At APSoL, we believe that bilingualism is for everyone and welcome children of all language abilities. Whether they have never been exposed to Portuguese language before or they have spoken Portuguese at home since infancy, pupils at our school will have equal access to a language curriculum that builds their reading and writing skills from the bottom up, even if their starting points are different.
We seek to deliver a broad and balanced curriculum through which pupils will become fluent in two of the most spoken languages in the world. Children learn languages easily, as research has shown that it becomes significantly more difficult to pick up a language with age. Further scientific evidence has shown that children who learn another language from a young age have access to thinking habits that promote strong cognitive brain function, enabling them to keep their minds active as they process complex topics like maths, logic and music. Starting early in their dual-language education, therefore, enables the benefits of bilingualism to stretch well into a young person’s adult life and their later-life outcomes. According to research, bilingualism helps embed great deep-thinking skills such as multitasking and prioritisation, comparable to the skills activated when solving puzzles or logic games.
Beyond the Portuguese language instruction embedded in each school day, APSoL has the unique ability to bring in ideas, stories, themes, art and music from across the five continents in which Portuguese is spoken to enrich your child’s learning both in and out of the classroom. We will incorporate the diversity of Portuguese-speaking cultures around the world to give your child unique insights on National Curriculum topics.
We will ensure that at the end of their time with us, your child will be as confident in their English as they are in their Portuguese and be able to both communicate and connect with cultures around the world as confident global citizens.
Our bilingual approach by phase:
|
Reception |
Immersion model – Portuguese taught throughout the day, including through continuous provision. Children will access Portuguese and English vocabulary regularly throughout the day. They will also have the opportunity to learn Portuguese in context as the teachers will plan collaboratively and link their learning to their class topic, enabling the children to make more connections with their learning and both languages. |
|
Year 1 – Year 6 |
We hope to build up to a 40-50% bilingual model. We plan to do this by ensuring that each year group will have 2 qualified teachers; one will deliver key subjects of National Curriculum in English and the other will deliver the remaining National Curriculum subjects in Portuguese. This model for every year group will vary according to recruitment and expertise of staff. For example Year 1 class 1: Teacher A: English, maths, science, History/Geography – UK PSHE, RE Teacher B: Portuguese Lang/Lit, Computing, His/Geography – Lusophone countries, Art
|
|
All Year Groups |
All classes from Year 1 to Year 6 will have music with a specialist teacher. We aim to teach each child a different instrument each year. Wherepossible, children will learn songs and music of Portuguese and Lusophone countries as well as become familiar with their instruments, dances and composers. All year groups will be exposed to a ‘social curriculum’ where children will have an opportunity to learn how to interact and empathise with each other in Portuguese, which we think is fundamental to developing speaking and listening skills as well as their emotional intelligence. Children will have an opportunity to play games including imaginative play which will be promoted by Portuguese language, songs, experiences and conversing with adults, meaning that children will learn Portuguese in context. We will achieve this by staffing the social times of the school day carefully so that children have valuable language experiences.
|