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MFL

Intent 

Our core aims for MFL curriculum are to ensure that all children: 

  • Are exposed to a language other than their own 
  • Develop an understanding of another culture 
  • Know that languages are shared across many countries 
  • Begin to read, write and speak in a language other than their own3 
  • Develop a love of language learning 
  • Show pride in their home language, if different to English, and share it with others 

This supports the school’s vision that pupils will be exposed to a wide and engaging curriculum which enables them to understand and explore the world beyond their local area.  

Implementation 

We believe that the following are key ingredients in developing engaged and enthusiastic language learners at Sayes Court: modelling and delivery of lessons from language experts when available; opportunities for paired and group talk to practise vocabulary; exploration of vocabulary through songs and games; opportunities to read and write in the focus language; opportunities to explore life for children in countries that speak the focus language. Our current focus language is Spanish. 

What this looks like in practice: 

  • Spanish lessons are taught from Nursery to Year 6.
  • Vocabulary from previous sessions is revised and built upon to ensure that pupils are developing a bank of vocabulary. 
  • There are regular opportunities for pupils to practise this vocabulary, either with the teacher or a peer.  
  • In KS2, there are opportunities for pupils to reinforce their learning with written tasks.  
  • The same key areas of vocabulary are reviewed in each year group at the same time, creating a shared bank of vocabulary which will enable cross-phase and whole school language opportunities in future. 
  • We use talk for learning in our lessons to guarantee that all students practice their speaking, reading, writing and listening skills. 
  • SEND students are provided with differentiated work to ensure their understanding of the Spanish language. E.g. word mats, visuals, support from the teachers. 

Schemes, programmes and resources used to support MFL: 

  • Language Angels
  • Duolingo School

Impact 

The impact of our MFL curriculum is: 

  • All pupils have had access to learning basic words and phrases in another language 
  • Year 6 pupils are prepared for the demands of foreign language learning at KS2 and how this teaching is delivered 
  • Pupils are able to use key words / phrases from another language with confidence 
  • Pupils are aware that many different languages are spoken across the world 

SMSC in MFL 

MFL is key to enabling children to become a global citizen. By learning about other cultures and exploring their traditions as well as their language, children become more culturally aware and tolerant. Social interaction is promoted in these sessions due to the key aspect of partner talk.   

 

Progression of Skills and Knowledge

 

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Year 6

Listening

  • Listen to and enjoy short stories, nursery rhymes & songs. Recognise familiar words and short phrases covered in the units taught.
  • Learn to listen to longer passages and understand more of what we hear by picking out key words and phrases covered in current and previous units.
  • Listen more attentively and for longer. Understand more of what we hear even when some of the language may be unfamiliar by using the decoding skills we have developed.
  • Listen to longer text and more authentic foreign language material. Learn to pick out cognates and familiar words and learn to 'gist listen' even when hearing language that has not been taught or covered.

Speaking

  • Communicate with others using simple words and short phrases covered in the units.
  • Communicate with others with improved confidence and accuracy. Learn to ask and answer questions based on the language covered in the units and incorporate a negative reply if and when required.
  • Communicate on a wider range of topics and themes. Remember and recall a range of vocabulary with increased knowledge, confidence and spontaneity.
  • Learn to recall previously learnt language and recycle / incorporate it with new language with increased speed and spontaneity. Engage in short conversations on familiar topics, responding with opinions and justifications where appropriate.

Reading

  • Read familiar words and short phrases accurately by applying knowledge from 'Phonics Lesson 1'. Understand the meaning in English of short words I read in the foreign language.
  • Read aloud short pieces of text applying knowledge learnt from 'Phonics Lessons 1 & 2'. Understand most of what we read in the foreign language when it is based on familiar language.
  • Understand longer passages in the foreign language and start to decode meaning of unknown words using cognates and context. Increase our knowledge of phonemes and letter strings using knowledge learnt from 'Phonics Lessons 1 to 3'.
  • Be able to tackle unknown language with increased accuracy by applying knowledge learnt from 'Phonics Lessons 1 to 4' including awareness of accents, silent letters etc. Decode unknown language using bilingual dictionaries.

