simple phrases to constructing increasingly complex sentences and communicating their own ideas.
Building Vocabulary and Understanding
Vocabulary is at the heart of our language learning.
Children develop a growing bank of French vocabulary linked to familiar themes and their wider learning. Topics may include greetings, family, numbers, colours, food, hobbies, school, home, weather, places and everyday activities.
New vocabulary is regularly revisited and practised so that children can recall and apply it with increasing confidence.
Pupils also develop their understanding of basic grammatical structures and learn how words and sentences are formed in French.
Listening and Speaking
We want children to develop the confidence to communicate in French from the very beginning.
Lessons provide regular opportunities for children to listen to authentic French, practise pronunciation and participate in conversations.
Children learn to ask and answer questions, express preferences, give information and respond to others. We encourage pupils to have a go, even when they are not yet completely sure, and to see mistakes as a natural part of learning a language.
Reading and Writing in French
As children develop their vocabulary and understanding, they apply their knowledge to reading and writing.
Pupils learn to recognise familiar words and phrases and develop strategies for working out the meaning of new language.
They gradually progress from copying and completing simple sentences to creating their own written responses. By the end of Key Stage 2, pupils are increasingly able to communicate information, ideas and opinions in French.
French Culture and the Wider World
Learning French is about much more than learning vocabulary.
Children develop an understanding of French speaking countries and communities and explore aspects of their culture, traditions and everyday life.
Through stories, songs, celebrations, food, geography and cultural experiences, pupils develop an appreciation of similarities and differences between their own lives and those of people in other communities.
This helps children develop respect, curiosity and an understanding of the wider world.
Supporting Every Linguist
We have high expectations for every pupil and believe that all children can enjoy success in learning another language.
Teachers use adaptive teaching to ensure that pupils can access ambitious language learning. Children who need additional support receive appropriate modelling, repetition and visual resources, while pupils who are ready for greater challenge are encouraged to use increasingly complex language and communicate more independently.
We are committed to ensuring that disadvantaged pupils, vulnerable pupils and pupils with SEND have the support they need to participate fully and achieve well.
Preparing Children for Secondary School
Our French curriculum provides children with a strong foundation for continuing language learning at secondary school.
By the time children leave St Vincent's, we want them to have developed a secure foundation of vocabulary, pronunciation and grammatical knowledge, alongside the confidence to communicate in another language.
Most importantly, we want children to understand that speaking another language is a valuable skill that can help them build relationships, understand different perspectives and participate more fully in an increasingly connected world.
Through French, every child is encouraged to achieve, belong and thrive, developing curiosity, confidence and respect for others and having the courage to let their light shine.
At St Vincent’s we aspire to make the learning ambitious for all learners. Our school curriculum includes the knowledge, skills and life experiences children need to thrive. Our learning is carefully planned and sequenced using the National Curriculum that can be found below:
Knowledge and skills are built on from previous years and there is clear progression in each subject. You can see an overview of progression below:
Each curriculum area is taught across the year and evidenced on a long term plan, divided into half termly blocks. You can see the long term plan below:
French Developments Spring 2024
