Learning a foreign language provides an opening to other cultures. Access to a foreign language 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. At Gilbrook this is in its most simple form; teaching pupils the basics.  It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes, learn new ways of thinking and read in the original language. Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.

At Gilbrook the teaching of Spanish is used as part of our enrichment activities. As many of our children have limited literacy skills much of the teaching and learning takes place verbally and practically by class staff. Class staff also make a judgement on when and how such lessons will take place. Not all classes are involved in these activities, it is the older classes which engage with this.  It is to provide a flavour of the language and culture.  We feel a more formal approach would not work with our pupils.  This enables them to prepare, if they were to move onto a KS3 placement where MFL is part of the structured curriculum.

Due to our light touch approach of Spanish being part of our enrichment curriculum children are not assessed as they are in other curriculum areas such as English and Maths.

We expect the pupils to:

• Listen attentively to spoken language and to try and show understanding by joining in and responding
• Explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words
• Engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help
• Speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures
• Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases
• Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing
• Appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language
• Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary
• Describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing
• Develop an understanding of the Spanish culture