MFL
Intent
The intention of the Spanish curriculum at Aspire Academy is that children are taught to develop an interest in learning other languages in a way that is enjoyable and stimulating. We encourage children’s confidence and we strive to stimulate and encourage their curiosity about language.
Our MFL curriculum is designed to progressively develop children’s skills in languages, through regular taught lessons. Children progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary organised around topics. Topics covered include: numbers, colours, house and home, food and drink, the classroom, clothes and hobbies. We strive to embed the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing necessary to enable children to use and apply their Spanish learning in a variety of contexts and lay the foundations for future language learning.
At Aspire we believe that to enable our children to celebrate and welcome differences in our world , it is vital they have an understanding of different languages and countries. By introducing and exposing our children to this they will have a deepened ability to show respect and play a valuable part in our global society.
Implementation
Our MFL curriculum is designed to develop not only our children’s language skills, but also their love of learning a new language. It progressively develops language skills across Key Stage Two. This allows the children to acquire new language then use and apply it in a range of different scenarios and topics. Children are encouraged and supported to develop their speaking and listening skills and build confidence through conversational work, singing activities and games.
As their confidence and skills grow, children record their work through pictures, captions and sentences. For many pupils this is their first opportunity to engage in learning a foreign language and skills often need re-visiting and over learning. Lessons are sequenced so that prior learning is considered and opportunities for revision of language are built into them. Lessons help children to build on prior knowledge alongside the introduction of new skills.
All children in KS2 have a weekly Spanish lesson with their class teacher or HLTA. In KS1 we start to encourage a knowledge of different languages by introducing the children to stories, songs and rhymes in other languages.
All classes have a Spanish vocab display which is updated termly to reflect the topic being covered. A Spanish word of the week is introduced in Monday’s assembly and practised throughout the week.
Impact
The impact of our Spanish curriculum is measured in a variety of ways: confidence to engage in lessons and ‘have a go’ at using Spanish words and phrases, development of pupils spoken Spanish skills, questioning during lesson time, listening to child-led discussion, using images/videos of children’s practical learning, talking to pupils across the school about their learning,and monitoring of evidence slides throughout the year.
By teaching Spanish skills and knowledge at Aspire we hope children will
- Develop a love of languages and learning about other cultures.
- Develop key language learning skills set out by the national curriculum
- Understand and respond to spoken and written language
- Speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity