MFL Framework

Foreword

Learning foreign languages is increasingly important in a global economy and also has great value in terms of cultural and linguistic richness in our society, personal fulfilment and global citizenship and understanding. This Framework for teaching modern foreign languages underscores the vital importance of giving all pupils the tools to make direct and personal contact with other people and their cultures. The Framework and its associated training programme support our National Languages Strategy and will help to create language learners.

The Framework is deliberately similar to the National Literacy Strategy and the Key Stage 3 English Frameworks and attempts to build on the linguistic skills which pupils bring with them to the study of a modern language. A key feature of the Foundation Subjects strand is the emphasis it gives to the teaching of thinking skills and to assessment for learning. These help pupils to reach higher levels of attainment and become independent learners.

The Framework draws upon best practice in the schools taking part in the Pilot programme and teachers have made an important contribution to the Framework and training materials. The training programme fully reflects the integral place of MFL within the Foundation Subjects strand of the Key Stage 3 Strategy and offers teachers of MFL an opportunity to focus collaboratively on the same range of teaching and learning strategies as their colleagues in other Foundation Subjects. I hope teachers of MFL will find the Framework a valuable resource in motivating all pupils to be enthusiastic learners of modern foreign languages.

Catherine Ashton, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sure Start and School Standards.