French

MFL at Hitherfield

Hitherfield teaches French as it’s Modern Foreign Language. The learning of a foreign language provides a valuable educational, social and cultural experience for all pupils. It also enables pupils to develop communication and literacy skills that lay the foundation for future language learning. They develop linguistic competence, extend their knowledge of how language works and explore differences and similarities between the French language and English. Learning another language raises awareness of the multilingual and multicultural world giving them an insight into their own culture and those of others. As Hitherfield is a multicultural school, the mother tongues of all our pupils are valued and celebrated and we know that promoting the learning of languages is important to breaking down cultural barriers and fostering intercultural understanding.

Although foreign language learning is only statutory from Year 3, the children at Hitherfield are first introduced to French in Nursery and Reception classes through songs and greetings. In Years 1 and 2, classroom commands and games are used to familiarise the children with basic nouns and phrases, in preparation for the more formal teaching that happens from Year 3. French is taught by class teachers who are embedding the French language into the daily routines of the children at our school. Progression from year to year is ensured through following the teaching sequences and objectives in the Culturethèque teaching materials produced by Catherine Cheater for the Institut français.  We are also linked to a School in Paris and  staff and pupils alike are benefitting greatly from exchanging letters and developing projects together; something which is set to continue in the future!

MFL_FRENCH Progression Framework