Bienvenue! At Thurnby Mead, we learn French in Key stage 2, that is from year 3 to 6. By using the Kapow Schemes of work our lessons are engaging, fun and enjoyable. We learn through songs, rhymes, role play and games.
The French scheme of work aims to instil a love of language learning and an awareness of other cultures. We want pupils to develop the confidence to communicate in French for practical purposes, using both written and spoken French. Through our scheme of work, we aim to give pupils a foundation for language learning that encourages and enables them to apply their skills to learning further languages, developing a strong understanding of the English language, facilitating future study, and opening opportunities to study and work in other countries in the future.
Our children also have access to Duolingo, a French teaching app that is fun and exciting. This encourages our children to use basic vocabulary and phrases and helps to improve their acquisition of basic French language structure.
The French scheme of work is designed with three knowledge strands that run throughout our units with knowledge building cummulatively.
These are:
- Phonics
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
This knowledge can then be applied within our skills strands, which also run throughout each unit in the scheme:
- Language comprehension (Listening and reading)
- Language production (Speaking and writing)
Our national curriculum coverage shows which of our units cover each of the National curriculum attainment targets as well as each of the strands. Our Progression of skills and knowledge shows the skills and knowledge that are taught within each year group and how these skills develop to ensure that attainment targets are securely met by the end of Key Stage 2.
Through the French scheme, pupils are given opportunities to communicate for practical purposes around familiar subjects and routines. The scheme provides balanced opportunities for communication in both spoken and written French, although in Year 3 the focus is on developing oral skills, before incorporating written French in Year 4 and beyond.
Our scheme of work focuses on developing what we term ‘language detective skills’ and developing an understanding of French grammar, and key vocabulary rather than on committing to memory vast amounts of French vocabulary. Pronunciation is emphasised early on using our Mouth mechanics videos to support pupils with phoneme pronunciation in French.
The expected impact of following the French scheme of work is that children will:
➔ Be able to engage in purposeful dialogue in practical situations (e.g., ordering in a cafe, following directions) and express an opinion.
➔ Make increasingly accurate attempts to read unfamiliar words, phrases, and short texts.
➔ Speak and read aloud with confidence and accuracy in pronunciation.
➔ Demonstrate understanding of spoken language by listening and responding appropriately.
➔ Use a bilingual dictionary to support their language learning.
➔ Be able to identify word classes in a sentence and apply grammatical rules they have learnt.
➔ Have developed an awareness of cognates and near-cognates and be able to use them to tackle unfamiliar words in French, English, and other languages.
➔ Be able to construct short texts on familiar topics.
➔ Meet the end of Key Stage 2 stage expectations outlined in the National curriculum for Languages.
Year 3 have been loving building their French vocabulary for different greetings as well as exploring the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words.
Year 4 have been building on their basic French greetings from last year and building vocabulary up about different foods and visiting a shop. They have also been learning to describe people, places, things and actions orally* and in writing.
Year five build on their learning about the days of the week and explore further language in French such as, explaining the weather, activities and birthdays. They Engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others as well as seek clarification and help.
Year 6 have been learning the vocabulary for clothes and more depth about the different regions in France. Making connections across the curriculum to popular places like Normandie Beaches (WW2), Paris (tour de le France), Alps (mountains). They learn to understand basic grammar including (where relevant): feminine, masculine and neuter forms and the conjugation of high frequency verbs; key features and patterns of the language; how to apply these, for instance, to build sentences; and how these differ from or are like English.
Subject Policies/Plans
Subject Leader/s
Mrs Steele-Mulla