MFL
We believe that learning a new language not only develops knowledge but also allows children to explore the relationship between language, identity and culture. At St Mary's, we aim to develop an international outlook and an enhanced understanding of the world and a pupils’ place within it.
Learning a language encourages pupils to develop confidence in themselves. It brings an immediate sense of belonging to the wider world and starts to prepare them for future opportunities in modern life. It helps any learner by removing barriers between cultures – children enjoy nothing more than the simplicity of ordering their own ice cream on holiday! We encourage sparks of interest and enjoyment for future learning at secondary school.
Language learning gives children and adults access to ideas and thoughts in other cultures. It gives children an additional interest and encourages an understanding of diversity. As the opening statement of the Languages Programme of Study puts it: “Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures.” This has never been more crucial in our world without travel limits.
Stories, songs, and rhymes all enrich our pupils’ experience with cultural insights into other people’s lives. Our pupils try out aspects of another cultures in their classroom, such as food, clothes or celebrations, building a positive understanding of key features of personal and national identity, values and beliefs. This does not just apply to our core foreign language teaching, but also broadens the curriculum fun when we look at our own British celebrations of St David’s day and St Patrick’s day when we look at Welsh and Irish language learning.
At St. Mary’s, we choose to teach both French and German to all Key Stage 2 pupils. We feel this is important because when pupils make their transition to secondary school, they will be split into either French or German classes. With secondary school support, we are happy to make this happen and pupil feedback in 2021 showed that the children feel empowered when they are able to ‘speak’ 2 languages!
