1. Session 1: Let’s Celebrate! Culture
The purpose of this session is to:
Highlight the cultural dimension in teaching primary Languages.
Explore ways to make links between the children’s culture in England and Francophone countries.
Examine the similarities and differences between countries.
Discuss appropriate language and resources.
Introduction and Welcome

2. Languages programmes of study: key stage 2
In the Purpose of Study, it outlines that:
Learning a foreign language is a liberation from insularity and provides an opening to other cultures.
A high-quality languages education should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world.
Intercultural Understanding – putting it into the context of the Primary National Curriculum for languages

3. TASK
On the post-it notes, write down as many different ideas as you can of the different things that can be looked at when raising intercultural awareness with Primary pupils.
Task – on post-it notes write down the different things that could be looked at when raising intercultural awareness in a language. Review.
Question – what are the barriers to looking at the culture of a language?
*Highlight that the level of detail/time spent looking at an intercultural element can be adjusted depending on the time available and experience of the member of staff. Additionally that it does not need to be taught separately but to revise/complement language already being taught.

4. Section One: Teaching Ideas (les mois)
janvier, février, mars,
avril, mai, juin,
juillet, août, septembre,
octobre, novembre, décembre
Section One – teaching ideas. Show a range of teaching ideas and progression for working with the months of the year in French.
a) – display the months, does anyone know what these words are – how? What patterns do you spot? Are there any differences with English? (These words could then be included as a display or the date could be written on the board in French ie the level of teaching could remain at word level).

5. Remplissez les blancs janvier, février, (1), avril, (2) , juin,
juillet, août, (3) ,
(4) , (5) , décembre
septembre octobre mai
mars novembre
b) Simple gap fill, numbers are used in the gaps and can be reinforced

6. Mettez les mois dans le bon ordre!
février
décembre
mars
avril
mai
juillet
août
septembre
juin
janvier
octobre
novembre
c) Reorder the months onto the correct order (could be done as pupil cards)

7. C’est quand …? L’hiver Le printemps L’été L’automne
d) Progression – display the seasons, can pupils put the months with the correct season, this could be adapted to months pupils like/dislike.

8. Quelle est la date de ton anniversaire?
février
décembre
mars
avril
mai
juillet
août
septembre
juin
janvier
octobre
novembre
Mon anniversaire est le neuf octobre.
e) Progression – Quelle est la date de ton anniversaire? Model question and answer response. Pupils could do this in two teams and arrange themselves in chronological order.

9. Section 2 – Celebrations for everyone
Pupils need to compare the events and festivals with their own lives :
Birthdays (joyeux anniversaire) and Saints Days (bonne fête – all French children are given the name of a Saint at baptism as a first or middle name. Almost every day in the calendar has a Saint’s name associated to it).
Section 2 – Aim is for children to make comparisons with their own lives. Hand out Appendix 5 containing a list of celebrations and festivals that happen throughout the French year.

10. Valentine’s Day Poetry
“Comme moi sans toi”
“Tu es la tomate dans ma salade”
Revise opinion structures.
Show two examples of Valentines poetry – pupils are encouraged to spot patterns, part translate the poem, potentially use a dictionary or a word bank could be provided. Show Valentines Day mini book.

11. Christmas and New Year
“Vive le vent” – Pupils can learn the French version of a known Christmas song (Jingle Bells).
A simple Christmas nativity.
Bonne Année! Pupils could make New Year cards understanding that the tradition of sending Christmas cards does not really happen in France.
Show the Nativity Play example if time permits

12. Sport Le Tour de France La Coupe du monde Les Olympiques
Hobbies in France (les boules)
Show examples of Top Trumps cards and discuss the language to be exploited – numbers/colours/countries

13. Section 3: More classroom ideas
School life - set up links between schools or classes, create a scrap box or fill a shoe box.
Food and drink - French breakfast, à la crêperie etc.
Songs and literature.
Section 3 – Present final ideas on how to encourage an intercultural understanding, if time show songs website.

14. Useful resources http://www.rachelhawkes.com/Resources/KS2/KS2.php
(Link to KS2 Spanish resources for introducing a few cultural events at word level.)
(Formerly the MFL Sunderland website, contains a wealth of language resources including a section on Intercultural understanding in French, Spanish, German and Italian).
(Set up to support those teaching Primary languages which includes a useful section on “Days to Celebrate”).
(Set up to provide KS2 Primary Language support, includes an Intercultural section on how to develop an understanding of “Mardi Gras” with crêpe tasting).
Section 4 - Useful resources

15. Useful Resources
(A list of useful links that allow the delivery of an intercultural understanding in French and Spanish).
(Annual subscription required. Online vocabulary resources and worksheets on different cultural events in French, Spanish and German).
(Free website with French songs, stories and festival resources available online).
(stockist of Primary languages resources, including literature).
Section 4 - Useful resources

16. Session 1: Let’s Celebrate! Culture
The purpose of this session is to:
Highlight the cultural dimension in teaching primary Languages.
Explore ways to make links between the children’s culture in England and Francophone countries.
Examine the similarities and differences between countries.
Discuss appropriate language and resources.
Review session objectives.
Session 2: Making it count. Links with numeracy.