We believe that learning another language opens a door to other cultures and increases opportunities for travel, career options and socialising. At Wood Ley, we provide a high-quality languages education which aims to foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the their wider world.

Our lessons enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in French and allows them to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It also provides opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and broadens their exposure to a range of dual-language texts.

We hope that by introducing French at a young age, the skills that they learn should set a foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils with the opportunity to study and work in other countries.

At Wood Ley we use a combination of ‘Rigolo’ and ‘Twinkl French’ in key stage two to ensure pupils progressively develop language skills. The sessions last for a minimum of 30 minutes on a weekly basis and each lesson introduces the children to a set of new language as well as reviewing previously learnt vocabulary. Pupils use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary to equip them with the skills to be confident global citizens. Our sessions include role play, access to videos, dual-language books, interactive games and creative independent and group activities.

We have developed a bespoke scheme of work where the children are exposed to an abundance of words which are the same or similar in both languages. Therefore, their English vocabulary is often increased too during these entomology sessions.

We have a link with a French school which has presented opportunities for cultural exchange and pen pals in some year groups. We also encourage the children to familiarise themselves with other areas of the world where French is commonly spoken and we discuss why the French language has travelled to so many areas of the world.

If you would like to encourage your child’s MFL development at home, the following links might be useful:

1) DUOLINGO

This free app has become incredibly popular over the past few years, and is great for both adults and children! The app uses simple yet effective techniques to make language learning easy, and it even tracks your weaker areas so you can go back over the words, phrases, or grammar you’re not as confident with. Children will also love the engaging graphics and game-like style, making it fun to learn French! 

2) THE FABLE COTTAGE

For youngsters who love a good story, check out The Fable Cottage. It’s a great little website that has free French stories for children, read aloud by a native speaker who speaks at a slow pace to make things easier for language learners! There’s also a French transcript below the recording which can be translated into English, so your child can read along with the story. 

3) BONJOUR LES AMIS

Help your child learn French in a step-by-step order with Bonjour Les Amis. With characters, bright colours, and plenty of fun games, it’s the perfect website to keep your children engaged, and group activities also promote teamwork. With simple instructions, you child won’t need too much help and can enjoy the independence of learning at their own pace.