MFL at St Augustine’s Primary School

Parler Français

Une langue différente est une vision différente de la vie.

A different language is a different vision of life.

– Frederico Fellini

Vision:

Pupils at St. Augustine’s become confident and comfortable speaking French, the and language acquisition provides them with a life-long practical skill, stimulating their interest in other languages and cultures.

Intent:

At our school, we prioritise the development of oral skills and pronunciation, providing ample opportunities for writing in the foreign language. We believe in enriching grammar awareness and fostering discussions on the similarities and differences between the foreign language and English grammar.

Our curriculum is built upon three essential pillars of language learning: phonics, vocabulary, and grammar. These pillars form the foundation of our structured knowledge progression, implemented from Year 3 to Year 6. This systematic approach ensures a comprehensive language learning journey throughout the school years.

French Overview

MFL LTP

Implementation:

In our French curriculum, children hone their listening and pronunciation skills, delve into reading and writing in French, grasp French grammar concepts, and explore French culture and geography.

At St Augustine’s, our Modern Foreign Language (MFL) program unfolds progressively, starting with fundamental words and phrases comprehension. Oral and written exercises are tactically deployed to fulfill curriculum objectives. Activities such as ‘Listen and Respond’, conversational practice, songs, games, video clips, and diverse written tasks propel learning and captivate children’s interest in acquiring an additional language.

French lessons, administered weekly by class instructors, are supplemented with daily practice sessions, ensuring regular review of prior knowledge and acquisition of new French vocabulary. Verbal engagement is fostered, encouraging children to refine their French pronunciation skills.

Aligned with our Teaching and Learning model and the CUSP 6 lesson components, each French lesson integrates phonics and cultural elements. Ongoing retrieval of past lessons’ content is emphasized, supported by key knowledge displays in all KS2 classrooms. Additionally, KS2 pupils greet the register in French in the afternoons and might field questions related to their weekly learning, offering extra retrieval opportunities. Teachers adeptly demonstrate and explain, leveraging sound clips for authentic and precise pronunciation of foreign sounds.

Children consolidate their learning through speaking and reading exercises, as well as through drawing and writing activities in their French workbooks. These workbooks feature tailored instruction where necessary to foster progress for every student.

Assessment for understanding is ongoing within lessons, facilitated by teacher-led questioning and verbal feedback. Teachers document their assessments, recording them lesson by lesson in an assessment folder.

Impact:

Pupils cultivate a profound knowledge and appreciation of France, its society, and culture, igniting a lifelong curiosity about the broader world and fostering acceptance of diversity within society.

Moreover, pupils acquire essential language learning skills outlined by the national curriculum, alongside a passion for languages and exploring other cultures. These encompass:

Comprehending and responding to spoken and written language from diverse authentic sources.
Speaking with growing confidence, fluency, and spontaneity, effectively conveying their thoughts through discussions, questions, and continuously refining their pronunciation and intonation.
Crafting written pieces of varying lengths for different purposes and audiences, employing a range of grammatical structures they’ve mastered.
Uncovering and nurturing an appreciation for a variety of written works in the studied language.