Intent

At Elworth Hall Primary School, we believe there are many excellent educational, social and cultural benefits to learning a foreign language from an early age. Learning a new language provides excitement, enjoyment and challenge for children and teachers, helping to create enthusiastic learners and to develop positive attitudes to language learning throughout life. It helps them to develop their ability to communicate, including key skills of speaking and listening and extends their knowledge of how language works. Learning another language gives children a new perspective on the world, encouraging them to understand their own cultures and those of others. The natural links between languages and other areas of the curriculum can enrich the overall teaching and learning experience.

Implementation

Children in Key Stage 2 at Elworth Hall will all learn Spanish on a weekly basis, where possible cross-curricular links will be made and teachers are encouraged to make learning meaningful and purposeful. There is an emphasis on having fun with the new language. ICT is used regularly to enhance teaching and learning. Staff will follow the ‘Language Angels’ online scheme of learning.

The aims of Primary Languages teaching at Elworth Hall are to:

• foster an interest in language learning by introducing children to other languages in a way that is enjoyable and accessible to all pupils;

• stimulate and encourage children’s curiosity about language and creativity in experimenting with it;

• support oracy and literacy, and in particular develop speaking and listening skills;

• help children develop their awareness of cultural similarities and differences;

• lay the foundations for future language study by pupils;

• provide an added perspective on first language teaching and learning.

Speaking and Listening Skills - The children will learn to:

• Listen carefully and recognise sounds and combinations of sounds which are similar to, or different from, those of English. • Understand and respond with increasing competence, accuracy and confidence in a range of situations.

• Join in songs, rhymes, raps and stories which enable them to practise the sounds of the language in an enjoyable and non-threatening way.

• Take part in conversations at an appropriate level, reacting to instructions and questions and expressing opinions and feelings.

• Memorise and recite short texts, and prepare and give a talk on a familiar subject confidently and with regard for the audience.

Reading and writing skills - The children will learn to:

• Remember grapheme-phoneme correspondences and vocabulary directly taught and reinforced through word games and similar activities.

• Read stories and rhymes for enjoyment and to gain awareness of the structure of the written language.

• Read, copy, and write independently familiar words and simple phrases in context eg classroom items, display labels, weather chart, date etc.

• Write sentences and short texts independently and from memory.

Intercultural understanding -  The children will learn to:

• Describe the life of children in the countries where the language is spoken

• Identify similarities and differences in everyday life, social conventions, traditional stories and celebrations.

• Recognise how symbols, products, and objects can represent the culture of a country, and how aspects of the culture of different countries become incorporated in the daily life of others.

• Recognise and mistrust stereotypes, and understand and respect cultural diversity.

Impact

As a result of a varied and creative approach to learning Spanish, when children leave us in Year 6, they will feel confident to hold short conversations in Spanish. Children will also have a good understanding of Spanish culture and of Spanish speaking countries. They will be able to discuss and share their understanding with others and will feel confident to extend their learning further at secondary level.