Ashpark Primary School

Curricular Position Statement –Modern Languages

L2 – French L3 – Scots

Healthy         Hardworking       Caring          Kind

Why Languages?

Learning in the Languages will enable children and young people to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of their first language and appreciate the richness and interconnected nature of languages.
• Enhance their understanding and enjoyment of other cultures, and of their own, and gain insight into other ways of thinking, and other views of the world.
• Develop skills that can be used and enjoyed and work and leisure throughout their life.
• Communicate collaborate and Bell relationships.
• Reflect on and explain their literacy and thinking skills using feedback to help them improve and sensitively, provide useful feedback for others.
• Engage with create a wide range of text and different media, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by ICT.
• Develop their understanding of what is special, vibrant, and valuable about their own and other cultures and their languages.
• Explore the richness and diversity of language, how it can affect them and the wide range of ways in which both themselves and others can be creative.
• Extend and enrich their vocabulary through listening, talking, watching, and reading.

What Learning and Teaching Approaches are used?

At Ashpark Primary, we promote high quality learning and teaching in the Languages.  Staff plan challenging and engaging learning experiences which motivate and sustain the interests of learners across the school.  Effective learning and teaching includes:

• Active learning to allow children to observe, experiment, experience and play.
• Using relevant contexts for learning to motivate and engage children.
• Appropriate and effective use of technology
• Building on the principles of Assessment is for Learning
• Collaborative and independent learning
• Discussion and informed debate
• Interdisciplinary learning experiences
• Learning outdoors, field trips, visits and input by external contributors.

How do children progress through Languages?

From August 2023, class teachers will use the updated Glasgow City Council French Programme of Study when planning, teaching, and assessing this Language across the school. This progression pathways ensures breadth and depth of learning across Early, First and Second Levels. Learners will develop knowledge and skills through focussing on the key organisers of:

• Listening and Talking
• Reading
• Writing

And in the language areas of French (L2) and Scots Language (L3).

The organisers recognise the special contribution made by each of these areas in creating a full learning experience.  At Ashpark, we encourage teachers to focus on local contexts in addition tonational and international. Class teachers use this framework to provide children and young people with opportunities for effective interdisciplinary working by making connections across and between subjects.   Experiences and Outcomes are bundled to ensure relevance and coverage across each level of Curriculum for Excellence.

How are skills developed in Languages?

At Ashpark, the development of skills is an essential aspect of learning in the Languages and the Experiences and Outcomes provide frequent opportunities for applying these skills in new and more complex contexts.  Through the Languages Programme at Ashpark Primary, children and young people will develop skills including:

Enhanced listen and respond skills. Understanding towards other cultures. Comparing, contrasting and debate between languages cultures and lifestyles. Develop conversational skills. Build resilience. Work collaboratively. Improve recall and retention. Perform, role-play, sing and create. Transfer skills and abilities from other subjects. Organise information and present findings. Identify patterns and connections. Problem solve.

 

How do we assess Languages?

At Ashpark, assessment in Languages focuses on learner’s knowledge, understanding and skills in their studies of French and Scots.

The purpose of assessment in Ashpark Primary is:

• To identify pupils’ strengths, attainments and development needs
• To decide on the next steps
• To provide effective feedback to pupils in order to move learning forward
• To allow effective reporting

In all classes, teaching staff use the Write, Say, Make or Do approach to allow learners to demonstrate their learning within Languages. Languages focus much more on the ‘Say’ aspect of assessment in the classroom, especially at Early and First level.

Staff at Ashpark assess pupil’s learning formatively within lessons using a wide range of strategies. Pupil’s learning is recorded digitally, in subject jotters and is shared more widely on platforms such as Seesaw and X (formerly Twitter). During session 23/24, our DLOL will be trialling recording assessment on ‘Showbie’ in the form of a learning journal.  Teachers create a yearly floorbook where each subject will be celebrated throughout the year; including pupil voice. Pupils also select pieces of HWB work they are proud of and keep these in their black assessment folders.

Using this evidence and teacher professional judgement, teachers will make informed decisions using the Languages Benchmarks about whether a learner has:

• Achieved a breadth of learning across the knowledge, understanding and skills as set out in the experiences and outcomes for the level
• Responded consistently well to the level of challenge set out in the experiences and outcomes for the level and has moved forward to learning at the next level in some aspects
• Demonstrated application of what they have learned in new and unfamiliar situations to achieve a level in Languages.

 

 

What is the link between Languages and other areas of the curriculum?

Languages experiences and outcomes encourage links with other areas of learning to provide learners with a deeper, more enjoyable, engaging, and active experience. Staff at Ashpark use Art, Drama and Music to consolidate learning and enhance the experiences of our pupils in the languages. When children are studying the Scots Language as part of their L3 entitlement, we hold a Burns Competition where each class learns a Poem or song in Scots. Literacy skills are a vital part of our languages programme, especially talking and listening. Staff at Ashpark are encouraged to embed languages into daily routines such as morning registration, health and wellbeing check-ins and recording the date.

What key resources are used to support learning and teaching?

The key resources used throughout the school include:

• Glasgow City Council’s Languages Curriculum Pathway
• https://education.gov.scot/media/fr0bhzlu/modernlanguagesbenchmarkspdf.pdf
• https://education.gov.scot/media/wr4pokgb/modern-languages-eo.pdf