French at OLM

 

If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head.

If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."

-Nelson Mandela

 

At OLM, we believe that learning a language provides an opening to other cultures and deepens pupils’ understanding of the world, as well as contributing to the development of their general linguistic competence through the learning of another language. We recognise its importance as a life-long skill.  At OLM, every pupil in Key Stage 2 has a weekly French lesson.

 

At Our Lady of Muswell we want our students to:

  • develop an enthusiastic and positive attitude to other languages and language learning.
  • develop awareness of their own language, make comparisons with the foreign language and enrich their understanding of both.
  • develop language strategies, knowledge and skills which prepare them for future language learning.
  • increase cultural understanding.
  • develop tolerance and understanding of speakers of other languages and cultures.
  • make substantial progress in the learning of French

 French at Our Lady of Muswell Primary School

In Key Stage 2, all pupils have an opportunity to learn French.  A weekly lesson of 30 minutes for years 3 to 6 is timetabled. Lessons are delivered by a specialist French teacher.

We have adopted the ‘Cave Languages ’scheme of work which has been designed to meet all the targets of the KS2 programme of study.  The lesson activities are challenging, varied and interactive and develop listening, reading, speaking and writing skills. They are designed to be progressive and build on prior learning, moving from word to sentence level over the four years. Our specialist French teacher develops the children’s language skills through interactive whiteboard activities, songs, stories, rhymes and classroom games. Phonics is systematically embedded within the scheme of work.