At APSoL, our Portuguese curriculum will ensure that children develop key language learning skills, as well as a love of languages and a broad understanding of other cultures from the minute they join us. We believe that a high-quality language education should foster children’s curiosity, encourage them to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and understand and respond to its speakers, both verbally and in writing. Our curriculum provides opportunities for children to communicate for practical purposes, build solid bases to language learning and discover Portuguese literature; all while having fun and developing self-confidence.Through our curriculum offer, we have closely matched high quality Portuguese children’s literature to each year group’s termly topics. This will support the children in making meaningful connections with their learning whilst developing a love for languages.
Research shows that learning a second language from a very young age boosts problem-solving, critical-thinking and listening skills in addition to improving memory, concentration and the ability to multi-task.
We do this by:
- Embarking on an immersive Portuguese language learning journey from Reception;
- Ensuring that Portuguese is a high-profile part of our curriculum;
- Ensuring that children from Year 1 to Year 6 have a daily Portuguese lesson;
- Ensuring that children from Year 1 to Year 6 acquire knowledge about Portuguese history as well as learn about the geography, culture and customs of Lusophone countries through our wider curriculum offer;
- Focusing on specific topics every year and building on these in a progressive manner;
- Using high-quality Portuguese resources and literature to assist teaching;
- Ensuring all four areas of language learning (speaking & listening, reading and writing) are taught progressively;
- Providing real-life opportunities for children the practise and develop their learning, for example:meeting Portuguese authors, attending workshops, experiencing different Portuguese dialects from various Lusophone countries.
“Conhecimento de duas línguas é o caminho para a sabedoria”. Roger Bacon, Philosopher
Our Portuguese language teaching approach is progressive and will ensure that children build on their their language knowledge and skills as they go through the school. In addition to the daily language sessions and content of the National Curriculum (UK), children will have the opportunity to learn Portuguese in context in some of their humanities lessons, learn about specific aspects of Portuguese history as well as the geography, culture and customs of Lusophone countries, aligned with their termly topics in order to make meaningful connections between their learning experiences. Through our music provision, children will have the opportunity to learn a new instrument every year as well as learn songs from Lusophone countries. Some of the instruments the children will learn to play, will be from Lusophone countries, for example: Brazilian samba instruments (percussion).
Our school community will provide a wealth of language learning experiences and opportunities where the children can experience the language in action and learn about different Portuguese speaking countries and cultures. We will also aim to build on our existing partnerships with Portuguese/Lusophone Universities and Colleges, to facilitate the exchange of interns and pen-pals so that the children can be in regular exposure to Portuguese language in the learning environment.
Given the opportunity to develop vocabulary, comprehension and writing skills, as well as learning the language in context, will result in excellent language learning competencies, which will result in children being ready for the next stage of language learning at Secondary school and demonstrate the ability and curiosity to find out more about the world around them through our global-minded citizen approach.
“The limits of my language, are the limits of my world” Ludwig Wittegenstein, Philosopher