Ogbourne CofE Primary School

Our MFL Intent - 2022-23

Language is how we form relationships and become part of a community. Being able to speak another language opens a child up to a whole new culture and way of life, broadening their mind and fostering respect and curiosity. Learning a foreign language is a crucial part of being a multicultural society, enabling a person to travel in a deeper capacity and to become a well-rounded contributor to the world at large.

At Ogbourne, our goal is to introduce children to the delight and thrill of being able to communicate with people from a different country. We want our children to express their thoughts and ideas in another language and be able to respond to native speakers thoughtfully. We also want them to be able to communicate for practical purposes -we aim to equip them to handle conversations in France so that they feel for themselves the pride of a correctly ordered Orangina or a simple conversation held with another child by the lakeside.

Our MFL Implementation - 2022-23

Our MFL curriculum has been designed to progressively develop skills in French. The children will develop a bank of vocabulary based around topics. This knowledge will be built on each year, deepening and broadening a child’s capability in each topic.

At Ogbourne Primary School:

• In KS1, French lessons focus on speaking and listening. In KS2, French lessons will cover the four linguistic disciplines  children will practise speaking and listening, reading and writing.
• French lessons will begin in the Spring term of Reception, with simple greetings.
• Children will have 30minute weekly lessons in French throughout KS1 and KS2, building in breadth and depth in content.
• They will learn the vocabulary and phrases they will hear or need in France and, over their years here, they will develop the skills to structure sentences and phrases themselves.
• Lessons cover the following topics: Greetings, numbers, the weather, families, calendar, time, body, clothes, food, drink. Each year, were visit the topics, revising former lessons and building on our vocabulary and skills.
• Lessons at Ogbourne are fun and practical, with games, songs, role-play and task-based activities bringing the day’s learning goal to life.
• In the Summer term, children can come to French Club to deepen and broaden their knowledge of French and, maybe, to prepare them for their vacances en France!
• Other language clubs, run by parents or external teachers, may become available to children if requested.

Bringing French to life at Ogbourne:

• We will celebrate the European Day of Languages each September with a special day of celebrations in school.
• We have Language Days in the summer, alternating between a French café and a French fashion show! Oohlala!
• We will celebrate Bastille Day on July 14^th each year.
• We are working towards twinning up with a school in France. Younger children will communicate with their equivalent class on a Whole Class basis. Poplars students will be given their own penpal
• At the end of Year5, children will be given the opportunity to spend a weekend in France, applying the language skills they have learned and immersing themselves in the language and culture. They will eat plenty of croissants for research purposes.
• French lessons are taught by teachers who either hold modern languages degrees or are capable in French, all of whom are passionate about the joys and benefits of speaking another language.

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.     

To view our MFL Implementation in more detail, click here