MFL Curriculum Map

At the heart of our Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) curriculum is the belief that early language acquisition is a strategic gateway to a broader world.

We move beyond rote memorization to cultivate "intercultural understanding" and "knowledge about language" (KAL). These are foundational life skills that help children see the relationships between their own lives and the lives of others.

Year 3: The Spark of Curiosity

(Sounds and Symbols)

Year 3 marks the beginning of the French journey, where the strategic focus is on "mimicry" and "phonological awareness." At this stage, children learn to hear, play with, and replicate the unique speech patterns of French. The goal is a transition from simple "hearing" to "independent repetition," where children begin to use the language autonomously in simple role-plays.

Year 3 Milestones

Powerful Knowledge:

• Phonics Awareness: Children link sounds to spellings, such as 'ch/oi' (animals), 'ix' (numbers), and the Term 3 focus on 'une/un' (fruits).

• Grammar Foundations: The introduction of gendered nouns allows children to see how French structures differ from or are similar to English, a key component of their "Knowledge about Language."

By the end of Y3, children have built the phonetic confidence required for the more structural demands of Y4.

Year 4: Expanding the Toolkit

(Structures and Sentences)

In Year 4, we move strategically from isolated words to "sentence building." The focus shifts to describing the immediate world, requiring children to bridge the gap between basic mimicry and intentional, structured communication.

Specific Theme Vocabulary: Children apply vocabulary to practical scenarios, such as "My Local Area" (shops and directions) and "Feeling Unwell" (body parts). This enables them to use French in contexts they recognize from their daily lives, moving toward using a bilingual dictionary to broaden their range.

Transferable Concepts Checklist: Parents will notice their children moving beyond simple nouns to Noun + Verb + Adjective combinations.

Key progress markers include:

• Using "Je suis" (I am) and "J'ai" (I have): To describe themselves or others.

• Describing a Monster/Alien: Building complex descriptions, e.g., “J’ai deux têtes vertes” (I have two green heads).

• Jungle Animal Profiles: Combining nouns and verbs to describe an animal’s appearance and actions (e.g., un tigre orange).

Year 5: The Social Linguist

(Context and Community)

Year 5 focuses on "Functional Fluency." The curriculum moves into public and imaginative spaces—from French markets to "Outer Space"—to test the versatility and durability of their language skills.

Grammar and Powerful Knowledge: We introduce high-frequency verbs that serve as the "engine" of communication: être (to be), avoir (to have), and porter (to wear). Mastering these allows children to create persuasive arguments, such as providing reasons to visit the seaside or describing an intergalactic character's physical traits.

The Interconnected Web (Cross-Curricular Links):

• Science (Space): Describing "Out of this World" planets and intergalactic characters.

• Geography (Cities): Navigating "Time in the City" and comparing local areas to French localities.

• Maths & Money: In the "Market" module, children handle prices and use specific metrics like "cinquante grammes" or "un demi-kilo" to buy fruit and vegetables.

Year 5 builds the autonomy and grammatical accuracy needed for the performance-based tasks of their final primary year.

Year 6: The Master Communicator (Independence and Performance)

Year 6 is the "Capstone" year. Children transition from learners to performers, "initiating and sustaining conversations" and performing scripts from memory.

Sophisticated Vocabulary: A Progression

Café Culture and Performance: Through the "Café Culture" module, children simulate real-world experiences, ordering food from a French menu and discussing costs (Ça coûte combien?). Performance is central this year; children engage with "Performance Time" modules, including:

• Tour de France: Learning cultural facts and vocabulary about France's most famous sporting event.

• Magician Scripts: Performing dialogues and sketches from memory to demonstrate independence and accurate intonation.

This ensures a "joined-up" transition to secondary school, leaving primary education as capable, confident linguists.

The "So What?" Layer:

Why This Knowledge Matters

This curriculum is not just about French; it is about building an "Interconnected Web" of cognitive and social skills that benefit your child across the entire school curriculum.

Key Takeaways for Parents:

• Transferable Concepts: Learning French grammar—such as verb conjugation and noun genders—forces children to reflect on how language works, which directly improves their grasp of English grammar.

• Cultural Empathy: By exploring "Intercultural Understanding," children learn to appreciate diversity and respect different social conventions, essential for reducing stereotypes.

• Cognitive Agility & Transferable Strategies: Beyond memorizing words, children are learning how to learn a language. This includes using phonic knowledge and bilingual dictionaries—strategies they will carry forward to Spanish, German, or Mandarin in secondary school.

The "Powerful Knowledge" selected for this curriculum ensures that French is a tool for life, fostering the communication skills and confidence necessary for a globalised world.