In October 2021, the first day back after our half term holiday, we got “the call. ” It wasn’t a shock – like many schools, our inspection was well overdue – but, of course, the nerves started jangling anyway. Languages, in our case French, had already been selected by SLT as a potential Deep DiveContinue reading “A “Deep Dive” into primary languages”
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European Day of Languages
European Day of Languages, celebrated every 26th September since 2001, was originally created by the Council of Europe to celebrate the diversity of languages and cultures within the Council’s forty-seven member states, and promote intercultural understanding. At my multilingual, multicultural inner-city primary school, it is a chance to celebrate the many languages spoken by theContinue reading “European Day of Languages”
Designing an Engaging Scheme of Work for KS2
In the first few years of my career as a primary school teacher, and in spite of having a degree in French and Hispanic studies, I didn’t teach a great many language lessons of my own devising. Between specialist teachers and bought-in schemes of work, I never really had to plan my own lessons. SoContinue reading “Designing an Engaging Scheme of Work for KS2”
Vive l’heure du goûter
Over the past year or so, I’ve been reviewing and revising a lot of the scheme of work that I’ve been developing since I started as the MFL specialist at my current school. The scheme has evolved slowly, over time, but there have always been bits here and there that I’ve felt needed a bitContinue reading “Vive l’heure du goûter”
Decolonising the Primary MFL Curriculum.
Back in 2012, when I was just a couple of years into my teaching career, I watched ‘Andrew Marr’s History of the World’ on the BBC. The aim of the series was to tell the story of the entirety of human history, starting with the migration of early homo sapiens out of Africa and endingContinue reading “Decolonising the Primary MFL Curriculum.”
My go-to Starter Activities
I can’t be the only teacher to have noticed that Rosenshine’s Principals seem to be everywhere at the moment. Certainly at my own school, we have spent a lot of INSET time focusing on these principals and considering how we are employing them to ensure that pupils are learning in the most effective way possible.Continue reading “My go-to Starter Activities”
Bringing the World Into Your Classroom.
When I was about six, I was given an illustrated children’s atlas full of colourful maps and amazing pictures of people and places in far-flung corners of the globe. Sadly, I don’t remember who gave it to me, but I do know that it became one of my most treasured possessions. I vividly recall sittingContinue reading “Bringing the World Into Your Classroom.”
Engaging, Enriching, Inclusive.
This weekend, I had the great pleasure of presenting a session at the Association for Language Learning‘s annual Language World conference. Things were a little different this year in that we were all meeting virtually but there were, as always, so many inspiring presentations by incredible MFL practitioners from all sectors. Here’s a run-down ofContinue reading “Engaging, Enriching, Inclusive.”
A Window on ‘La Francophonie’
Did you know that there are roughly 300 million French-speakers worldwide, making French the sixth most-spoken language in the world? Interestingly, due to rapid population growth in Sub-Saharan Africa, French is now the fastest growing language on the continent. In fact, Africa is now home to roughly two thirds of the global French-speaking population. So,Continue reading “A Window on ‘La Francophonie’”
Lockdown Learning and Technology
The last twelve months have been tough for teachers, pupils and their carers alike. We’ve all had to get to grips with brand new ways of teaching and learning with very little training and, often, at pretty short notice. Providing meaningful remote learning opportunities for pupils, sometimes without even being able to see or hearContinue reading “Lockdown Learning and Technology”
My Primary Languages Classroom 