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16 www.swindonlink.com - 10 years
Zut! The French make their mark in North Swindon

Two primary schools used European Day of Languages in October to promote French as a key component of the curriculum
A performance of Snow White with a difference provided one of the high points in a day of activities to launch Catherine Wayte Primary
School’s modern foreign languages curriculum.
Pupils have had the opportunity tion of the week. Teachers might to see Year 6 pupils
to learn French at an after-school drop into French during a lesson perform their ver-
club but can now expect to use it to give instructions such as stand sion of Snow White;
throughout the week as part of the up or sit down. all spoken in French
Government’s curriculum expecta- During the day, children learned and all clearly under-
tions that all Key Stage 2 children songs and playground rhymes and stood by their audi-
will study a foreign language by are now able to say a French version ence. “Watching the
2010. of a ‘dip’. They learned about French children in assembly
Language co-ordinator Kirsty life, tasted pate and cheeses, made blew me away,” said
O’Neil said, “Key Stage 2 pupils maps and created a collage with Ms O’Neill. “They’d
have to learn a language but we famous landmarks. learned so much in a
feel it’s a missed opportunity not The whole school came together day; what will they do
to teach from re- in a year?”
ception. Rather French teaching has
than teach an been part of life at
hour of French Haydon Wick Pri-
once a week, mary School for the
it will be used last two years.
throughout the Headteacher Simon
school day. Cowley said that lan- Haydon Wick teacher Alison Adams, left, languages con-
“All children guage teaching enrich- sultant Michelle Panting, and young French learners
are learning the es the curriculum and helps create Michelle Panting, provided in-
same vocabulary a positive attitude to language spiration for both children and
so any teacher learning for life. staff. “The children loved learn-
can speak to any To celebrate European Day of ing French through games and
child.” Languages pupils dressed in red, songs,” said Michelle, a primary
She added that white and blue and put their lan- languages consultant with Swin-
to start building guage skills to use as they played don Council.
vocabulary, ev- games, sang songs and tasted “It was a great day,” said Mr
eryone will learn French food including pain au choc- Cowley. “Michelle put across
the word of the Discovering La France, Catherine Wayte pupils, Rian Williams, olat, croissants and baguettes. how to teach French in an excit-
day and a ques- Lessons taught by native speaker ing way.”
Lewis Cloutman, Aaron Williams

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