Foreign Language - Spanish

 “Those who know nothing of foreign languages, know nothing of their own”

                                                                                                                                                             Goethe

MFL prepares pupils to participate in a rapidly changing world in which work and other activities are often carried out in languages other than English. Increased capability in the use of MFL promotes initiative, confidence and independent learning and encourages diversity within society. Owing to their lack of inhibition, young children are usually enthusiastic participants in oral exchanges, making early language learning a great developer of receptive and productive oral skills, as well as of enjoyment for language learning and communication.

 At Wykeham, we teach a foreign language to children throughout Key Stage 2. Spanish is taught by a specialist language teacher during weekly time-tabled lessons. We use a variety of techniques to enable children to actively engage in the modern foreign language: these include games, role-play, songs (particularly action songs), storytelling and interactive ICT programmes. We often use real objects e.g. food, drinks, clothes, puppets and toys to bring the language to life. We watch videos and listen to recordings in order to expose the children to more than one voice in the foreign language. New vocabulary in the foreign language is taught by using mime and actions as this teaches the language without the need for translation and aids memory. We make the lessons as entertaining and enjoyable as possible, as we believe that this approach develops a positive attitude in the children to the learning of modern foreign languages.

The aims of Foreign Languages are to:

 •      introduce young children to another language in a way that is enjoyable and fun;

 •      enable children to use their knowledge of the foreign language with growing  

         confidence, both to understand what they hear and read, and to express

         themselves in speech and writing;

  •     help children develop their awareness of cultural differences in other countries;

  •     encourage children to speak Spanish to express simple ideas with clarity using  sentences with appropriate pronunciation;

 •     learn songs and poems in Spanish;

 •     develop an understanding of basic grammar;

 •     foster an interest in learning other languages by laying the foundations for

       future study.

Spanish is taught by a specialist MFL teacher at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.

Key Stage 2

During years 3- 6, children cover all four language skills - listening, speaking, reading and writing. Children’s speaking and listening are assessed informally during the weekly Spanish lesson while reading and writing are assessed through the Spanish workbook which accompanies the Key Stage 2 course. There are four workbooks, one for each year. Six units are covered a year (two each term) and there is a progress test at the end of each unit. Children are assessed at the end of each academic year against the attainment targets:

Please click here for this year's overview.

We have also started a e-twinning project with the Dr. Conde De Arruga School in Madrid, Spain. Our objectives for the project are:

• To establish, develop and maintain a lasting and sustainable relationship between schools with equal input from both partners

• To broaden the knowledge, appreciation and respect for other cultures and languages and to provide our students with knowledge of the English and Spanish cultures

• To develop activities that can help our children to be aware of European current issues. These issues can be about the environment, the future of Europe, human rights, peace, or social inclusion…. or even football or other sports.

• To communicate via e-mail/blog/skype at least once every term to ensure regular and consistent lines of communication exist between our schools.

• A blog will be created in order to publish activities, agreements, experiences, photos, videos etc.

“The children really enjoy  and benefit so much from our e-twinning project.  It’s a new approach to learning languages where the children are given a more active role  to showcase their talent!

During the termly Skype sessions, the children are able to practice their Spanish in a real context - speaking Spanish to children their own age.”

Senorita Elena

Spanish teacher at Wykeham Primary School