Juniors explore a wonderful world of languages

Junior School pupils are exploring the languages of the world – and delving deep into a wonderful world of languages – thanks to a new language programme introduced this term. 

The WoLLoW (World of Languages, Languages of the World) programme was created by language specialists from Norwich School, King Edward’s Birmingham and Cheadle Hulme School and is now used in more than 345 schools across the country.

The aim of the programme is to place fun and joy at the heart of language teaching in primary schools, moving away from teaching one language by encouraging children to think about how language works and to explore the all-important links between languages and other areas of the curriculum such as history, geography and science. 

The new language curriculum is delivered in King’s Juniors by Miss Rae, a qualified and experienced primary teacher with specialism in French, and a self-confessed lover of languages.

Miss Rae speaks French, Italian and German and is currently learning Spanish. She is also our EAL coordinator and she explained why she is excited about the introduction of the WoLLoW programme. 

She said: “We want pupils to be curious about language and languages, to love words, to think about how different languages intermingle in our world and how language develops; one of the huge benefits of the programme is that it has proven to develop skills in learning, reading, writing and listening in English, as well as in other languages.

“When pupils progress to Senior School, we want them to be excited about learning a new language and we worked closely with Senior School colleagues when we introduced the WoLLoW programme in Junior School.”

Head of Modern Foreign Languages at King’s Seniors, Laura McCutcheon, agrees: “The best basis for language learning is an understanding of how language works and the WoLLoW programme helps pupils build a holistic understanding of language, grammar and culture.

“It is a brilliant introduction to the joy of learning a language and I look forward to welcoming the first cohort of enthusiastic linguists to have followed the programme when they join Removes in September.”

Find out more about the programme on the WoLLoW website.