'Stay alert and hold firmly to all you believe. Be mighty and full of courage. Let love and kindness be the motivation behind all that you do.'

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Curriculum

Bonjour! Welcome to French at Brimscombe

At Brimscombe C of E (VA) Primary School, we want our children to develop a love of languages and an enthusiasm for discovering other cultures and our French curriculum is shaped by our Christian vision, which encourages courage, curiosity, and compassion.  Children learn to communicate in a new language, while developing their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in French.

Our French curriculum is carefully sequenced across the school so that children revisit and build on their learning each year. Lessons are active, practical and engaging, with opportunities for children to sing, speak, play games, take part in conversations and explore aspects of French culture.

Learning a language is about much more than vocabulary and grammar. Throughout our French curriculum, children are encouraged to discover the people, places, traditions, food and celebrations associated with France and the wider French-speaking world.

Children discover countries where French is spoken, learn about French food and celebrations, explore famous French people and historical figures. They develop an appreciation of cultural similarities and differences and begin to understand that French is a global language spoken in many parts of the world.

Our French curriculum is designed so that each stage prepares children for the next. Vocabulary and structures are regularly revisited, helping pupils to remember what they have learnt and use it in new contexts.

By the end of Year 6, we aim for children to have developed:

• confidence in speaking and listening in French; 
• a growing bank of useful French vocabulary; 
• an understanding of simple French sentence structures; 
• the ability to read and write familiar words and phrases; 
• an appreciation of French culture; 
• curiosity and enthusiasm for learning languages.

Teaching

Years 1 and 2 – Bonjour, ça va?

Our youngest learners begin by becoming familiar with the sounds and rhythms of French. They learn simple greetings and introductions, numbers, colours, family vocabulary and everyday classroom language.

Songs, games and repetition help children to develop an ear for the language while building their confidence to join in.

Children are also introduced to aspects of French culture. They learn about celebrations such as Christmas and Easter in France, explore French foods and begin to recognise some of the similarities and differences between life in France and life in the UK.

Years 3 and 4 – Having a go

As children move through Key Stage 2, they build on their earlier knowledge and begin to use French more independently.

The children will revisit familiar vocabulary, while extending their knowledge of numbers, colours, animals, family members, food and everyday classroom language, while developing their ability to ask and answer simple questions and express their likes and dislikes.

Reading and writing are introduced alongside speaking and listening, so children begin to see how the different strands of language work together.

Pupils explore French-speaking countries around Europe and the rest of the world, French traditions and celebrations, French history, through learning about The French Revolution and more.

Years 5 and 6 – Finding our voice

By Years 5 and 6, pupils are ready to use their French with greater independence. They revisit and consolidate previous vocabulary, while learning to construct longer phrases and sentences.

Topics include family, pets, food, hobbies, the body, clothing, weather and everyday activities. Children develop their ability to describe themselves and others, express likes and dislikes, ask and answer questions and understand simple spoken and written French.

They also begin to recognise and use grammatical structures, including masculine and feminine nouns, simple verbs and sentence patterns. Regular retrieval activities help children remember and apply vocabulary from previous years.

Achievement

By the time our children leave Brimscombe, each child will gain confidence that they can try to communicate in another language. Most importantly, we hope our children leave us with curiosity about the wider world and the confidence to step into it.

“Bonjour!” is just the beginning.