Embedding

Children learn best when they can make sense of their learning. Embedding language learning into school life brings benefits on many levels. It helps children to realise that there are many languages in the world (and in their school) and that speaking another language is normal, natural and valuable.

Experiencing language every day helps children to memorise new words and structures, giving children the confidence to respond to what they hear and to use the new language for real purposes. Integrating language learning into the school day makes best use of the time available and provides coherent links between different subjects of the curriculum.

Cross-curricular links

Children are learning all the time. They make connections between their learning consciously and unconsciously. Often they make connections that we cannot plan or predict. Integrating language learning into the primary curriculum can lead to significant gains in children’s understanding as they interpret and reinterpret their knowledge in a fresh and challenging context. There are natural links between languages and many subjects of the curriculum. Effective integration of language learning into the curriculum can motivate teachers and learners and makes the best use of the curriculum time available. There are examples in these pages of links to literacy in English, numeracy, history and many other subjects.