At Chaddesley Corbett Primary School, the intention of our Languages Curriculum is for our pupils to develop an interest and enthusiasm for learning about other languages and cultures. We have introduced the pupils to learning the Japanese language and Japanese culture in enjoyable and stimulating ways. Through these lessons, we hope to embed the four essential skills of listening, reading, speaking and writing with an emphasis on knowledge of vocabulary, grammar and phonological awareness. We aim to build the children’s ‘culture capital’ so that they are aware of similarities and differences between cultures. Ultimately, we hope to lay the foundations for future language learning, so that when our pupils leave the school they feel enabled and ambitious to learn a range of languages and to take opportunities to visit and enjoy other places.
Our Languages curriculum has been designed to progressively develop the knowledge of Japanese and the skills of learning a language. With the help of a specialist Japanese language teacher, we have developed a progressive and fully resourced scheme of learning across KS2. Each unit ensures that children acquire a bank of vocabulary and key phrases organised around topics. They ensure development is progressive as they build on knowledge and skills from prior learning.
All children in KS2 are taught Japanese in a weekly discreet lesson of 30 minutes. This is delivered by a specialist languages teacher who is assisted by the class teacher or PPA cover teacher. In EYFS and KS1 children are introduced to other cultures and languages through learning about other places within their thematic curriculum.