At Norwood we believe that every child should have the opportunity to be extraordinary and future ready through a curriculum which is creative, bold and courageous. This is achieved through an irresistible, EPIC approach

EPIC means: (E –Exciting & Engaging learning experiences P-Pace/Progress I-Involvement C-Challenge)

Our Vision for Foreign Languages:

We aim to teach German to all children throughout Key Stage 2. We believe that it is important that the children gain experiences of other languages and cultures.

How Foreign Languages are taught at Norwood

German is taught from Key Stage 2, but from Early Years we set the foundations to prepare children for the development of languages. From the moment pupils join our school, we learn about other cultures and celebrate different languages around the world, promoting curiosity and exploration. Children engage in a progressive curriculum which is taught through embedding the four pillars of language learning:

• Phonics: children are taught all the key German phonics sounds in Lower KS2 and these are embedded in Upper Key Stage 2, introducing alternative spelling patterns for each of the sounds.
• Vocabulary: children learn a range of vocabulary for each topic. Core vocabulary is revisited regularly through flashback activities, to ensure words and phrases transfer to the long-term memory, supporting future learning.
• Grammar: children learn how to converse and write in full sentences through learning key grammatical concepts, the building blocks to becoming a successful language learner.
• Cultural understanding: children learn about the culture of Germany through learning about and experiencing exciting festivals and traditions.

We have created a topic-based approach to language learning. Topics are fun and engaging and the emphasis is on speaking and listening through games, songs and role play and then beginning to write and learn some basic grammar rules.

In September, the whole school celebrates World Day of Languages when each class has a fun filled day of activities learning about a chosen language and the countries where it is spoken. The children share their new-found knowledge and language skills at a special assembly.

Many topics are based around a German book, poem or song, such as I want my hat back by Jon Klassen (Wo is mein Hut?). Pupils focus primarily on their speaking and listening skills in Year 3. However, as they progress through the school, they also develop their reading and writing skills. By Year 6, children leave Norwood as confident language learners, ready to approach a new language using the language skills they have developed, at secondary school.

Aims

The National Curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:

• understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
• speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation
• can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt
• discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied.