An Introduction to Primary Languages

1. An Introduction to Primary Languages Essex Primary SCITT Spring Term 2016

2. Objectives • To become familiar with National expectations for language learning • To understand the key principles of early language learning. • To explore ways to introduce languages in the primary classroom. • To consider effective planning for progression in language lessons

3. Your own language learning experience • What was your personal experience of learning a language like? • How could that impact on how you teach languages to young learners?

4. How can you promote language learning to young learners? Do you envisage any barriers to being involved in language teaching? If so, how could these be overcome? Your role in developing language learning

5. Implications for teaching languages • You don’t have to be fluent in a language to teach it effectively! • Resources are available to support primary practitioners • Keep content limited so that you teach topic areas you are familiar with

6. Overview of the national context and expectations

7. Language teaching • The teaching of a foreign language to children from Years 3 to 6 compulsory • National Curriculum 2014 indicates subject content • This covers general skills and knowledge – not particular topic areas or languages.

8. Teaching time • The recommended time allocation for language teaching is a total of one hour per week. • Research has shown that the most effective model is to split this hour into one dedicated lesson of approximately 30 minutes, and some supplementary sessions of 5-10 minutes delivered throughout the school week. • Other models of organisation are possible but language teaching is more effective when appropriately embedded.

9. The National Curriculum for Languages Purpose of Study A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. The teaching should enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read great literature in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.

10. The National Curriculum for Languages Programmes of Study/Subject content Teaching should focus on enabling pupils to make substantial progress in one language Skills covered: • Listening • Speaking • Reading • Writing • Understanding Grammar

11. The principles of Early Language Learning

12. Principles of language learning • Key stages: • Repetition • Recognition • Recall • Real context • Go through the cycle for each new topic. • Move between stages, returning to each stage frequently.

13. Repetition • Using a range of stimulus. E.g. flashcards. • Using another “first voice”. E.g. CD / ICT. • Making repetition varied. • Need for regular practice. • Time to consolidate.

14. Recognition • Children need opportunity to demonstrate understanding through recognition. • Use flashcards and physical responses. • Reinforcement through games.

15. Recall • Children get the opportunity to produce the language. • Move to this stage only when children are ready.

16. Real context • Children get the opportunity to use learnt language in a new context. E.g role play. • Children’s learning needs to be extended beyond individual words.

17. Context to practise the 4 Rs • Topic area: colours • Key structure: do you like? I like … • Outcome: survey to find out the class’ favourite colour.

18. Word level activities: Repetition: Using a range of voices/ speeds Hot and cold game Pass the colour Recognition: Repeat only if true Which number? Recall: Either/or Connect 4 Sentence level activities: Repetition: Chanting a sentence Pass the sentence around your table. Recognition: Responding to a sentence Recall: Guess my favourite colour Real context: What is the group’s favourite colour? Sample activities based on the 4 Rs

19. Pause for thought • How can pupils record the results from their survey? • Which programmes of study have been addressed with these activities? • Could you use similar activities with pupils you are working with? Would they need to be adapted? Would you need support?

20. Classroom instructions • Giving some instructions in French is a good way of increasing children’s exposure to the language • Start with one or two instructions and build up • Try having an ‘Instruction of the Week’

21. Introducing Literacy • Reading and writing skills need to be taught in all year groups • Literacy activities will run alongside oracy activities • The 4Rs approach applies to literacy activities as well as oracy • What are the possible pitfalls when working with the written word?

22. Examples of literacy activities - Reading • Matching written word to picture • Responding to the written word • Reading games • Memory games • Circle games • Word sorting • Dominoes • Pictionary • Reading for a purpose

23. Examples of literacy activities Writing • Copy writing • Word games • Hangman • Missing letters • Guessing games • Writing for a purpose

24. Ways to reinforce language learning through the week • Using the register • Early morning work • Classroom instructions • P.E. lessons • Other curricular areas • Short games and activities

25. Planning for progression

26. What makes an effective scheme of work for languages? • Driven by demands of NC and the needs of the learners rather than by a resource • Organised into units of work, allowing sufficient time to explore topics in appropriate depth • Each unit includes work at sentence level and has a clear, defined outcome • Clear progression from one unit to the next and from one year group to the next

27. Progression through the scheme • There should be clear progression across the scheme • Progression comes from development of language skills • Increasing complexity of sentence structures also extends children’s language learning

28. Key structures

29. Key principles of a unit of work • It is built around objectives (from the KS2 Framework or the 2014 Curriculum Programmes of study) • It shows progression from word to sentence level • There is a balance between new and previously learnt language • Pupils are working towards a key end of unit outcome

30. Possible structure of a unit of work • Introduce new vocabulary (individual words or phrases) • Introduce sentence structure • Introduce written forms • Consolidate learning, linking sentence to nouns learnt • Teach/revise any other language needed to prepare for outcome • Complete outcome

31. Exploring a unit of work Unit of Work for Y3 – The Enormous Turnip

32. Assessing Primary Languages • Not formally tested; use teacher assessment • Statements available to support judgements of each of the skills • Linked to Target Tracker

33. Plenary • How does this approach compare to the way you have learnt another language? • How confident do you feel to teach a language at Primary level? • What are the implications for your own professional development?