Our vision at Joy Lane is to impart in our children a love of learning, none more so than in our Modern Foreign Languages programme, which aims to instil a love of language. With a strong emphasis on practical communication, children embark on a progressive journey of language acquisition through the school, building in confidence, repertoire and fluency in a second language. On leaving Joy Lane, we aim to equip children with an important foundation and desire to pursue language learning in Secondary Education. The teaching of Modern Foreign Languages at Joy Lane is underpinned with the ethos of fostering pupils’ curiosity and deepening their understanding of the wider world.

The teaching of MFL, and the acquisition of a unique and transferable skill to converse in a non-native language, is increasingly relevant in the modern global world in which we live. At Joy Lane, children are exposed to not one, but two significant global languages in the course of their Joy Lane journey. 

Children in Key Stage One enjoy exploring the richly phonetic Spanish language through songs and games. This approach continues in Key Stage Two, where the children develop their written and spoken skills in French. Children have the opportunity to make focused and substantial progress in French, including being able to communicate confidently and independently about familiar topics and to appreciate the grammatical nuances between English and French. With a grounding in two modern languages, children progressing into Key Stage Three will be able to make independent and informed choices in terms of their further MFL journey.

In order to achieve these aims for MFL, the children explore and develop their knowledge of the following topics throughout Key Stage Two:

• Greetings and Topics of Conversation
• Everyday and School Life
• Numbers, Time, Calendars and Celebrations
• Describing with reference to Colour
• Culture and Events
• Healthy Eating, The Body and Emotions

To ensure fidelity in the pedagogy of teaching Modern Foreign Languages, the scheme of work, ‘Primary Languages Network’ has been implemented across KS2. This scheme of work interweaves prior and familiar knowledge with new learning, so that children are continuously revising their key skills and language. Children develop their knowledge of a modern foreign language using topics that sit alongside their school curriculum, as well as introducing skills to reinforce their understanding and development of practical everyday life conversation. 

At Joy Lane, we aim to provide a useful and meaningful language education. Enrichment days and the MFL ambassador program serve as a dynamic means of promoting modern foreign languages at Joy Lane. The enrichment days are whole-school interactive events aligned to national celebrations, such as European Day of Languages, and provide immersive experiences, which offer pupils the opportunity to engage directly with language and culture in fun, themed activities. Additionally, the MFL ambassador program empowers pupils with an interest in foreign languages to take on leadership roles, serving as linguistic and cultural ambassadors within their school community. This is very much a child-led programme whereby the ambassadors share their passion and expertise to ignite pupils' curiosity and passion for learning a modern foreign language. In addition, Joy Lane enjoys close relations with a French school in our twinned town of Dainville, which is aimed at providing purpose and therefore, motivation in bringing French alive. We aim to create a vibrant environment where language learning thrives and cultural aspects are highlighted to embed in the children the wider implications of a modern foreign language and an appreciation of diversity.

Meet our Reading Ambassadors