MFL (Modern Foreign Languages)
At Lime Tree, we believe that the learning of a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for pupils. Pupils develop communication and literacy skills that lay the foundation for future language learning. They develop linguistic competence, extend their knowledge of how language works and explore differences and similarities between the foreign language and English.
Learning another language raises awareness of our multi-lingual and multi-cultural world and introduces an international dimension to pupils’ learning, giving them an insight into their own culture and that of others. The learning of a foreign language provides a medium for cross-curricular links and for reinforcement of knowledge, skills and understanding developed in other subjects.
At Lime Tree, we teach the children 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
Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases
Present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences
Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing
Appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language
Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary
Write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly
Describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing
Understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, 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 similar to English
We use a variety of techniques to encourage the children to have an active engagement in the Modern foreign Language. These include: games, role-play and action songs. We use mime and actions to accompany new vocabulary as this serves to demonstrate the language without the need for translation. We emphasise listening, responding and speaking skills with the addition of simple reading and writing skills. We use multi-sensory and kinaesthetic approach to teaching e.g. we try to introduce a physical element into some of the games, rhymes and songs. We make lessons as enjoyable as possible so that the children develop a positive attitude to the learning of Modern Foreign Languages. We build the children’s confidence through the praise for any contribution they make, however tentative.
Online Resources
Click here to see some of the many excellent resources online that you can access from home to support and enrich your child's learning.
Year 3 Milestones
By the Year 3:
· I can engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions; seek clarification and help
· I can speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures
· I can begin to develop accurate punctuation and intonation so that others understand when I am using familiar words of phrases, songs,
poems and rhymes in the language
· I can recognise and begin to respond to the written form of familiar vocabulary
· I can make links between French phonemes and spellings
· I can begin to write familiar vocabulary
Year 4 Milestones
By the end of Year 4:
· I can engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help
· I can develop accurate punctuation and intonation so that others understand when I am reading aloud or using familiar words/phrases
· I can present my ideas and information to a range of audiences
· I can appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language
· I can describe people, places, things and actions orally
· I can recognise and respond to the written form of familiar vocabulary
· I can make links between French phonemes and spellings.
· I can begin to write familiar vocabulary
Year 5 Milestones
By the end of Year 5:
· I can begin to read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing
· I can appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in language
· I can broaden my vocabulary and develop my ability to understand new words that are introduced in familiar written material, including through
using a dictionary.
· I can describe people, places, things and actions orally and begin to in writing
Year 6 Milestones
By the end of Year 6:
· I can appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language
· I can write phases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences to express ideas clearly