Why do we learn modern foreign languages?
The French curriculum at Ark Conway engages pupils in language learning and provides opportunities for them to gain insights into other cultures and world views. As well as fostering pupils’ skills in French listening, reading, writing and speaking, the curriculum aims to build pupils’ confidence in communication and offers a different perspective on topics covered in other subjects. Through studying French at Ark Conway, pupils will develop a curiosity and enthusiasm for language learning and acquire the skills needed to continue language learning beyond primary school.
Our approach
At Ark Conway children receive weekly French lessons in all year groups with the Language Angels scheme of work being used to support planning. Units are carefully planned to build on previous learning and ensure continuity as pupils progress through the school, as well as linking to current and past topics in other subjects. In each lesson pupils have the opportunity to hear native speakers through sound embedded Powerpoints and practice new language with others and independently. Throughout any given unit pupil’s will be exposed to new language through listening and reading and will be required to practice new vocabulary and structures through both speaking and writing. Whole school events such as International Day and year group specific events such as Year 6 French Week additionally give pupils opportunities to experience culture from other cultures, both those within the Francophone community and beyond.
Year 1
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| We will become more familiar with traditional nursery rhymes in French. This will help us to understand and decode more of the spoken French we hear and building a broader French vocabulary. | We will become more familiar with greetings in French and be able to use formal and informal versions. By the end we will be able to say our name and ask someone how they are and reply to this question as we start to practise our ability to respond to spoken French. |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
| We will work on improving our memory skills so that we remember colours a numbers in French. | We will learn how to name and recognise up to ten colours in French from memory and with good accuracy. Then we will be practising counting from 1-10 in French with confidence. By the end of the unit we will be beginning to spell some of the colours and some of the numbers from 1-10 in French. |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| This term, we will learn how to name and recognise up to 10 shapes in French from memory and with good accuracy. To solidify our understanding of French grammar we will recognise that nouns are commonly associated with an article in French and in this case ‘UN’ or ‘UNE’. Also, we will continue to revise our numbers in French. | We will learn how to name and recognise up to 10 different ice cream flavours in French from memory and with increased accuracy. To solidify our understanding of French grammar we will ask for an ice cream using ‘je voudrais’ and say whether we would like it in a cone or small pot. |
All Year 1 subjects Next Year 1 Subject - Physical Education
Year 2
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
In this unit, the children will learn how to: Recognise, recall, and spell up to ten animals in French with their correct indefinite article/determiner. Understand that articles/determiners have more options in French than they do in English. Use and become more familiar with the high-frequency 1st person conjugated verb ‘je suis’ (I am), from the infinitive verb ‘être’ (to be). |
By the end of our unit “Les Fruits” we will be able to: Name, recognise and remember up to 10 fruits in French. Attempt to spell some of these nouns with their correct article/determiner. Ask somebody in French if they like a particular fruit. |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
By the end of our unit “Les Legumes” we will be able to: Name, recognise and remember up to 10 vegetables in French. Attempt to spell some of these nouns with their plural article/determiner. Learn and use the high frequency verb je voudrais from the verb vouloir, to want in French. |
By the end of our unit “Les Instruments” we will be able to: Name, recognise and remember up to 10 instruments in French. Attempt to spell some of these nouns using the correct gender Learn how to say “I play” an instrument using the verb jouer |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
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By the end of our unit “Je Peux” we will be able to: Recognise, use and remember 10 common French verbs/ acitvities Use these verbs in the infinitive to make a short sentence starting with Je peux (I can) |
This term pupils will be studying the story of “Petit Chaperon Rouge” (Little Red Riding Hood. Pupils will learn to: Listen to and understand a familiar story being told in French Use picture and word cards to listen to and retain new language Remember key parts of the body in French |
All Year 2 subjects Next Year 2 Subject - Physical Education
Year 3
| Autumn |
|---|
| Our French unit is called - Je me présente and by the end of this unit we will be able to:
Count to 20. Say our name and age. Say hello and goodbye and then ask how somebody is feeling and answer. Describe how we are feeling. Say where we live. Describe our nationalities and understand basic gender agreement rules. |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
We will continue to build on the vocabulary and grammar knowledge that we developed last term. This will include: Using the conjunction ou (or) Answering and asking questions using C’est + noun and ou Numbers Paris landmarks Vowels and consonants in French and English |
We will continue to build on the vocabulary and grammar knowledge that we developed last term. This will include: Using the conjunction ou (or) Answering and asking questions using C’est + Numbers Paris landmarks |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
|
In French this term, we will be learning all about Ancient Britain. We will look at the groups of people that lived during the different periods in Ancient Britain, where they lived and the different tools that they used. We will speak to each other in French to describe these different time periods. |
This term in French, we will begin by completing our ‘En Famillie’ unit. We will then move on to our new topics, ‘Au Café.’ Children will be learning how to: Order from a selection of foods/drinks from a French menu. Order a French breakfast and snacks. Ask for the bill. |
All Year 3 subjects Next Year 3 Subject - Physical Education
Year 4
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
|
Our French unit is called ‘En Classe’. This will focus on classroom vocabulary. We will discuss with our partners and write about: Different objects you might find in a classroom Different subjects you might study The grammar for negative form in French |
Our French unit is called – Les Romains. Children will be taught to describe what life was like as a child in Ancient Rome. We will be learning French vocabulary for: Different Roman inventions Roman mythological tales The hierarchy of the Roman empire The history of Rome |
| Spring |
|---|
|
Our French unit is called – Chez Moi. Children will be taught to speak in French around the topic of their house. We will be learning French vocabulary for: What type of home we live in What rooms we have and do not have in our home Using connectives and conjunctions in order to join sentences and ideas together |
| Summer |
|---|
|
Our French unit is called ‘Les habitats’. This will focus on habitats, plants, and animals. We will be learning the French vocabulary for: Different kinds of habitats around the world Which plants grow in each particular habitat Which animals live in each particular habitat |
All Year 4 subjects Next Year 4 Subject - Physical Education
Year 5
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| This half term, we will be studying the months of the year and days of the week in French.
We will also study French pronunciation. |
Students will learn a range of language strategies to help decode unknown language in French. They will do this through engaging with key facts from Tudor history in French. |
| Spring |
|---|
|
Students learn about the Olymic Games in French this half term. They will learn how to describe an Olympian by their sporting title and to say what particular sport they play using the verb ‘faire’. |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
| In this unit, students will learn how to name and recognise the planets in French on a solar system map, spell the names of the planets in French and say interesting facts about the planets. | In this unit, students will learn how to state key facts about common habitats and what different plants and animals need to survive in their environments in French. |
All Year 5 subjects Next Year 5 Subject - Physical Education
Year 6
| Autumn 1 | Autumn 2 |
|---|---|
| We will learn lots of new French vocabulary for school subjects, and will learn how to explain why we like or dislike certain lessons. We will also practice how to say the time of our lessons. | We will learn lots of new French vocabulary to describe the activities. You might do at the weekend. We will work towards giving a weekend recount, including tines and connectives. |
| Spring 1 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|
|
We will be learning how to name and recognise food and drinks which are part of a healthy lifestyle. We will also say what physical activities we do during a week to keep fit and healthy. |
Linked to our history topic, we will be studying World War II in French! This will teach pupils how to group and order unknown vocab to help decode a French text. We will integrate new and previous knowledge to write a letter home as an evacuee. |
| Summer 1 | Summer 2 |
|---|---|
All Year 6 subjects Next Year 6 Subject - Physical Education