Modern Foreign Languages - French
“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”
Frank Smith
French is our chosen modern foreign language at Harris Primary Academy Kenley.
French is taught every week throughout the school from Nursery to Year 6 using a variety of techniques to encourage the children to have an active engagement with French, to develop a positive approach to languages and to develop an understanding of different cultures.
Our French curriculum is in line with the new National Curriculum. In KS2, the lessons are progressive and build on prior learning, moving from word to sentence level over the four years. The lesson activities are challenging, varied and interactive and develop listening, reading, speaking and writing skills.
Phonics sounds are taught explicitly in Year 2, 3, 4 and 5, in every lesson. Children are then expected to use their knowledge to apply to their spellings. Sounds are revisited once a half term in Year 6. The choice of vocabulary ensures exposure to all the key phonic sounds and ability to build sentences using grammatical knowledge. In Year 6, the content allows for revisiting and consolidating prior knowledge in Summer 2.
Harris Primary Academy Kenley is delighted to provide a unique opportunity for a select few Year 6 children to take the Diploma of Education in the French Language (DELF) exam, on site. The qualification is administered and awarded by the French Ministry of Education and is the only official French language proficiency examination. The diploma is valid for life and recognised in 173 countries. There are six levels for this exam and we would encourage your child to take the first level (A1.1). We are proud to be the only non-bilingual state school offering this opportunity in the UK.
Feedback on the DELF A1.1 Prim exam from Thierry Gauthier, external examiner for DELF-DALF examination (The French government's official exam for French as a foreign language).
The pupils were very well-prepared for their DELF A1.1 Prim exam. Not only had they acquired effective communicative skills for their level, but they also seemed genuinely keen to do well. And they did. It was a pleasure to be their examiner.
At HPAK, we use Freshwater Theatre Company to provide workshops for our children in Reception and Year 5. Our Reception children take part in a story hunt workshop and our Year 5 children take part in a storytelling workshop based on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Children in Year 3 to Year 6 have the opportunity to take part in the MFL ‘Write Away’ writing competition. Click here to see a recent HPAK entry.
All children have the opportunity to enter the Harris LinguaChef competition. This is a chance for the children to show off their skills by cooking or baking an international dish inspired by a country of their choice. The Primary Winner and Primary High Commended awards were both given to HPAK pupils.
In Year 3, to extend children’s French learning, the children have the opportunity to take home Coco and his ‘sac français’ for the week. Le sac français contains a range of activities and children are encouraged to write an entry in the exercise book (in English or a few French words).
Although we teach French as part of our Foundation Curriculum, we offer Spanish club to children in Key Stage One and Key Stage Two. These clubs take place after school.
HF Curriculum Lead - Miss S French
HPAK Modern Foreign Languages (French) Lead - Madame D Scott
