MFL

Intent:

At BSL we believe that starting children on the journey towards learning a modern foreign language (MFL) provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for our pupils. Understanding of, and engagement with, other languages and cultures is also a vital part of our Christian values and engagement with the world around us and appreciating the perspectives of others. Learning a MFL helps our children to develop communication skills including key skills of speaking and listening and extends their knowledge of how English works. As a result children should be better prepared for engaging with the key issues of our time.

Implementation:

At BSL children experience MFL by learning Spanish. This starts in Year 3 and progresses through to Year 6. We follow the national curriculum for MFL and support the delivery of the subject we use the Language Angels resource. This is a progressive scheme of work which supports both specialists and non-specialists to provide quality teaching and learning. Spanish is taught every week and is specifically designed to allow all children to access the language and to enable Year 6 pupils to transition smoothly and continue to develop their language skills at secondary school.

We cover a wide variety of different topics and all children are encouraged to join in with speaking activities. Lessons are planned to encourage all learners to benefit and enjoy the subject and include many different styles of tasks such as smart board activities, stories in Spanish, role play and games. Children are eager to participate and demonstrate their newly acquired skills. Pupils are given exercise books to record vocabulary, try written tasks and enhance their learning of the language.

Impact:

Through the delivery of our curriculum children are equipped with knowledge and understanding about the Spanish language, culture, customs and country. They develop their verbal skills so that they can begin to communicate with increasing confidence and fluency. They also begin to develop their knowledge and understanding to enable them to begin to read and write accurately in Spanish. Our aim is that the children are enthused to want to know more about other languages, countries and peoples, and have the foundations to pursue further study.