Modern Foreign Languages

According to the national curriculum for Key Stage 2, “learning a foreign language 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”.

The children in Years 3 to 6 at Bede’s Prep School develop vocabulary, grammar, syntax and pronunciation in languages. They develop their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills with different materials. Teaching resources include a range of technology and an innovative approach to language learning. Languages are taught by specialist teachers; some are native speakers and all of our teachers provide the children with excellent foundation for the skills needed to learn a language.

The children all study French from Reception to Year 4. In Year 5, they are given the opportunity to study French and Spanish so that they can make an informed decision at the end of Year 5 regarding their language choice. From Year 6, they concentrate on their chosen language. Year 4 have four French lessons in a fortnight, Year 5 have four French lessons and four Spanish lessons in a fortnight whereas Year 6 have five lessons of their chosen language a fortnight.

What skills will my child develop?

• Pupils will develop their listening skills with songs and authentic materials.

• Pupils improve their speaking through repetition and questioning.

• Pupils practise reading new words and sentences.

• Pupils develop their writing skills with reference materials.