French
French at Aspin Park Academy is based on a creative, interactive, pupil-centred, multi-media approach designed to actively engage all pupils and promote the enjoyment of learning languages, whilst at the same time extending children’s knowledge of how language works.
Teaching approach
‘Sow the seed’ - Each French unit begins with a story, rhyme, song or video-clip to introduce the topic in a fun and meaningful way and enthuse children’s learning.
‘Engage’ and ‘Develop’
Speaking and Listening
Children are actively engaged in their learning by joining in role-play, songs, rhymes, raps and stories which enable them to practise the sounds of the language to develop their speaking and listening skills. Vocabulary is directly taught and reinforced through gestures and mimes, as well as word games and similar activities to aid memorisation. Regular and repeated practise through quizzes and warm-up games at the start of lessons helps children to commit this newly acquired language into their long-term memory.
Reading and Writing
Children read stories and rhymes for enjoyment and to gain awareness of the structure of the written language. They develop their reading and writing skills through reading, copying and writing independently familiar words and simple phrases in context. They write sentences and short texts independently and from memory.
Intercultural Understanding
Children are immersed in French life and culture via access to the online resource, Early Start French, which provides video clips of life in France and access to French speakers. Children also develop their understanding of other cultures, and through discussion, they learn to challenge stereotypes and to respect cultural diversity.
Harvest – Each unit is planned with an end of unit product. Children are actively involved in peer assessment to reflect upon and review their learning so they can identify areas for future learning.
Intent
At Aspin, our intention is to stimulate and encourage children’s enjoyment and curiosity about languages and extend their knowledge of how language works. We also wish to develop the children’s understanding of other cultures and widen their perspective on the world. We intend to develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing necessary to enable children to use and apply their language learning confidently in a variety of contexts and to lay the foundations to inspire future language learning.
Implementation
In Key stage 2, children are taught specific phonic and grammatical skills, concepts and vocabulary in a weekly French lesson with their class teacher, following the North Yorkshire scheme of Learning for Primary French.
Each year group covers six units over the course of the year, which are carefully sequenced to ensure linguistic progression, covering all the KS2 National Curriculum objectives
We use a variety of techniques to actively engage the children in their language learning. These include gestures or mimes, games, role-play, songs, stories, raps and rhymes. We also use Early Start French’, an online resource which provides a fantastic introduction to the French language and culture.
We aim to make languages part of the day-to-day life of the school, for example, using everyday greetings and giving simple classroom instructions.
Impact
When children leave Aspin, we hope they will…
- Be enthusiastic about language learning and be confident in applying their skills of listening, speaking, reading and in a variety of contexts.
- Have developed their knowledge about language and strategies for language learning which will aid future language learning.
- Have gained a deeper cultural understanding and respect and be inspired to continue and extend their language learning in the future.
Classroom Environment
Every KS2 classroom has the phonic focus or aspect of grammar displayed, including some key vocabulary linked to their unit of work.
What do Children at Aspin think about learning French?
‘I enjoy learning French because I can use it when I go to France instead of being totally clueless!’
“It’s almost like English to us now!”
“I enjoy French lessons because it is fun and it’s important to learn a different language.”
French Resources
Early Star French is a fantastic resource we use for children to practise their French pronunciation and find out about life in France.
We also use other resources to support our learning including:
-Singing French Songs
-Chantez Plus Fort
-Ensemble Boardworks
-Take 10
Suggested Books
Everybody Bonjours by Leslie Kimmelman
A Walk in Paris by Salvatore Rubbino
Cher Zoo
Les Trois Petits Cochons
