Head of Modern Languages
I prefer comprehensible input to long stretches of grammar drill: pupils need to hear and read language they can make sense of before they are asked to produce it with confidence.
Explore the collectionI lead Modern Languages and teach French and Spanish across secondary. I prefer comprehensible input to long stretches of grammar drill: pupils need to hear and read language they can make sense of before they are asked to produce it with confidence.
Beginner does not mean the same thing in every language. Pupils starting Mandarin and pupils starting French may have different prior knowledge, scripts and learning demands. I want scaffolds to reflect those differences instead of applying one generic template to every language.
I look for resources that make meaning clear and invite pupils to notice how the language works. Images, short texts and repeated phrases can support understanding, while a teacher checks whether the context is familiar enough to help. I value practice that builds comprehension and gives pupils a purposeful reason to speak or write. I also make room for careful listening.
Prioritise language pupils can understand.
Choose scaffolds for the language and learners in front of you.
Build production from meaningful listening and reading.
Explore these templates and decide what fits your own setting.
Languages and literacy
Pupils should identify the passage’s topics, record key details about Camille and produce three English sentences supported by their notes. They should distinguish what they predicted from what they actually heard and identify vocabulary that helped them listen.
Languages and literacy
Ask and answer familiar questions in Spanish using a full sentence, then combine two answers into one longer spoken or written sentence.
Languages and literacy
Write one short paragraph of five connected French sentences about school subjects, using a preference, a reason and suitable adjective agreement.
Languages and literacy
Recognise eight French school-subject words with their articles and use one in a French opinion sentence.
Languages and literacy
Compare the German postcard’s reading-to-translation scaffold with the support needed for the language your class is learning.