Writing

  • Write familiar words & short phrases using a model or vocabulary list. EG: 'I play the piano'. 'I like apples'.
  • Write some short phrases based on familiar topics and begin to use connectives/conjunctions and the negative form where appropriate. EG: My name, where I live and my age.
  • Write a paragraph using familiar language incorporating connectives/conjunctions, a negative response and adjectival agreement where required. Learn to manipulate the language and be able to substitute words for suitable alternatives.
  • EG: My name, my age, where I live, a pet I have, a pet I don't have and my pet's name.
  • Write a piece of text using language from a variety of units covered and learn to adapt any models provided to show solid understanding of any grammar covered.
  • Also start to incorporate conjugated verbs and learn to be comfortable using connectives/conjunctions, adjectives and possessive adjectives. EG: A presentation or description of a typical school day including subjects, time and opinions.

 

Grammar

  • Start to understand the concept of noun gender and the use of articles. Use the first person singular version of high frequency verbs. EG: 'I like…' 'I play…' 'I am called…'
  • Better understand the concept of gender and which articles to use for meaning (EG: 'the', 'a' or 'some'). Introduce simple adjectival agreement (EG: adjectival agreement when describing nationality), the negative form and possessive adjectives. EG: 'In my pencil case I have…' or 'In my pencil case I do not have...'
  • Revision of gender and nouns and learn to use and recognise the terminology of articles (EG: definite, indefinite and partitive). Understand better the rules of adjectival agreement and possessive adjectives. Start to explore full verb conjugation (EG: 'I wear...', 'he/she wears...' and also be able to describe clothes in terms of colour EG: 'My blue coat'.
  • Consolidate our understanding of gender and nouns, use of the negative, adjectival agreement and possessive adjectives (EG: which subjects I like at school and also which subjects I do not like). Become familiar with a wider range of connectives/conjunctions and more confident with full verb conjugation ‐ both regular and irregular. EG: 'to go', 'to do', 'to have' and 'to be'.

 

MFL Topics by Year Group

Year group 

Nursery 

Reception  

Year 1 

Year 2 

Year 3  

Year 4  

Year 5  

Year 6  

Autumn 1 

Nursery Rhymes (E) 

 

Respect: respecting other cultures not just their own. 

Teamwork: working together makes Spanish easier 

Spanish Nursery Rhymes 

 

Greetings (E) 

Respect: respecting other cultures not just their own. 

Teamwork: working together makes Spanish easier 

Greetings from different Spanish countries 

 

 

Animals (E)  

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Resilience: Keep trying even if you make mistakes 

Showing animals from different Spanish speaking countries 

Musical Instruments (E) 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

Showing instruments from different Spanish speaking countries 

I am learning Spanish (I) 

Kindness: Appreciating people with a different language. 

Teamwork: working together makes Spanish easier 

Spanish around the world. 

 

The Classroom (I) 

 

Empathy: Understanding other cultures and being able to see their perception of the world which could be very different from ours. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

How the school changes depending were you live 

Do you Have a Pet? (I) 

 

Tolerance: towards other cultures. 

Teamwork: working together makes Spanish easier 

Depending on the country, your pet could be different 

Habitats (P) 

 

Tolerance: towards other cultures. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

Showing how different countries have different habitats 

Autumn 2 

I can (E) 

Kindness: Appreciating people with a different language. 

Teamwork: working together makes Spanish easier 

Speak about what you like, show your opinion. 

Seasons (E) 

 

Empathy: Understanding other cultures and being able to see their perception of the world which could be very different from ours. 

Resilience: Keep trying even if you make mistakes 

Show how seasons change if you are in a different hemisphere (south America vs. Spain) 

 

Under The Sea (E) 

 

Tolerance: towards other cultures. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

Different waters will require different type of ocean creatures (south America vs Spain) 

 

Grammar Focus: Duolinguo 

 

Individual Liberty: You are free to learn any language that you want. 

Determination: Use Duolinguo to improve your grammar 

Listening to different accents 

 

Healthy Eating (P) 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Resilience: Keep trying even if you make mistakes 

Food around the world 

The Weekend (P) 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Teamwork: working together makes Spanish easier 

Different hobbies 

 

Spring 1 

Greetings (E) 

 

Kindness: Appreciating people with a different language. 

