Modern Foreign Languages at Monkfield Park:

Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) at Monkfield Park Primary School is central to developing confident, curious and respectful linguists who enjoy communicating with others. Rooted in The Monkfield Way, our curriculum enables pupils to express their thoughts and ideas in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers in speech and writing. In an increasingly global and connected society, we believe that children should have the opportunity to learn about other cultures and languages from an early age. as early exposure supports faster language acquisition and healthy curiosity. MFL equips pupils to communicate in more than one language, understand the lives and cultures of others in the United Kingdom and abroad, and develop empathy, respect and cultural understanding as successful citizens.

Key Aims:

• To promote the learning and enjoyment of MFL and introduce all young children to another language in an enjoyable and engaging way.
• To stimulate curiosity about the diverse languages and cultures of people and communities living in Britain and the wider world.
• To enable pupils to become effective communicators with an inquisitive approach to their own and others’ cultural identity.
• To develop speaking and listening skills, confidence, accurate pronunciation and intonation.
• To help children recognise that language has structure, and that this structure differs from or is similar to English and other languages.
• To teach children to apply skills and strategies to the learning of any language.
• To develop awareness of the social and cultural value of language, cultural diversity, individual and collective identity, empathy and cross-cultural understanding.
• To lay the foundations for future foreign language study.
• To encourage children to think critically, ask pertinent linguistic questions, build on what they already know and broaden their horizons through learning about what is in common between people and cultures.

Content and Skills

Through MFL lessons, pupils at Monkfield Park Primary School are taught 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 the use of 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 neutral 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.

These areas are covered by a thematic approach to the teaching and learning of MFL. Throughout all teaching, a multi-sensory and kinaesthetic approach to teaching is used to foster enjoyment and help reinforce memory. Learning to express personal opinion is central to the learning of a language and is encouraged. Actions often accompany the learning and reinforcing of key phrases. Children’s confidence is developed through positive encouragement.

Progression:

MFL is a key area of learning across the school. In EYFS and Key Stage 1, children focus on speaking, listening and intercultural understanding, studying any language or culture of their choice (especially celebrating home languages) through Purple Mash and Twinkl materials. From Year 3 to Year 6, foreign language learning is statutory under the National Curriculum introduced in September 2014. Key Stage 2 pupils study Spanish, in line with all primary schools in the CB23 network, with an appropriate balance of spoken and written language.

Key Stage 2 learning is supported by Cam Academy Trust materials, developed as part of a four-year longitudinal study of new language development in primary schools in England led by Dr Rowena Kasprowicz at the University of Reading. Original resources are available through www.rachelhawkes.com, but are combined with materials from Oak Academy (where they have been adopted), Twinkl and Rockalingua amongst others to make bespoke lessons that are engaging and focused. 

Key Stage 2 receives 40–60 minutes of MFL teaching each week. Vocabulary and phrases are reinforced throughout the week through registers, classroom instructions and additional language use. Work builds on previous learning and is assessed informally against the four National Attainment Targets: Listening and responding, Speaking, Reading and responding, and Writing. A formal assessment at the end of Year 6 records topic coverage and each pupil’s ability level.

Wider Impact:

MFL promotes diversity, tolerance and respect in action. It creates opportunities for cultural awareness and friendships, awareness of new ways to do everyday activities, and respectful exploration of different countries and cultures. The curriculum reflects the Race Relations Amendment Act (2000), considering race equality and cultural diversity in planning and policy development. The curriculum fosters inclusion and community cohesion in a diverse school where nearly a third of pupils speak English as an additional language and where some pupils need additional SEND support. Through explicit teaching of vocabulary, language structure and multi-sensory approaches, MFL also supports literacy and wider curriculum access.

Aspirational outcomes for pupils: 

Children will leave Year 6 linguistically curious, equipped with the foundations for further language study, respectful of others’ beliefs and differences, and ready to take on the next stage of education with resilience, critical thinking skills and an inspiring curiosity about the world. Subject leaders and staff will monitor impact, refine sequencing and pedagogy collaboratively, and ensure MFL contributes strongly to pupils’ achievement, personal development and long-term learning.