Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) at Holy Family Catholic Primary School

Learning a foreign language is a necessary part of being a member of a multi-cultural society and provides an opening to other cultures. A high-quality languages education fosters children's curiosity and deepens their understanding of the world. It should also provide opportunities for children to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. It is intended that when children leave Holy Family, they will have a natural curiosity and confidence to explore, other countries, cultures and languages, accepting that, in a multi-lingual society it is a valuable skill to be able to communicate effectively with others in another language.  They will be engaged and prepared to continue their language learning.

At Holy Family, children have a dedicated weekly lessons in our chosen language, French, throughout Key Stage 2, using the ‘ilanguages’ programme of study in addition with other resources. Teachers are also encouraged to maximise ‘ad hoc’ opportunities for language teaching during the day with activities such as prayers and taking the register. 

Pupils are 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 clear
• 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.

Assessment is used to enable teachers to assess the progress of children in their language learning as they move through Key Stage 2, ensuring that children are supported and challenged as appropriate.

Pupil Voice is also used to further develop the MFL curriculum, through questioning of pupils' views and attitudes to learning a language.