Languages

At Benhall, the intention of our Primary Languages curriculum is to develop an interest in and thirst for learning other languages. Our current Modern Foreign Language taught is French, however we want to give our children as wide a range of opportunities and experiences as possible. We recognise the influence that Europe has on our lives and as the UK is becoming an increasingly multicultural society, we have a duty to provide our children with an understanding of other cultures and languages. We try to introduce the learning of the French language and understanding of the culture in enjoyable and stimulating ways. We aim to embed the essential skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. 

Pupils develop key language learning skills set out by the national curriculum, as well as a love of languages and learning about other cultures. They become confident to have a go at speaking French and be ready for the next stage of language learning.

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.

Nelson Mandela,  President of South Africa.

Key Purpose: Why is this subject important? 

• Learning a foreign language opens children’s eyes to the wider world and how other people live.

• Language learning fosters children’s curiosity and deepens their understanding of the world.

• Language learning helps children to develop ‘an ear’ for language which will help them in their knowledge of their native language and in any future language learning.

• Language learning develops communication skills and provides opportunities to communicate in other languages.

Key Principles: What are the distinctive ways of knowing, working and learning in this subject?

• A high quality foreign language education provides children with opportunities to listen, speak, read and write in the target language.

• Pupils are encouraged to make links between the target language and their native language which will enhance their knowledge of language overall.

• Language learning provides the children with an opportunity to engage in a subject unlike any other on the curriculum and from a relatively ‘level playing field’.

Expectations What does success look like in this subject? 

• Children should make substantial progress in one target language by the end of Key Stage 2.

• Children should develop knowledge of phonology, grammatical structures and vocabulary in the target language.

• Success in primary language learning should focus on practical communication.