I am really pleased to report that quite a few schools across the LA are having or have just had an MFL event - a day or a week of activities related to MFL. Only this morning I paid a visit to a school that is palnning a French Week in June and what a great time of year to hold an indoor/outdoor themed day or week. I think the great weather over the Easter holidays must be stirring people into activity!

On the same note, please watch this space as I may have some news of an MFL event in the Summer term which will interest all of the budding linguists that we have in Bolton. I’ll let you know as soon as all the details have been confirmed. I have sent out an e-mail to those MFL co-ordinators whose contact details I have but in case anyone has missed the information, it seems that the KS2 Framework for Languages Document is complete. Part 3 which gives help with planning and progression is now available from Prolog- tel: 08456022260 and quote reference number: 00171-2007DOM-EN

Just as a footnote to my opening statement about Language Days, I’d like to thank Greenfold School for giving me one of my most enjoyable afternoons in a long time. Their French week was brought to a terrific close with a party which included French songs, games, French food and even a chorus of can-can girls. It was a great afternoon which I am sure everyone enjoyed and which the children will remember for a long time into the future. Well done everyone!

JV 

Welcome back to a new term. I hope you all had a good rest after the exertions of the Autumn Term and are raring to go!! It has been a while since my last posting - perhaps a measure of how busy I’ve been. Let me update you.

I came back to the office last week and had to hit the deck running. The period before Christmas was a quieter time for me as teachers were engrossed in nativity plays, concerts and Christmas parties. However, the pace has certainly picked up. More schools than ever are now involved in MFL and this week alone I’ve heard of two schools planning Language Days in the next few weeks which is very exciting. In addition, I have been advising one school about the introduction of MFL in Key Stage 1, helping to forge links between two of the special schools and been involved in a joint project between one of our high schools and a local feeder primary school where colleagues are working together to foster continuity between phases. All of the above look inwards at our own work locally but in addition I’ve been liaising with friends from neighbouring local authorities and sharing ideas, resources and forging links that may prove to be invaluable in the future. Next week I will be visiting two schools who have just got started with Primary languages and then spending some time looking at how MFL can be fully embedded into the primary curriculum rather that being seen as an add-on.

It is impossible to keep track of all the fantastic work that is going on in our schools, so please let me know if you need help, support or you just want to tell someone of your achievements and share some good practice. A quick reminder - I’m based at Castle Hill Centre, Tel 01204 338099 and Id be delighted to hear from you!

Lord Dearing has just published his interim report on languages. You can read his provisional proposals in brief by following the link below:

http://www.dfes.gov.uk/pns/DisplayPN.cgi?pn_id=2006_0190

If you would like to read the full version, please follow this link:

http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/docbank/index.cfm?id=10690

I think it is interesting to see how widespread languages have become and the indicators point to issues that language teachers already recognise, namely that children succeed with languages if they start early enough and that languages should be seen as a stepping stone to understanding other people and their cultures. I’m sure many of you working in primary schools are already seeing evidence of the above in your pupils.

I was in a real Monday morning mood as I arrived at the office today - it was still dark as I set off for work and wet and windy to boot! However, I was in for a nice surprise when I opened my e-mails as I received a video of a French assembly from Chorley New Road Primary School. Year 5 presented a French assembly to the rest of the school in which they spoke with confidence and fluency using the language skills that they have learned this term. Madame Oldham has obviously been working hard, not only on the language but also in making the children aware that they are European and world citizens. Follow the link below to watch the assembly. (The sound quality at the beginning makes it difficult to hear the individual children but does improve as the video progresses.)

http://www.cnr.org.uk/news_detail.asp?Section=5&Ref=193

Thanks to Chorley New Road for sharing their assembly with us and please let me know if your school is having a language assembly or presentation that you could share with others here on the blog.

I have been really delighted this week by the progress that is being made in MFL. I have now started to revisit some of the schools that I visited in the last academic year. At that stage MFL was in the planning stage and I met many tentative, nervous teachers who were unsure about this new adventure. However, the good news is that those schools who put their plans into action in September report that MFL is going well - staff and children are enjoying the challenge.

I have seen MFL displays going up in corridors and classrooms, heard reports of children trying out their German skills on the ladies serving their lunch and watched children saying prayers in French. I will be revisiting many schools now to see how well things are going, to offer ongoing support and to enjoy, I’m sure, the evidence of MFL spreading throughout Bolton schools. If you want to let me know about the impact of MFL in your school, please contact me to make a visit or share your successes here.

On my travels this week I have heard the same concerns about fitting MFL into an already overcrowded Primary curriculum. I fully understand these concerns but at the same time I think it is time to approach the teaching of MFL from a different angle. Why not consider doing all the things you do already in the classroom - just deliver some activities through the medium of a foreign language? It doesn’t have to be an add-on - with a bit of imagination it can be incorporated into the day - a story before going home, a 5 minute warm-up activity in Numeracy, a song in Music, an assembly with a difference, circle time, role-play - the list is endless! I’d love to see this approach becoming the norm rather than the exception - let me know if you have managed to weave MFL into your curriculum without it all coming apart at the seams!

Christmas will soon be here and I’m sure that you have already started planning various activities in school. There are lots of ways to incorporate MFL in your build-up to Christmas. Take a look at www.perenoel.com to play French Christmas games, to e-mail an electronic Christmas card to a friend or to write to Father Christmas. 

For those teaching Spanish, www.primeraescuela.com/themesp/feriados/navidad.htm has lots of ideas of things to do and make with children.

The BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/christmas/index.shtml gives an insight into how Christmas is celebrated in other countries - France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Why not give Christmas a European flavour this year and don’t forget to share your successes here on the MFL blog.

Hello and welcome the the Bolton MFL blog! My name is Judith Varetto and I’ll be posting here on a wide range of topics all based upon my experiences in Bolton.

I urge you to comment under any posting you find here and link to other sources of learning on the subject of MFL. The blog is going to be a the beginnings of a dialogue or a conversation so please, engage with it and we can learn more about MFL in primary education together.

Bye for now.

Judith