Resilience: Keep trying even if you make mistakes 

Greetings from different Spanish countries 

 

Shapes 

 

Tolerance: towards other cultures. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

Appreciate other cultures names for the objects you know 

 

 

 

Fruits (E) 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

Showing fruits from different Spanish speaking countries 

 

Transports (E) 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Teamwork: working together makes Spanish easier 

Some countries uses more cars whereas others, more the public transport 

Grammar Focus: Duolinguo 

 

Individual Liberty: You are free to learn any language that you want. 

Determination: Use Duolinguo to improve your grammar 

Listening to different accents 

 

Research: Wonders of Mexico 

 

Curiosity: By seeing pictures of the other culture, reading about them or even visiting if they go with their family. 

Reflection: Reflect on how much you have improved and how much you know now about a Spanish speaking country. 

Research about Mexico, language, country, food 

What is the Date? (I) 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Teamwork: working together makes Spanish easier 

Month, day, year 

Day, month, year 

At School (P) 

Kindness: Appreciating people with a different language. 

 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

How the school changes depending were you live 

Spring 2 

Ice-Cream (E) 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Resilience: Keep trying even if you make mistakes 

What is your favourite flavour? Accepting others opinion 

The Vegetables (E) 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

Showing which vegetables were imported from America to Europe.  

Family (I) 

 

Empathy: Understanding other cultures and being able to see their perception of the world which could be very different from ours. 

Independence: Try on your own pronunciation and speaking skills 

How despite different countries, we all have families 

 

My Home (I) 

 

Empathy: Understanding other cultures and being able to see their perception of the world which could be very different from ours. 

Resilience: Keep trying even if you make mistakes 

How despite different countries, we all have homes 

 

Grammar Focus: Duolinguo 

 

Individual Liberty: You are free to learn any language that you want. 

Determination: Use Duolinguo to improve your grammar 

Listening to different accents 

 

Research: Wonders of Peru 

 

Curiosity: By seeing pictures of the other culture, reading about them or even visiting if they go with their family. 

Reflection: Reflect on how much you have improved and how much you know now about a Spanish speaking country. 

Research about Peru, language, country, food 

 

Summer 1 

Mini Beasts 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

Showing insects from different Spanish speaking countries 

 

Colours and Numbers 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Resilience: Keep trying even if you make mistakes 

Appreciate other cultures names for the objects you know 

Assembly Role Play 

 

Respect: for other cultures, not just their own 

Independence: Try on your own pronunciation and speaking skills 

 

Grammar Focus: Duolinguo 

 

Individual Liberty: You are free to learn any language that you want. 

Determination: Use Duolinguo to improve your grammar 

Listening to different accents 

 

Research: Wonders Argentina 

 

Curiosity: By seeing pictures of the other culture, reading about them or even visiting if they go with their family. 

Reflection: Reflect on how much you have improved and how much you know now about a Spanish speaking country. 

Research about Argentina, language, country, food 

Clothes (I) 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Resilience: Keep trying even if you make mistakes 

How depending on the weather, clothes might vary 

The Weather (I) 

 

Rule of Law: How you must follow the rules of the language spoken instead of English. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

Different climates in Spanish speaking countries 

Grammar Focus: Duolinguo 

 

Individual Liberty: You are free to learn any language that you want. 

Determination: Use Duolinguo to improve your grammar 

Listening to different accents 

 

 

Summer 2 

Grammar Focus: Duolinguo 

 

Individual Liberty: You are free to learn any language that you want. 

Determination: Use Duolinguo to improve your grammar 

Listening to different accents 

 

Assembly Role Play 

Respect: for other cultures, not just their own 

Independence: Try on your own pronunciation and speaking skills 

 

Presenting Myself (I) 

 

Respect: for other cultures, not just their own 

Resilience: Keep trying even if you make mistakes 

Speaking about your country (EAL) 

At the Café (I) 

 

Empathy: Understanding other cultures and being able to see their perception of the world which could be very different from ours. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

Different drinks around the world 

Research: Wonders of Spain 

 

Curiosity: By seeing pictures of the other culture, reading about them or even visiting if they go with their family. 

Reflection: Reflect on how much you have improved and how much you know now about a Spanish speaking country. 

Research about Spain, language, country, food 

Me In the World (P) 

 

Empathy: Understanding other cultures and being able to see their perception of the world which could be very different from ours. 

Confidence: Be proud of your work 

How despite living in different countries, you can still have the same job 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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