Modern Foreign Languages

Foreign Languages - Living life in all its fullness

Learning Languages can open up opportunities for personal and professional growth, as it is a widely spoken language in Europe and around the world. Living life in all its fullness should help children discover their gifts and talents, explore their faith and spirituality, and contribute to the common good of society. Learning Languages can support this vision by exposing children to different ways of thinking, expressing, and living, and by encouraging them to respect and celebrate diversity.

It can also inspire them to seek further learning and experiences that can enrich their lives and the lives of others. Within our curriculum we actively encourage children to reflect on their learning and discuss the similarities and differences between cultures. We provide a rewarding and fulfilling experience that can enhance children's well-being and happiness.

Throughout Key stage 2 we have in place a sequential programme of study which focusses on enabling pupils to make substantial progress in one language. At Oakmeadow we have chosen French as it is a widely spoken language in Europe and is a language taught in our local secondary schools, therefore benefitting the children as they move into the next stage of their educational journey. Foreign Languages are not a statutory part of the curriculum in Key Stage 1, however we aim to expose children to French vocabulary through incidental learning opportunities. Our aim is for teaching to provide an appropriate balance of spoken and written language and that our teaching enables pupils to understand and communicate ideas, facts and feelings in speech and writing.

Pupils will 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 and how these differ to English.

  • Mr Edward Weaver

    MFL Lead