Aims
The intention of the Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum at St Oswald’s Catholic Primary School is that children are taught to develop an interest in learning other languages in a way that is enjoyable and stimulating. We have recently introduced the Language Angels scheme of work and resources to offer a relevant, broad, vibrant, and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes. We aim to encourage children’s confidence and creative skills through the teaching of Spanish. Whatever the language taught, we strive to stimulate and encourage children’s curiosity about all languages. At St Oswald’s Catholic Primary School, there are a number of languages spoken, including Albanian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Polish and Portuguese. It is therefore vital that we help children develop their awareness of cultural differences embedded in our mission to Love, Learn, Respect and Appreciate. We aim to embed the skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing and grammar skills necessary to enable children to use and apply their Spanish learning in a variety of contexts and lay the foundations for future language learning.
Mrs. A M Roberts MFL Lead
MFL Intent
The intent is that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. Learning Spanish will also offer pupils the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others, and cultural differences. The intention is that they will be working towards becoming life-long language learners.
The teaching and learning of Spanish have been established at St Oswald’s since before it became mandatory within the KS2 National Curriculum – although previously we used a different MFL scheme (Primary Languages Network – PLN). Language Angels was introduced fully in KS2 in September 2021. Through the use of planning supported by the Language Angels scheme, we aim to ensure that children are accessing work at age-related expectations. They will be able to recognise and apply key vocabulary within conversations and will be challenged in a range of speaking and listening reading, and writing activities.
Implementation
- Our MFL curriculum is designed to progressively develop children’s skills in the Spanish language, through weekly taught lessons in KS2.
- The KS2 PPA teacher delivers MFL lessons using the Language Angels Scheme.
- Children progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around topics.
- Children are encouraged and supported to develop their speaking and listening skills through conversational work, singing activities, and games.
- As confidence and skill grow, children record their work through a range of tailored activities to ensure that all children can access the MFL curriculum that is outlined in the National Curriculum.
- Units are progressive within themselves as subsequent lessons within a unit build on the language and knowledge taught in previous lessons. As pupils progress through the lessons in a unit they will build their knowledge and develop the complexity of the Spanish language.
- In addition to implementing the Language Angels scheme of work and resources, we aim to facilitate a whole school approach to foreign language learning along with improved cultural awareness e.g. by acknowledging that Christmas is celebrated in a variety of ways in different countries and cultures.
Early Learning units will start at basic noun and article level and will teach pupils how to formulate short phrases. Children continue to develop their language knowledge and skills through Intermediate Language Units before eventually transitioning to Progressive Units. By the time pupils reach Progressive units they will be exposed to much longer text and will be encouraged to formulate their own, more personalised responses based on a much wider bank of vocabulary, linguistic structures, and grammatical knowledge. Pupils will continuously build on their previous knowledge as they progress in their foreign language journey through the primary phase. The previous language will be recycled, revised, recalled, and consolidated whenever possible and appropriate.
Impact
The Impact of our work is evidenced by talking with children and listening to the pupil voice, lesson observations, assessments, and work produced.
As a result of our work the children have mutual respect, joy, and enthusiasm for other languages and cultures and display an excellent understanding and appreciation of the multi-cultural world we live in.
Children have confidence in their knowledge and understanding of spoken and written Spanish and meet Age Related Expectations.