From September 2019, the MFL curriculum will be based on the French scheme of work devised and developed by Rachel Hawkes. The decision to implement this new scheme of work, in line with the National Curriculum, has been based upon it being a more progressive scheme of work than the one previously in place, starting from a firm basis in phonics.
The teaching of the key sounds of the language and embedding them in the learner’s long term memory, will lead to the learner being able to pronounce unfamiliar language without applying English patterns of pronunciation. It will also make for more autonomous learners who are confident speaking and reading out loud in the foreign language and a learner who is able to make links between words and apply patterns. In MFL, skills in speaking, reading and writing French are developed through a multi-sensory approach, including rhymes, songs, stories and lots of repetition.
Children are introduced to French in formal lessons from Year 3 and receive a fortnightly 45 minute lesson, throughout their time in Key Stage 2. Lessons across the Key Stages support the skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing:
- Children are taught to listen attentively to spoken language and respond, joining in with songs, rhymes and games. These can be used in knowledge-based learning to reinforce and consolidate understanding of colour, number, the alphabet and basic greetings.
- Links have been developed with children from KS1, who the older children visit to perform and demonstrate their own language learning to, whether this is through song or story; this not only provides children to develop oracy skills from the beginning of their languages education, but also establishes a clear purpose to their learning.
- To ensure that the best practice is constantly implemented in classrooms, Howletch Primary School is actively engaged with an MFL Hub, formed of MFL Curriculum Coordinators from Primary Schools across County Durham. The Hub meets on a half-termly basis to share best practice, to discuss how to consistently progress children’s Primary language learning and to offer opportunities for CPD.
- To ensure that the best practice is constantly implemented in classrooms, Howletch Primary School is actively engaged with an MFL Hub, formed of MFL Curriculum Coordinators from Primary Schools across County Durham. The Hub meets on a half-termly basis to share best practice, to discuss how to consistently progress children’s Primary language learning and to offer opportunities for CPD.
- Conversational French is revisited each Year, on a cyclical basis, allowing children to gain confidence in speaking and listening in French. Pronunciation is also refined as the children revisit greetings, personal information and the fundamental basics of French conversation.
- Throughout the coming academic year, we are seeking to form a relationship with a KS3 Languages team in one of our local secondary schools, with the intention of fostering a curiosity and enthusiasm for language learning in our children. Furthermore, this prospective relationship will allow for teaching staff to ensure that their own languages teaching and planning will progress the children’s French learning to a position where they are prepared for Languages learning in Secondary School.
- In following the Rachel Hawkes scheme for Languages, cross curricular links with Topics across the Year groups ensure that the children are establishing a wide vocabulary throughout their languages learning and can apply their understanding of language to a variety of subjects such as history, food and nutrition, science and geography.
