In Modern Foreign Languages at the Cornwall Independent School, we are preparing our pupils to always strive to be the very best version of themselves, by embracing challenge and opportunity in all that they do. We have high expectations of all pupils and the climate for learning encompasses the contributions of all abilities. We trust in the success of each student. Our curriculum encourages pupils to become hardworking, independent learners who are motivated to achieve their full potential.  

Our vision in the department is that all language learners develop the skills and confidence to consider themselves as ‘World Citizens’ who belong to a multicultural world. We aim to support pupils in understanding other countries and cultures so that they can be more open and adaptable to new experience, ensuring that each topic in our curriculum contains an element of culture. The department is committed to developing strong, lifelong linguistic skills and we encourage our pupils to become curious and interested in languages.  

We endeavour to make learning languages fun and meaningful, providing pupils with many opportunities for both collaboration and independent work in each lesson. Pupils need to be resilient language learners. Within the Modern Foreign Languages classroom, we consistently emphasise that it is acceptable to make mistakes. We believe where student’s progress is in deciding how they learn from these errors. This open environment allows pupils to grow in confidence and not feel intimidated when speaking out in front of the class.  

Independent learning is a very important part of achieving success in studying a language. Home learning/homework is set every week using the school online system, Google Classroom and consists of a variety of activities ranging from vocabulary building, reading/listening to extended writing tasks.  

In Modern Foreign Languages, we try to create an atmosphere in which pupils enjoy the lessons and are motivated to learn. We subscribe to websites such as Language Gym and Sentence Builders where pupils can develop their learning outside of the classroom too.  

We teach French, using EPI methodology, following a challenging, purpose-built curriculum. It enables mastery of all four skills (reading, writing, speaking and listening) through the three pillars of language learning – vocabulary, grammar and phonics.  

EPI methodology: 

• the teacher models the language;  
• pupils become aware of the sound and language patterns and; 
• practise them through intensive reading and listening tasks; 
• pupils then begin producing the language in written and spoken tasks with scaffolded help; 
• in the next learning stage, we expand on the terms /ideas with a focus on explicit grammar teaching 
• pupils continue developing their skills through intensive reading, writing, speaking, listening and translation practice with gradual removal of the sentence builder, 
• in the final stage, pupils practise the language through retrieval practice; they produce unplanned written and spoken responses; language is also linked to previous topics. 

Our KS1 curriculum provides children with a new perspective of the world, encouraging them to understand their own culture and those of others. An appreciation for a different language – French through the sounds, songs and playing with words. 

Our KS2 curriculum fosters confident communicators with a focus on listening and speaking (oracy). It encourages learners to recognise patterns and sounds in the language studied in reading and writing too and develop their cultural understanding of the language studied. 

Our KS3 curriculum aims to develop our pupils’ linguistic and communicative skills. As a result, much emphasis is put on spontaneous output, written and spoken French. Pupils continue to work on their reading skill to become confident when reading aloud. 

Our KS4 curriculum prepares our pupils to communicate spontaneously in spoken and written form in different time frames and in depth.