ArundelLanguages @ ACE
Learning a foreign language helps us understand our place in the wider world and is a window on other cultures. A good language education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. Our teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, and read texts in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.
We want our children to have the courage to engage in spoken French, develop skills in listening, reading and writing in the language. We hope that all children will develop their resilience when learning a language, finding it enjoyable and purposeful. Additionally, our children develop a genuine interest and curiosity about languages. The teaching of languages forms an important part of the school’s SMSC curriculum too, encouraging children to develop the skills of empathy and kindness, focusing on hosting rather than purchasing, whilst becoming culturally and socially aware of non-English speaking people and practices. Our ultimate aim is that our children appreciate how important languages will be in their future and show a desire to continue their language learning beyond KS2.
We have introduced a new French curriculum, and we want to ensure no essential knowledge is missed. 
This plan has been designed to progressively build on the knowledge children need along with the confidence in speaking French through the opportunity to work with a French specialist.
By subject lead - Mrs C Stacey
Aims
The national curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:
- understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
- speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation
- can write for different purposes and audiences, using some of the grammatical structures that they have learnt.
Implementation - how we teach it
Beyond the classroom, it is vital that children experience a range of spoken languages. We have cultural experience days to celebrate the world’s rich and ever-growing culture and diversity.
Nationally, the teaching of an additional language is statutory at KS2 and optional at KS1 but at ACE we believe that children should learn an additional language straight away from Key Stage 1. The children are taught specific skills, concepts and vocabulary in a weekly dedicated session, with the opportunity to practise and consolidate their skills at other times during the school week, at registration for example. Modelling is used throughout the teaching of French. Children are encouraged to actively participate in French learning by joining in using words, phrases, songs and actions to reinforce their language learning.
- Through MFL, our children think analytically, take responsibility and see beyond their own horizon.
- Through MFL, our children know more, remember more and do more.
- Through MFL, our children have the opportunity to grow spiritually, to be resilient and challenge themselves and each other in order to succeed together.
- Through MFL, our children are encouraged to be courageous advocates who challenge inequalities in society and are able to articulate spiritual and ethical issues.
