Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures.  A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world.  The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing.  

It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language.  Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries. 

At Lytchett Matravers School, children in Years 2 to 6 receive language teaching for an hour a week.  This is mainly in French but children in Years 4, 5 and 6 the children also learn Spanish for half a term during the year.

Summer Term

Year 2: The children have been learning French for two terms now.  They have shown real enjoyment and enthusiasm.  For the first part of the summer term, we will learn about parts of the face using the story, 'Le grand monster jaune' and the use of songs such as 'Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes' in French.  During the second part of the term, the children will learn about foods using the theme of a picnic.  We will continue to build on and recap early knowledge.

Year 3: In year 3 we will use the theme of summer to explore the seaside, picnics and ice-cream!  We will begin by learning foods for a picnic and practise asking for items.  The children will have their first experience of using a bilingual dictionary to find seaside vocabulary.  They will then use this new found skill to discover ice-cream flavours.  They will learn how to ask for an ice-cream using videos and role play.

Year 4:  The year 4 children are having their first experience of learning Spanish.  Foreign holidays are back and it would be lovely for the children to try their simple greetings and questions if they visit Spain on holiday.  All the children have shown great enthusiasm for trying something brand new.  During the second half term, we will return to French when we will look at markets and buying items at a market.

Year 5: The year 5 children are also experiencing Spanish for the first time. They have started to pick up greetings and simple introductions really well.  Again, it is hoped that they will feel confident enough to try out their knowledge if they visit Spain this summer. They have also learned fruit names and how to say what they like/dislike.  During the second part of the term, we will return to French to explore families and homes.

Year 6:  The children have continued work on expressing opinions and giving reasons.  They have applied this to previous topics.  The children have also tried a reading comprehension and translation using bilingual dictionaries.  They will be creating a mini project, exploring an aspect of French life.

You can download our whole School Curriculum Map for all subjects by clicking on the document below.  This document clearly outlines the key learning objectives for Modern Foreign Languages throughout years 2-6.