Modern Foreign Languages
By 2010 the government expects all primary schools to offer a Modern Foreign Language at KS2. Here at Gospel Oak we are one step ahead and are one of only two Camden schools teaching third year language learners. The children are very keen and extremely fast learners! We are excited about the role a Modern Foreign Language can play in the curriculum and have already noticed how it can develop children's speaking and listening skills and their understanding about how language works.
We have built staff capability by training with William Ellis (a specialist Language College) and with Emma Read (Camden Advisory teacher for MFL). Emma made a DVD about this project that you can view by clicking here. The DVD is now used for training in other Camden schools. This year our teaching assistants have also received training so that they can take a more active role in language lessons.
We held a tremendously successful Enrichment Day to launch the subject. Children added to their growing knowledge of the French language by learning about many aspects of French culture. They learnt French songs, tasted regional cheeses, cooked éclairs and Salad Niçoise. They also created art based on the works of Seraut, learnt about the French world cup team and were challenged to build the tallest Eiffel Tower from straws! The day was enhanced by a fantastic French theatre group called Compagnie Tete-a-Tete. Their interactive performance, 'Le château de Dan Roro,' included French traditions such as Mime, Ventriloquism as well as numerous circus skills. We finished off the day with a staff vs children boule competition, umpired by Alan.
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Le château de Dan Roro |
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Making the Eiffel Tower Bridge |
Making French Pastries |
To maintain the enthusiasm built during the Enrichment day, we have hosted several Language Assistants and French student teachers. First we hosted Zorha who taught the children about Francophone countries, having originated from Belgium herself. Last year Guillaume became an integral part of school life. He worked in many different capacities, stretching higher attaining children during lessons and supporting those who were less confident. He took out small groups for fun and physical activities. He supported intercultural understanding by team teaching and running weekly lunchtime clubs(one for fluent French speakers and one for each year group). He made excellent use of the interactive whiteboard playing competitive games and showing children real French television programmes, music videos and educational programmes through use of the internet.
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This year we are delighted to host Ferida who was born in Madagascar and lived there until she was six. She then moved to France where she received her education. She has been working as a Nanny in Gilford for the last two years but has come to us for primary experience as she wishes in time to train to be a teacher. She will be working much in the same way as Guillaume.
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Qu'est que c'est, Guillaume? |
Un cahier, un stylo et la colle. |
Language learning at Gospel Oak does not stop with French. We have after school clubs where children can learn Albanian and Bengali and we offered 16 lucky students the chance to take part in the Junior Language Challenge for 2008. Children were challenged to learn three languages in nine months with the national champion winning a trip abroad for their family. Our children did extremely well, with eight mastering Dutch and going through to the semi finals. Their second language was Vietnamese, a harder challenge! I had the pleasure of taking them to the Live Semi-Finals. Emma Ladi and Kate Bilton (6C) finished second and third in their heat, just losing out on going through to the finals. However, this experience was so much enjoyed by the participants that we have decided to offer 16 lucky students a chance to enter next year.
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Our aim for this school year is to link up with a French primary school through emails and video conferencing. This will allow children to practise their French in a real and meaningful context but also in the safety and security of their own classroom. We envisage many joint cross-curricular projects that will see our children develop their understanding of children in other countries and be a motivational sphere in which to apply their learning in class.
If you want to help your children at home, please ask them about what they are learning. You can test them out on new vocabulary or take them to the library to borrow books about the French language, France and Francophone countries. If you have internet access there are some excellent websites such as http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryfrench .
Our first exchange with our schools in Morocco
Notre Ecole: Our School
Click here for a video of our children singing the Gospel Oak school song - You Belong
French Lyrics below:
Votre appartenance
1er versé
Regarde les arbres comme ils grandissent, donnant abri á tout ceux dessous,
Ecoute les oiseaux chanter leurs chansons,
Dire aux gens quelle est ton appartenance,
Nous apprenons ensemble,
Nous ne devons absolument pas oublier
Que les amis c’est pour toujours.
Refrain
a) Ton appartenance, ton appartenance,
Ne laisse personne te dire le contraire,
Ton appartenance.
b) Gospel Oak
Chante haut et fort
Tenons nous debout
Fort et fier
2ème verse
Regarde autour, que vois-tu,
Faisons face au future, toi et moi,
Où que tu ailles, d’où que tu viennes
Tu es toujours le bienvenue, car c’est ici que tu appartiens,
Nous construisons nos ponts,
Nous apprenons ensemble,
Nous ne devons absolument pas oublier
Que les amis c’est pour toujours.
RAP
G O 1 2 3
Gospel Oak est l’école dont tu appartiens
Allez, allez Gospel Oak,
Car se que tu apprends, peux te donner la liberté,
G O Gospel Oak
Gospel Oak est l’école don’t tu appartiens
Allez, allez Gospel Oak
Nous sommes Gospel Oak.
Fin - G O 1 2 3 NOUS SOMMES GOSPEL OAK