Modern Foreign Languages in Primary

[jenroy29]

My dcs (10 and 9) have been enjoying French and German lessons for a few years now, granted it's only 30 mins a week but they both know a number of phrases and really enjoy the role play and other aspects of the lessons. Their school employs a specialist language teacher for these lessons.

I wondered how many other state primary schools provide MFL lessons and what you think your kids get out of it?

All primary schools should offer a modern foreign language at key stage two (ie from year 3 onwards). This became an entitlement in the last academic year. The quality varies as different schools organise it in different ways; some use the class teacher, who sometimes has appropriate language skills, while others have an outside teacher coming in once a week.
The aim is not to teach a bit of year 7 French a couple of years early; rather it is to promote a positive attitude to learning languages, to teach some of the skills necessary for learning languages and to promote intercultural understanding, which is obviously a vital asset in an increasingly global economy/society. It is therefore not really important which language is taught, although it is recommended that it is a coherent program of one/two languages, not little bits and pieces.
My year 3 / 4 class really enjoys it and can sing and recite with virtually perfect French accents. They have a 'can do' attitude towards languages which one rarely meets among British adults.

God. My children get nothing out of their French lessons besides stress. They certainly haven't learnt a word of French.

I think DS just switches off and daydreams, but DD gets very very stressed by them, because she can't ever remember anything.

Very variable depending on the school/headteacher and the teachers.

How old are your children? How are they being taught? There is so much really fun, engaging material out there. Your daughter should not be getting stressed. There are children in my class who can't always remember the vocabulary, but they are still having fun playing games, watching videos or trying crepes.

No, UnSerpentQuiCourt - it was supposed to become compulsory, but it didn't happen in the end.

I think that it very much depends on how the languages are taught.

If the children are only learning vocabulary - and by rote - then no wonder they are bored and turn off.

My kids only go to the local village primary and they are taught French and German from Y2 and the Head is currently looking at adding another language in September.

I think it's great. Maybe because my kids are bilingual already and used to different languages, they seem to pick other languages like sponges and love them.

I'm surprised that schools can cram a quality MFL session into the KS2 curriculum.

Freenie, my LEA advisor says that it is not statutory but is an entitlement.
MmeLindt, absolutely' it is how it is taught (as with all other subjects). And there are so many great materials and ideas freely available that learning vocab by rote is unforgivable.
Hocus, lots of schools were worried about the time element, but when it came to it, it was not an issue. I do a 30 minute dedicated slot and 3 5 or 10 minute slots a week. There are so many ways you can fit it in - year 3 has a music unit on playgrpund games which we do with French games, we learn songs in other languages, we do PE warm ups in French, I give classroom instructions in French (sit down, fold your arms, etc).

My children get Spanish and French from Y2 onwards.

My daughter really enjoys them as the teacher is doing a lot of songs and culture rather than the dull lessons we had in secondary school like conjugating verbs.

But you need to conjugate verbs in secondary.

I'm the mfl coordinator in my school and we use a great scheme of work and our LEA has made powerpoints with native speakers to help teacher who don't speak french. It's really fun for the children, At the first stage it's a lot about listening and chorusing, so no putting children on the spot, speaking in front of others, no opportunities to fail, only to succeed.

I think learning language is really important and if we can foster a positive attitude that is great.

Pointy
IMO, Primary school should concentrate on making the foreign language fun. They have time later to learn to conjugate verbs.

I taught private lessons to children of all ages, and the way to get them to learn is to make lessons amusing.

Pointy, of course you need to conjugate verbs in secondary ... but not in primary, where is is all about attitude, skills and enjoyment. One of the problems at primary level is the fact that many teachers are using the secondary techniques which they remember from their school days. Or are actually secondary teachers who have not adapted their methods to the new environment.

He's wrong then - the coalition refused to make it any such thing - everything is under review. I would guess the advisor is fighting for his job atm!

We may have to agree to differ about the actual phrasing, but we are assured that there are no plans to reduce or remove any of the provision in place at present.

At my son's small village primary they start French in Reception, and seem to love it and pick it up very easily. They do a second MFL (Italian I think) from Year 3.

Our primary introduces some French, German and Spanish, but not as formal lessons - it is wrapped into the day as part of the study of the countries. DD (Yr1) came home today singing "Gut Danke, Mummy!"

Although I would warn that you should not have too high expectations of the results of an hour a week in school.

In my experience it is a great thing to start the DC early as they pick up the accent much better but don't expect them to be fluent French speakers any time soon.

I agree, MmeLindt, but the positive attitude the most important part of learning a laguage.

language

Exactly. If their first experience of learning a new language is by rote learning of verbs, then no wonder so few DC are keen to learn.

Where we are, the children start learning a second language (German) when they are 8yo. In Germany they start with French when they are 6/7yo and some kindergartens are now offering English classes.

We have been living overseas for many years so my DD's have had to learn the language of the country we are in. In her previous school she learnt Spanish and loved it, lots of games, lots of vocab that she could try out on the locals a really positive experience. We are currently in a country where greek is the first language. Completly different approach at her new school! She has been having weekly spelling tests in Greek, already doing grammar exercises that she hasnt even been taught in English yet! She now hates learning a language. So it is all in the teaching approach, they are children it should be fun!!! Looking forward to getting back to the Spanish!!!

My dds school does Spanish with a native speaker. However there is a real lack of co-ordination with secondary provision. Only one local secondary school offers this at GCSE!

I'm glad most people agree that it is a really positive thing if taught correctly and I agree that the coordination with the local secondary schools needs sorting out.
This would probably be easier if it was all part of the national curriculum.
MmeLindt that explains why I always think that other Europeans speak English better than we speak German and French etc.
Do you think that the earlier language lessons will mean that our kids will have more opportunities in the future with regards working and living in other countries?