French
In Years 3 and 4, children learn speaking and listening skills and in Years 5 and 6 they begin to acquire more reading and writing skills.
They follow a programme of study (Rigolo) that builds on knowledge learned in previous years. These are the topics that are covered:
Year 3 - Greetings/The Classroom/Parts of the Body/Animals/My Family/Months
Year 4 - Describing People/Telling the Time/Festivals/Where are you going?/Shopping/Clothing
Year 5 - Greetings/At School/Food/Directions/Holidays/My House
Year 6 - The Weekend/Clothes Shopping/My Day/Transport/Sports/French Events
Click here - Year 3/4 Scheme of work in FrenchClick here -Year 5/6 Scheme of work in French Click here - French themes links taught across the JuniorsFrench Knowledge Mat - click here for the vocabulary we will use in the Juniors
Intent
Our curriculum for Languages aims to ensure that all pupils can achieve the points below:
• Understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources.
• Speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion. and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation.
• Write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt.
• Discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied.
Implementation
At Deansbrook Junior School, we have a Languages structure that ensures that every child has the best opportunity to succeed. In order to achieve the intent statements listed above, French is taught on a weekly basis, to provide a regular and consistent approach to language learning. Within lessons, outcomes are achieved through children completing tasks and activities in the four main skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing, singing songs in French, and learning about the History and Culture of France and French speaking countries.
Our interactive and lively lessons promote the enjoyment of, and enthusiasm for, language-learning. Lessons are planned and structured to ensure that key Languages skills are covered throughout the year. Units are structured strategically to enable children to build on language skills learnt previously and to make links, for example in spelling patterns and phonemes.
Impact
At Deansbrook Junior School, we want our Languages provision to impact our children in the ways listed below, so that they become confident linguists. In order to achieve that, our children will show the following:
• Strong listening and comprehension skills.
• The confidence to speak with good intonation and pronunciation.
• Fluency in reading.
• Fluency and imagination in writing.
• A passion for languages and a commitment to the subject.
• A strong awareness of the culture of France and other Francophone countries.
• The ability to use language creatively and spontaneously.
• An independence in their studies and the ability to draw upon a wide range of resources. We monitor the impact of our Languages provision through half termly whole school pupil perceptions, lesson observations and the monitoring of French books.
Here are some suggestions for ways you can help your child:
1. Take your child to a museum
France has produced some of the most talented artists, such as Monet and Renoir. Check your local museum’s schedule to see when it is featuring a French-inspired exhibition and bring your child along. The admission for children is typically free.
2. Celebrate French holidays
Celebrating important French holidays, such as Bastille Day, will teach your child about French history. Celebrate by making some fun crafts or taking part in holiday traditions. Similar to the Fourth of July, the French display fireworks.
3. Cook a French meal
Familiarize your child with French cuisine by having him or her help you whip up a traditional French meal. Your child can channel their inner Julia Child with traditional French dishes, such as quiche and crème brûlée.
4. Watch a French movie
Fire up Netflix and host a French movie night with your family. Here are some kid-friendly French movies you and your child can enjoy: “A Monster in Paris,” “The Red Ballon,” and “Tintin and the Lake of Sharks.”
5. Listen to French music
Do you have a Pandora or Spotify account? Download some French songs to listen to while at home or on the road. Listening to French music will help familiarize your child with French accents and pronunciations.
6. Puzzles
You can download and print dozens of free French crosswords and word searches for your child. He or she will have fun playing, while simultaneously learning French vocabulary and simple sentences. Keep a stack in the car for long road trips.
7. Memory game
Create some French flashcards and place them face down on a table. Your child will flip over two cards. If the pictures match, your child will flip over two more cards. The point of the game is to match all of the cards from memory.
8. Colouring books
Purchase a French colouring book for. These colouring books will spark your child’s creativity, while helping him or her learn various vocabulary words and themes.
9. Read French books
There are a ton of beginner French books. Le Petit Prince is one of the most well-known French children’s books. You can find the book in almost any book shop or online.
10. Hangman
This French activity is played exactly like the original Hangman version, except you are using French vocabulary words and phrases instead of English.
