At Queen’s Park we teach French in Key Stage 2 as part of the normal school curriculum.

We aim to ensure that language skills are developed and used across the whole curriculum and to promote the personal development of every child by providing them with an equal opportunity to develop their skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. In particular we aim to

• Foster an interest in learning another language
• Introduce young children to another language in a way that is enjoyable and fun
• Make young children aware that language has a structure and that the structure differs from one language to another
• Help children develop their awareness of cultural differences in other countries
• Develop their speaking and listening skills
• Lay the foundations of future study

We use a variety of techniques to encourage the children to have an active engagement in modern foreign languages. These include games, role plays and songs (particularly action songs). We often use puppets and soft toys to demonstrate the foreign language, and we also invite native speakers into the classroom, to expose the children to other foreign language speakers. We frequently use mime to accompany new vocabulary without the need for translation, emphasising listening and speaking skills over reading and writing.

We aim to make lessons as entertaining as possible, and realise that this approach supports the development of positive attitudes in the children when learning modern foreign languages. We aim to build children’s confidence through constant praise for any contribution they make in a foreign language, however tentative.