Modern Languages - Primary Schools

[Ejjones76]

My DD is due to start school next September at 4yrs. We are looking at all the local schools however she has a particular interest in learning Italian and French and none of the local schools seem to offer foreign language teaching until KS2 which I feel is far too late - why wait until they are 7???
I am now considering private schools in Kingston/Surrey area. Does anyone know of any pre prep schools that have a particularly good reputation for teaching modern foreign languages right from reception age with a good choice of languages taught? So far I have found Putney High School seems to have a great reputation and very good achievement levels in exams for languages but have found no others.
Any help would be really appreciated
Many thanks

Not in London, one in Berkshire offers French from Nursery, Mandarin from year 1 and then carousel with French, Italian and Spanish running in parallel with Mandarin from year 3.
IME very unusual o offer anything other thanFrench.

DD did not do any French until year 7 and added Italian in year 8. We had no possible options for her to learn any language earlier than secondary school. DH and I are useless at languages. DD went to Oxford to study languages. You do not need to start early to be good, but some children would really enjoy it and get a lot from it. I think as a nation we do not put sufficient emphasis on learning a language other than English!

If you are that bothered, why not teach her yourself?
And frankly neither Italian nor French are going to be the useful languages in the 'global economy'

So she's 4 - or more likely 3 at the moment, and "she has a particular interest in learning Italian and French"

Really ?

She does, does she?

Wow. Most 4 yr olds are interested in Peppa Pig and Thomas.

I teach a foreign language at primary level, and god give me a group of 7 yr olds over 4-5 yr olds any time. They have already assimilated their own language, know more or less what a foreign language is and soak it up like sponges. I also tutor privately and don't take children younger than 6.

If you like the local primaries I would send her there and then find after school clubs or classes and save you money for holidays where she would be in a French or Italian holiday clubs.

Often these after school clubs are run by native French speakers or qualified MFL teachers - whereas the teaching at primary level in schools may not be. Even in private schools.

Find a jolie ronde out of school club for learning French. Its mostly about songs and games and fun which is what learning should be at that age.

i didn't start learning French till secondary and i have a degree in it. I do believe starting early is beneficial but not having language lessons in infant school is not going to harm your daughter's future prospect. If she has a genuine interest already you can encourage it at home. Perhaps get one of those usborne picture books and learn a few words together or practise counting in French when the opportunity arises?

My dds' state primary school does Italian. From Reception to Y6.

DS's state primary did Spanish from reception, and brought in a qualified MFL teacher to deliver the classes.

but how many of those kids end up bilingual at 15?
and how many are pick sick of it by year 5?

my primary did French from year 1 (private) but it was only having to buy lunch on family holidays as a teenager that made me bilingual.
On my Uni field trip, the girl with A level French was useless because she knew literature, not how to request a song at the disco.

My sister was rubbish at languages at school but - dumped in Rome after Uni for work - became bilingual within two months

My aunt learned Russian and Chinese to translator level in her 40s because she wanted to

Whether language lessons start at 4 or 14 will have little or no impact on aptitude
and may in fact extinguish it.

If the schools near you are good and your only reason for looking at private school's is learning languages then I would go with sending her to a state school and spend the money on getting a private tutor for languages and some trips so she can really hear the languages spoken as she's likely to learn far more and enjoy it more that way.

DD is 5 and loves languages (my little sister's studying Japanese and Mum teaches French so started with them singing her songs) but she gets quite frustrated with school french lessons as although she loves the teacher they have to work at the classes speed not hers.

Unfortunately, Talkinpeace, some young people never get the chance to learn 'global' languages at school. What a shame you think French and Italian are worthless. All languages have value and show that the person that learns them has great skill. Often a linguist will be able to learn other languages if required but unfortunately it is difficult to know which global language to choose, let alone find a teacher to teach it. An interest in French and Italian is to be commended not sneered at.

Hello OP.

My dd (9) H.ed and learning Italian with a tutor, and KS2 topics could be taught a lot sooner, no reason why not. However, I doubt if you will find a school offering this at such a young age, just because its a non nc subject.
It tends to cover vocabulary on topics such as food, clothes, colours, festivals and celebrations, body several more I forget.
She has covered most of this in half a term with one half hour lesson and practice during the week.
I would hire a tutor if you are able. The 1 to 1 is a benefit in itself.

I think its wrong to say languages are useless....

My duaghter use of Mandarin comes in good use when we are in Taiwan , Mainland China or even in South Korea...(not all speak but some do)...

When I was posted to the US I found that Spanish was a good language to learn....but I was told that Italian and Portuguese are similiar so they can communicate with Spanish speakers .

I think just learning it for a laugh is great as Thai comes in handy when In Thailand...

No-one is ever going to be bilingual from lessons, whether private or school.

I have lived here for 19 yrs and would still not consider myself bilingual. Because I'm not, and never will be. Even if they bury me here (in a looooooong looooooong time)

I completely agree with DrankSangria. Bilingualism and confident speaker are not the same thing. But French comes really useful because of proximity and cultural links. I would spend money on native speaker teachers and trips if it's the only reason for going down the private route. I saw a flyer for a playdates based learning - the website was called something like playdatesinfrench.com. I think it's a good idea to start early.

I think that learning a different language is still worthwhile even it its not possilble for a child to become bilingual. It shows them that the world is a multicultural place and not everyone speaks or even thinks the same.

I believe that urdu or polish would be more use in the UK than French.

But the fun part is learning another language ...If only to speak to your friend without anyone else understanding....

I don't think it always needs a certificate to say you are competant...before you can try it on the natives....

How on earth can anybody say that Italian isn't a global language?
Italian Operas are performed all over the world.
In fact my dd has come to the point where she needs to be able to speak, sing and understand Italian, so she is learning.
I know not many will want to do this but to say it is useless shows little imagination and a very narrow view.

It makes me really when people say 'Oh there's no point in learning French/Italian/German etc' because they're not 'global' languages. I mean, what do they think the vast majority if British school pupils are actually going to use their foreign for? Moving to work in China? No - mostly for holidays, mostly within Europe.
It's great that your dd is interested in learning a language, OP. Italian is not widely taught in secondary schools, so it might be more practical to choose French or Spanish, unless you want her to have a tutor right the way through.

La Jolie Ronde offer French and Spanish from Reception, at lunchtimes at our state school just north of Kingston.

How on earth can anybody say that Italian isn't a global language? Italian Operas are performed all over the world.
ROTFLMAO

Languages are great.
But if you are going to force feed small children languages before they are old enough to choose, make them growing languages like Spanish

I've noticed that some academies and free primary schools seem to offer a language from reception. Might be worth a look at any schools like that near you.

However, I did learn French at my junior school (private), but didn't really feel it have me much advantage at secondary school when we started from scratch.

I think state school and nod toning tuition sound like the best option.

Talkin

Laugh as much as you like, you can't argue that Italian is not a global language, nor admit your comment was wrong.

Why should somebody feel it necessary to choose a growing language?
I think it is lovely that the OP wants to encourage languages and can see the importance.

Ops sorry about numerous typos.