French

At Leverton Primary School, the intention of our MFL curriculum is to develop an interest in, and thirst for, learning other languages. We aim to introduce the learning of the French language and the understanding of its culture in enjoyable and stimulating ways. We will embed the essential skills of listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Our aim is to build the children’s ‘culture capital’ so that they are aware of similarities and differences between cultures. In short, we hope to lay the foundations for future language learning. We will be using Language Angels to teach the children to read, speak and write in French.

Skills Progression

Following the unit planner from Language Angels by the end of KS2 the children should have covered the following statements in the National Curriculum.

Pupils should be taught to:

• Listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding.
• Explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words.
• Engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help*
• Speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures.
• Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases*
• Present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences*
• Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases, and simple writing.
• Appreciate stories, songs, poems, and rhymes in the language.
• Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary.
• Write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly.
• Describe people, places, things, and actions orally* and in writing.
• Understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): feminine, masculine, and neuter forms and the conjugation of high-frequency verbs; key features and patterns of the language; how to apply these, for instance, to build sentences; and how these differ from or are similar to English.

Reception and KS1

We will introduce the children to the language and the children to speak, listen and respond in French. We have introduced Vocabulary books for each child. They will build up a dictionary/bank of words and phrases that they have been taught and this will go up with each child as they progress through the school.

Year 3

We will start to teach the children the French alphabet and French phonics to support their reading and writing. We would like the children to write some from memory and their previous learning. We aim to begin to teach the children French grammar and how they are similar to English and other languages spoken within the school. The children will have their Vocabulary books for support. We will begin to read stories in French to the children where the children will use actions to help them remember key words.

Year 4

The children will continue to learn French phonics and use their knowledge to write simple sentences in French. We aim to continue to teach the children French grammar and how they are similar to English and other languages spoken within the school. The children will have their Vocabulary books for support. We will continue to read stories in French to the children where the children will use actions to help them remember key words.

Year 5

We aim for the children to have learnt all the sounds and French phonics and we hope that they will be able to apply their knowledge in reading and writing in French. We would like the children to be able to write more complex sentences some from memory and by using their Vocabulary books. We aim to continue to teach the children French grammar and how they are similar to English and other languages spoken within the school. We will continue to read French stories with the aim that the children could begin to follow the story.

Year 6

We will aim that the children can read and write complex sentences using all their previous knowledge and their Vocabulary books. We will aim that the children could write a creative piece of writing in French, for example they could make up a monster, draw it and then describe their monster in French using all their previous knowledge. We aim to continue to teach the children French grammar and how they are similar to English and other languages spoken within the school. We will continue to read French stories with the aim that the children could begin to follow the story.

Long Term Plan