Modern Foreign Language
Spanish

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart” 

 Nelson Mandela.

 

There are over 425 000 000 Spanish speakers in the world, it is the fourth most widely spoken language. At Murdishaw West, we believe that good quality language education can help pupils to develop a curiosity for other cultures and deepen their understanding of the world. We aim to enable pupils to be able to actively participate in a multicultural and mutually respectful world. Furthermore, by studying Spanish, we believe it can increase children’s understanding of the English language and how different languages evolve over time, which can also help with broadening their English vocabulary.
 

Intent

Murdishaw West intends to use the Language Angels scheme of work and resources to help and support the teaching of Spanish to ensure we offer a relevant, broad, vibrant and ambitious foreign languages curriculum that will inspire and excite our pupils using a wide variety of topics and themes. All pupils will be expected to achieve their full potential by encouraging high expectations and excellent standards in their foreign language learning - the ultimate aim being that pupils will feel willing and able to continue studying languages beyond key stage 2.

 

The intent is that all content will be continuously updated and reviewed annually, creating a dynamic programme of study that will be clearly outlined in both long-term and short-term planning. This will ensure that the foreign language knowledge of our pupils progresses within each academic year and is extended year upon year throughout the primary phase and, in so doing, will always be relevant and in line with meeting or exceeding national DfE requirements.  

The four key language learning skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing will be taught and all necessary grammar will be covered in an age-appropriate way across the primary phase. This will enable pupils to use and apply their learning in a variety of contexts, laying down solid foundations for future language learning and also helping the children improve overall attainment in other subject areas. In addition, the children will be taught how to look up and research language they are unsure of and they will have a bank of reference materials to help them with their spoken and written tasks going forward. This bank of reference materials will develop into a reference library to help pupils recall and build on previous knowledge throughout their primary school language learning journey.

 

The intent is that all pupils will develop a genuine interest and positive curiosity about foreign languages, finding them enjoyable and stimulating. Learning a second language will also offer pupils the opportunity to explore relationships between language and identity, develop a deeper understanding of other cultures and the world around them with a better awareness of self, others and cultural differences. The intention is that they will be working towards becoming life-long language learners.

 

Implementation

An inclusive Spanish curriculum is delivered to all KS2 children, which meets the needs of all pupils in the school through a variety of approaches. All classes will have access to a very high-quality foreign languages curriculum using the Language Angels scheme of work and resources to help and support teachers. This will progressively develop pupil skills in foreign languages through regularly taught and well-planned weekly lessons in KS2 which will be taught by class teachers. 

 

Children will progressively acquire, use and apply a growing bank of vocabulary, language skills and grammatical knowledge organised around age-appropriate topics and themes - building blocks of language into more complex, fluent and authentic language.

 

All teachers will know where every child is at any point in their foreign language learning journey. 

 

The planning of different levels of challenge and which units to teach at each stage of the academic year will be addressed dynamically and will be reviewed in detail annually as units are updated and added to the scheme. Lessons offering appropriate levels of challenge and stretch will be taught at all times to ensure pupils learn effectively, continuously building their knowledge of and enthusiasm for Spanish.

 

Lessons in Year 3 will be taught once a week for approximately 30 minutes. Lessons in Years 4-6 will also be taught once a week for approximately 45 minutes.

 

Units, where possible and appropriate, will be linked to class topics and cross curricular themes. Children will build on previous knowledge gradually as their foreign language lessons continue to recycle, revise and consolidate previously learnt language whilst building on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Knowledge and awareness of required and appropriate grammar concepts will be taught throughout all units.

 

Our progression document ensures that all children are progressing their foreign language learning skills and are taught the appropriate grammar at the right time in their foreign language learning journey. It also shows precisely how pupil foreign language learning across the key skills of speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar progresses within each year group and how the level of learning and progression of each pupil is increased as pupils move up year groups. 

 

Our subject overview document serves as an overall ‘teaching map’, outlining for all teachers within the school what each class in each year group will be taught and when it will be taught. Each class in each year group will have an overview of units to be taught during the academic year to ensure substantial progress and learning is achieved. Teachers will ensure that:

 

• Each unit and lesson will have clearly defined objectives and aims

• Each lesson will incorporate interactive whiteboard materials to include ample speaking and listening tasks within a lesson.

• Lessons will incorporate challenge sections and desk-based activities that will be offered different levels of stretch and differentiation if needed. 

• Reading and writing activities will be offered in all units. 

• Every unit will include a grammar concept which will increase in complexity as pupils move up through KS2.

 

Impact 

Spanish is always spoken about very highly amongst pupils which is why we want to ensure this love of the subject never disappears. Spanish lessons are always delivered in an interactive and engaging manner to ensure that pupils’ interest is gained. All lessons carefully and strategically build upon existing knowledge. Resources are effectively used to support the learning and consolidate what has been taught. The learning of Spanish gives all children the opportunity to develop an interest in another language and culture, other than their own. This will enable them to develop personal qualities, skills, knowledge and understanding, make a major contribution to their communication and literacy skills and raise awareness of other cultures through intercultural understanding. 

The opportunity to assess pupil learning and progression in the key language skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) and against the 12 DfE Languages Programme of Study for Key Stage 2 attainment targets is provided at the end of each 6-week teaching unit. This information will be recorded and will be monitored by the Subject Leader who can use this data to ensure teaching is targeted and appropriate for each pupil, class and year group as well as to feedback on progress to SLT. Pupils will also be offered self-assessment grids to ensure they are also aware of their own progress which they can keep as a record of their progress.

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​