Guest blog by Catherine Cheater, language consultant, author and ALL Fellow.
What is the Primary French Project?
The Primary French Project provides free materials that aim to support those who teach French in Key Stage 2. The materials have been created collaboratively by
- Institut français du Royaume-Uni (IFRU)
- Association for Language Learning (ALL)
- Network for Languages
and developed by a team of authors including Catherine Cheater, Kathy Wicksteed, Joe Dale, Sue Simson, Joan Dickie and Jenny Carpenter. Suitable for all practitioners, including those who have no prior knowledge of the language, and also specialist linguists who are new to teaching children aged 7 to 11, the materials aim to train the teacher by providing the subject knowledge that is needed in order to meet the requirements of the Programme of Study for Languages in Key Stage 2.
What materials are available and how do they link to the Key Stage 2 curriculum?
The materials aim to help the teacher understand the Programme of Study for Languages in Key Stage 2, and there are strong links to grammar and literacy concepts in the Programme of Study for English in Key Stage 2, as well as links to other curriculum areas. Each half-termly module comes with optional assessment materials, and a summative assessment for the end of each niveau is also available. Teachers are encouraged to look at the DELF PRIM assessment materials at the end of Key Stage 2, and for further enquiries please contact Axelle Oxborrow.
For secondary teachers, niveau multicolore provides a treasure-trove of resources to support transition and help to provide continuity and progression between Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3.
Anna Jackson, Head of Department, says
I use the Primary French Project materials to work with one of our partner primary schools, to enable and empower the primary teachers, so that they can teach the children. The staff have given such positive feedback: “The materials are great! I love the sound files as they give me the confidence to deliver the French knowing that pronunciation is well modelled. My class love the finger rhymes.
The materials are matched to the year groups in Key Stage 2 as follows:
Year 3 – niveau bleu
Year 4 – niveau blanc
Year 5 – niveau rouge
Year 6 – niveau tricolore
The resources save planning and preparation time by providing lesson plans, and PowerPoint presentations that include visuals and voice recordings to support the learning. There is also a road map for teachers of mixed-age classes, offering a Year A and Year B plan for niveaux bleu and blanc, and for niveaux rouge and tricolore, as well as IT ideas and CLIL opportunities.
How can you access the resources?
The resources are free to download from the Culturethèque website. You simply need to register on the site first, and must be logged in when you wish to view or download materials. Help is at hand if you encounter problems on the site – please email the Culturethèque team at the Institut-Français.
Liz Cooper, a teacher in the Isle of Wight, says
I have been using the materials in a mixed age Key Stage 2 setting in a very small primary school. I am lucky in that I have the freedom to choose what I teach, but I felt that it would be a good idea to introduce a framework so that should I be absent for any reason, the non-specialists could pick it up and have a clear scheme to follow. I like the format and use it as a basis, and then add in my own or scavenged materials to suit. I am grateful that it is free, as we have a very tight budget and MFL would not be a top priority. I also like that it is current and feels relevant – so many of my own materials are a bit dated now.
You might also be interested in:
Review: Primary French Project
Talking about Key Stage 2-3 Transition in MFL