The aims of teaching languages at Church Lench C E First School are:

• 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;
• give an extra dimension to teaching and learning across the curriculum.

Speaking and Listening

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

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
• 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.