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Modern Foreign Languages
Intent:
Languages are at the centre of our school due so many different languages being spoken by our children. We believe that the learning of a language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for our pupils. It helps them to develop communication skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing, with an aim of making substantial progress in one language. In addition, children’s knowledge of how language works will be developed to lay the foundations for further language learning in future. We believe that learning another language gives children a new and broader perspective on the world, encouraging them to understand their own cultures and those of others, which feeds into our whole school ethos where many religions and cultures are represented.
We believe that every child should have the opportunity throughout Key Stage 2 to study a Modern Foreign Language to enable children to learn about, and foster an interest in, another language and culture other than their own. This will enable them to develop personal qualities, skills, knowledge and understanding, make a major contribution to their communication and literacy skills and raise awareness of other cultures through intercultural understanding.
The aim of our school is:
· For all Year 5 and 6 children to learn French and to trial Latin in Year 4
· For children to understand their own lives in the context of exploring the lives of others
· For all children to develop an enthusiastic and positive attitude to other languages and language learning
· For all children to develop language learning skills
· To raise awareness of aspects of children’s own language and make comparisons with the target language, thereby enriching their understanding of both
· To become increasingly familiar with the sounds and written form of a modern foreign language
· For all children to enjoy some degree of success in learning a new language
· For all children to use their knowledge with growing confidence and competence to understand what they hear and read, and to express themselves in speech and in writing
· For all children to increase cultural capital
· For all children to form a sound basis for further language learning at Key Stage 3 and beyond
Progression Maps Progression Map LatinProgression Map French
Latin
Latin Intent
The intent of teaching Latin in our school is to provide children with a language-rich environment that fosters the development of strong reading skills.
Latin gives children the knowledge of the roots of many English words and gain a deeper understanding of language structures and grammar.
Learning Latin equips children with linguistic knowledge, cultural capital and provide purposeful links to other topics in the national curriculum to foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world.
Equally, Latin provides pupils with an opportunity to explore the cultural and historical context in which the language was used.
Through exposure to Latin, pupils will become more proficient readers and develop a love for language learning that will serve them well throughout their academic and personal lives and provide pupils with a solid foundation for learning further languages in Key Stage 3.
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
- Speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures
- Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing
- 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 in writing
Implementation
Latin is planned using a progression map and the Maximum Classics schemes of work to ensure teaching is designed to help learners to remember, in the long-term, the content they have been taught and to integrate new knowledge into larger concepts.
Retrieval practice is a fundamental part of our Latin curriculum as it is proven to strengthen memory and make it easier to retrieve the information later (Rosenshine, 2012). A weekly review to activate prior learning, forms the start of each lesson to consolidate knowledge and commit learning to long-term memory.
Retrieval practice of core knowledge occurs at the end of each unit to support children in securing long-term knowledge acquisition.
Impact
Assessing Progress
Formative Assessment:
Pupils’ progress will be assessed using regular formative assessment in lessons through strategies such as questioning, regular retrieval practice, quizzing, independent learning tasks and assessment of work in books and feedback.
Summative Assessment:
Assessing long-term learning:
The core knowledge and skills taught in each unit will be assessed through a short assessment task. Teachers will use this assessment to provide further feedback or re-teach concepts where necessary to close gaps and ensure pupils have mastered the curriculum content at that point.
