Foreign Languages at St Mary’s
Being a Linguist….
Being a linguist is
- studying language, how it is written and spoken.
- making links between the language and the country’s culture, including their vocabulary, grammar, the sound of the language, and how words have changed over time.
- understanding the importance of pronunciation and intonation as well as the formal and informal use of language
Learning a new language helps me to improve my critical thinking skills and enhances my social skills.
In accordance with the academy’s philosophy, we intend for all children to develop positive attitudes towards other languages and cultures. We intend to foster children’s curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world by providing regular, stimulating and enjoyable lessons which build confidence and promote the skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. We intend to provide opportunities for pupils to communicate for practical purposes and read great literature in the original language. It is our intention to ensure that by the end of our children’s primary education, they have acquired an understanding of both spoken and written French, enabling them to express their ideas and thoughts in another language.
It is intended that when children leave St. Mary’s, they will have a natural curiosity and confidence to explore other countries, cultures and languages, realising that being able to communicate effectively with others in another language is a valuable skill in a multilingual society. We believe that language teaching at primary level provides the foundation for learning further languages, ensuring that pupils are engaged and prepared to continue language learning at secondary level, whilst also equipping them for study, work and leisure time in other countries throughout their lives.
