At our Prep School, the pupils are introduced to Spanish and French from an early age. Year 2 children start learning French with such topics as introductions and manners, numbers to 20 and different types of food, as well as discovering highlights of French culture such as the flying bells at Easter! The children finish the year by independently researching a small town in France such as Wimereux in Normandy.
When the children move to Years 3 and 4, they begin to learn Spanish. The children develop their linguistic skills and move on from learning simple vocabulary to being able to ask and answer basic questions. Quickly the children start to recognise similarities between French and Spanish and adapt their thinking to absorb the new language with enthusiasm. The topics and themes covered are wide ranging including greetings, pets, numbers, family and home as well as reading from bilingual stories. As in Key Stage 1, the children enjoy an independent research activity and in Year 3 and 4 the children will find out about Spanish traditions and festivals – the tomato throwing festival is a particular favourite.
In Years 5 and 6, the children return to learning French. As the children are older, they also learn about the grammatical structure of the language, preparing the children for learning languages at Senior School. At Hulme Grammar School, it is our aim to help our pupils become tolerant and engaged global citizens, and there is no better way to start this process than by exposing them to foreign languages and cultures from an early age.