Learning a language really does have a positive impact our children's learning. It increases their cultural awareness and understanding, improves their speaking and listening skills and reinforces grammatical terminology which, as we know, features heavily in the new English curriculum.
We know learning a new language is fun!
We like to approach our Foreign Language curriculum via games and activities as these lend themselves naturally to language learning. Repetition and practice are essential in language learning, so games requiring lots of repetition, such as Lotto, Simon Says and Chinese Whispers are all ideal. Having a positive attitude has been shown to be a crucial factor in determining children’s success in foreign language learning. By showing children that language learning can be fun, pupils will approach secondary school language lessons with greater enthusiasm and anticipation.
We know it’s best to start early
Children are very receptive to learning a new language. They are willing and able to mimic pronunciation without the inhibitions and self-consciousness of older students. They enjoy playing with the language and pick it up very quickly. Their sensitive ears help them pick up on and duplicate tricky sounds that adults, and even adolescents, often stumble over.
We know languages develop self-confidence
Children gain a great sense of accomplishment from learning to say something in a foreign language – it’s like learning to crack a code! Language learning also provides frequent opportunities to perform before an audience. This nurtures children’s self-esteem and self-confidence and develops strong interpersonal skills.
We know language enriches and enhances our children’s mental development
International studies have shown repeatedly that foreign language learning increases critical thinking skills, creativity, and flexibility of mind in young children. Pupils who learn a foreign language do better on both verbal and maths tests than those that don’t. Learning a foreign language actually increases the density of ‘grey matter’ in the brain and the number of synapses that interconnect parts of the brain.
We know language improves our children’s understanding of English
Through studying a foreign language, grammatical concepts and rules in English become clearer. Children use what they learn in one language to reinforce what they’ve learned in another.
We know language broadens our children’s horizons
Language learning is more than just learning to speak and write in a different language. Learning about festivals and traditions from countries where the language is spoken helps children appreciate other cultures so that they can take a place in our global society.
We know learning languages is the ideal place to start
In primary schools, children typically spend the whole day with one class teacher who covers the whole curriculum. This is ideal for foreign language learning as teachers can exploit many opportunities to integrate foreign language into everyday classroom routines (such as calling the register), and into other lessons (such as counting in the foreign language during PE lessons or designing a replacement for the Eiffel Tower in Design & Technology). A class teacher who teaches everything, including the foreign language, helps reinforce the hidden message that ‘everyone can do it.’
We know learning languages helps our children in later careers
Primary school might seem a bit early to start thinking about what career a child might have as an adult. However, as the world becomes more global, businesses and public organizations will need more people who can communicate in other languages, and are aware of different cultures.
We know it’s great when we go on holiday!
The whole purpose of learning a foreign language becomes obvious when you have a chance to use it. It is so satisfying to be able to go into a baker’s shop in France, ask for a croissant, and actually be understood. But, it’s not always necessary to go abroad to have real experiences of communicating in a foreign language.
Click below to have a go at some of the French games that we love!