Spanish

Introduction to Spanish

Learning a foreign language is part of the primary National Curriculum and is a requirement for all children within key stage 2 (KS2). Crook Primary School has adopted a whole school approach to the teaching of Spanish to all KS2 pupils.

 

Aims

Our aim is to develop the confidence and competence of each child in the foreign language they are learning. Our goal is for them to be passionate, curious and confident about their own foreign language learning abilities when they finish primary school phase of their education. 

We will help them develop and demonstrate substantial progress in the 5 key language skills necessary for learning Spanish:

♦ Speaking
♦ Listening
♦ Reading
♦ Writing
♦ Grammar

We aim to ensure that pupils of all abilities develop solid foundations in these key language learning skills - properly preparing them for the next stage of their language learning journey. These skills will develop children’s ability to understand what they hear and read and enable them to express themselves in speech and writing. We will extend their knowledge of how language works and explore the similarities and differences between the foreign language they are learning and English. We will also help strengthen their sense of identity through learning about culture in other countries and comparing it with their own.

 

Teaching and Learning Overview

Our whole school approach to language teaching and learning is in line with the recommendations of the National Curriculum and the requirements outlined in the Department for Education Languages Programme of Study for Key Stage 2. 

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 authentic writing in the language studied.

By the end of key stage 2, pupils should be able to:

1. Listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding. 

2. Explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words. 

3. Engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions and respond to those of others; seek clarification and help. 

4. Speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures. 

5. Develop accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases. 

6. Present ideas and information orally to a range of audiences. 

7. Read carefully and show understanding of words, phrases and simple writing. 

8. Appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language. 

9. Broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary.

10. Write phrases from memory, and adapt these to create new sentences, to express ideas clearly. 

11. Describe people, places, things and actions orally and in writing. 

12. Understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): feminine, masculine and neuter forms and the conjugation of high-frequency verbs; key features and patterns of the language; how to apply these, for instance, to build sentences; and how these differ from or are similar to English.   

Displays of the topics being taught in Spanish will be displayed around individual classrooms or will feature on a general school board. 

 

Organisation & Delivery

Spanish is taught in a whole-class setting by the class teacher. 

The lessons are designed to motivate, captivate and interest children from the first moment. Each class has 2 timetabled lessons of at least thirty minutes per week to support with retention of new skills. Spanish will also be revisited in short sessions throughout the week to consolidate knowledge and ensure new language is retained. 

Spanish lessons include:

♦ PowerPoints and interactive whiteboard materials
♦ Interactive games (which pupils can access from home to consolidate their learning)
♦ Songs & raps 
♦ Differentiated desk-based consolidation activities 
♦ Worksheets (at three different levels of challenge) are provided throughout each teaching unit and can be used in class or can be sent home to be completed as a homework exercise
Each lesson will focus on a combination of the 5 key language learning skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing and grammar). 

 

Resources

The Language Angels scheme will be used in school to support the teaching of Spanish. It is a fully online resource enabling all teachers in all classes to have instant and continuous access to all the resources they need to teach whichever lesson they choose. 

 

Helping at Home

Why not support your child with remembering their new Spanish vocabulary by asking them to tell you what they can remember from their lesson. 5 minutes a day can make all the difference to their ability to remember. 

 

Spanish Planning

 
  • Ancient Britain Yr 3
    Ancient Britain Yr 3
  • La Fruta Fruits
    La Fruta Fruits
  • La Segunda Guerra Mundial WW2 Yr 6
    La Segunda Guerra Mundial WW2 Yr 6
  • Las Olimpiadas Olympics Yr 5
    Las Olimpiadas Olympics Yr 5
  • Los Animales Animals
    Los Animales Animals
  • Los Romanos The Romans Yr 4
    Los Romanos The Romans Yr 4
  • Puedo I can
    Puedo I can