Learning a new language encourages children and young people to broaden their horizons as they explore the language and its associated culture. Through learning of a new language pupils:
- gain a deeper understanding of their first language and appreciate the richness and interconnected nature of languages
- enhance their understanding and enjoyment of their own and other cultures and gain insights into other ways of thinking and other views of the world
- develop skills that they can use and enjoy in work and leisure throughout life.
The study of language plays an important role in all language learning and the development of literacy skills. Pupils develop and extend literacy skills when they have opportunities to:
- communicate, collaborate and build relationships
- reflect on and explain literacy and thinking skills, using feedback to help them improve and sensitively provide useful feedback for others
- engage with and create a wide range of texts in different media, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by digital technologies
- develop an 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 they can be creative
- extend and enrich vocabulary through listening, talking, watching and reading.
In our school we teach the children French from Primary 1 right through to Primary 7. In addition to this, our Primary 5-7 pupils also have experience of Spanish lessons.
