Modern Foreign Languages (French)

"To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world." – Chinese Proverb

At Boasley Cross Primary School, we believe that learning a foreign language opens doors to new cultures, experiences and opportunities. Through our French curriculum, we aim to deepen pupils' understanding of the world, foster curiosity about different cultures and create enthusiastic, lifelong language learners. Our curriculum equips children with the vocabulary, grammar and communication skills they need to become confident language learners and provides strong foundations for success at Key Stage 3 and beyond. 

French is taught through a carefully sequenced curriculum that develops pupils' skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Using the MARS EARS approach, children build fluency through purposeful communication, frequent opportunities for retrieval and repetition, and carefully planned progression in vocabulary and grammar. Language learning is rooted in real-life contexts, allowing pupils to use French meaningfully and with increasing confidence. 

Our school values are woven throughout our French curriculum:

• Respectful – Children develop an appreciation of different languages, cultures and traditions across the French-speaking world, learning about the diversity of francophone countries, customs and celebrations. 
• Resourceful – Pupils learn strategies for becoming successful language learners, including using dictionaries, recognising patterns, making connections between languages and applying previously learned vocabulary and structures in new situations. 
• Resilient – Children are encouraged to take risks with language, practise pronunciation, persevere when communicating unfamiliar ideas and learn from mistakes as part of the language-learning process. 

Alongside language acquisition, pupils explore the rich cultural diversity of the francophone world through stories, songs, rhymes, traditions, geography and celebrations. This helps children understand that language learning is about communication, connection and developing a broader understanding of the world around them. 

By the time they leave Boasley Cross, our children will have developed confidence in communicating in French, an understanding of how languages work and a curiosity about different cultures. They will be respectful global citizens who recognise the value of language in building relationships and understanding the wider world.