EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST
EDUCATION CORNER PODCAST INTERVIEW WITH HEAD OF MODERN FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Sophie Edwards FROM ST CATHERINE’S PREP SCHOOL, BRAMLEY Mrs. Sophie Edwards speaks about the importance of learning languages at an early age and incorporating it as a fundamental part of the curriculum. At what ages are languages introduced and which languages do girls at St Catherine’s Prep get exposure to?
It is lovely to meet you here today and to be on the podcast. We introduce formal teaching in a modern foreign language, which is French in our Prep School, from age seven. They have language lessons every week through to age eleven. Before that, in the Pre-Prep department, from ages 4 to 7. We have various opportunities where the girls will learn a language, either through a lunchtime club or a club timetable during the day, through experiential play, or through special themed events or linked to festivals.
“We are very conscious that language learning and the function of a child’s brain from birth is absorbing language, even in their home environment as an infant.” 28 | EDUCATION CHOICES MAGAZINE | AU T U M N 2 02 2
We understand that language skills are developed in Pre-Prep (4-7). Can you tell us a little more about this?
We are very conscious that language learning and the function of a child’s brain from birth is absorbing language, even in their home environment as an infant. We want those pathways to stay open all the way through, so it is very important that we keep that love of language learning going before the more formal lessons at age 7. For instance, we have the clubs, and a play scheme with our travelling suitcases, which are suitcases that the class teachers can bring into their classes for play, and they have got language materials in them. It can be self-guided play or guided play by the teacher or an assistant with learning numbers or colours in French or Spanish. It is to inspire that love of learning and to keep that awareness of language alive in the children right from an early age. There are also various learning topics such as China and Chinese New Year in Year 1. We have a French-themed Picnic Day. When the girls study Katie Morag they have a Scottish Day! All of these mini experiences are about valuing language and ensuring that the girls have this open-minded attitude to accepting language, absorbing language and seeing the difference between languages. What
