Lexden Language and Culture Day: an annual celebration of our diverse school community and the joy of language-learning
Once a year, the international flag bunting is hung out and we dedicate a day to discovering some of the diverse languages of the world and learning about other cultures.
The focus on this special day is on developing the children's awareness of being part of a global community. The children spend the morning touring our language workshops, in which volunteers run short sessions to teach the children about other languages. We hope to spark curiosity and develop a greater understanding of how differently people around the world communicate. The children stamp their Language and Culture Day 'passports' after each workshop as a memento.
The children are invited to come to school dressed in clothing that represents a country that is important to them. For example, this could be a national costume or wearing colours that represent a national flag.
We also run a project every year on Language and Culture Day that enables every class to access an aspect of a global culture. Our theme this year was 'Festivals': each class chose a different international festival to study. We ended the day with a glorious carnival parade with the whole school transforming an otherwise grey November afternoon into a vibrant display of crafts and music.
We are very grateful to the parents, carers and friends of the children, as well as volunteers from Philip Morant School and College, who have generously given their time to take part in this event and who have provided a wonderful experience and lasting memories for our learners.
Lexden Language Sharing
Coming soon! Some of our children who speak other languages have recorded short videos to teach us a few words and phrases.
Modern Foreign Languages
Modern Foreign Languages Statement of Intent
Purpose of Study:
Language learning broadens children’s awareness of other cultures and languages: it gives children a new perspective of the world. The language chosen for children at Lexden to study is French. The learning at KS2 is focused on giving children the chance to learn how to speak, listen to, read and write in a new language: to experience the fun of exploring new sounds and pronunciation and speaking and writing new vocabulary. Of equal importance, it is also intended to give children an understanding of how languages work and to make observations and comparisons between English, other languages they make speak and French. This will lay the foundations for language-learning in KS3.
Who is a Lexden Language Learner?
A Lexden language-learner:
- Has developed an appreciation of the cultures and languages of others.
- Enjoys the opportunity to speak, listen to, read and write in another language.
- Can appreciate, explain and be proud of their progress in language learning.
- Is curious to explore new French vocabulary across a broad range of topics.
- Can recall key phrases and vocabulary in French, such as talking about themselves.
- Is familiar with the mechanics of languages to support them with future language learning, regardless of which languages they will learn in KS3.
Key elements to our Modern Foreign Languages Curriculum:
- The French curriculum we have adopted is both knowledge- and skills-based: children will learn about the French language and develop language-learning skills that can be applied to learning any language.
- Learners progress by working through a series of stages, from year 3 to year 6.
- Previous learning is revisited as the children progress, which helps learning to stick.
- Children have opportunities in each unit to appreciate and join in with songs, stories, poems and rhymes.
- Opportunities are provided to integrate French into everyday classroom routines to reinforce learning.
- Curiosity about new vocabulary is encouraged and bi-lingual dictionaries are on hand to look up words.
- We seek opportunities to link our French learning with Lexden’s values, each yeargroup’s termly themes and other areas of the curriculum.