Language learning at Long Row

Learning a foreign language opens doors to other cultures. A high-quality language education should foster pupils' curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read literature in the original language.  

Key Stage 1 

At KS1, when the teaching of foreign languages is non-statutory, any opportunities for positive learning experiences of additional languages, through song, rhymes, poems and word games, are encouraged, particularly when these may enable learners from a variety of backgrounds to share their cultural and/or linguistic heritage with their peers.
 
Key Stage 2  

At KS2 all children are given the opportunity to learn French. They develop their practical communication skills by understanding and responding to both spoken and written language. The core strands of our scheme cover phonics, vocabulary and grammar, which will provide them with a solid foundation for further language study at KS3.

Each year, the whole school takes part in a Day of Languages, and there are additional opportunities for children to embrace language learning through our after-school programme, currently offering Spanish. 

Curriculum provision 

From September 2023, we have started using the scheme Language Angels. The scheme will run on a two-year cycle, and all our KS2 children have a weekly French lesson.  Further opportunities to recycle key vocabulary and develop confidence are often built into classroom routines such as greetings, stating lunch preferences and registration. 

Our children really enjoy learning languages and lessons incorporate games and songs to make the learning fun. 

Equal Opportunities and SEND 

Every child has the statutory right to a broad and balanced curriculum and all children in KS2, irrespective of ability or special educational need, should be given the opportunity to learn a foreign language. Any child with special educational needs is actively encouraged to participate fully in MFL lessons with the necessary support and appropriate differentiation.  

Teaching modern foreign languages is an important way to directly address pupil perceptions and potential stereotypes. It allows us to actively promote positive attitudes and values towards cultural and religious diversity and to directly tackle any form of cultural and negative stereotyping. 

In Spanish club this term, we have learnt about Spanish greetings, how to say numbers and colours and how to express likes and dislikes. We have even had a go at drawing like Pablo Picasso! 

We've had so much fun learning about different languages and cultures around the world! The sessions included Japanese calligraphy, mask making to prepare for Italian Carnevale, learning how to express likes and dislikes in Polish and Norwegian Troll making and troll dancing. We've also practiced some French greetings and colours, which will come in handy when the children start learning French in KS2.