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What’s the benefit of learning a second language at primary school?

Of course, one answer is that it speeds up the process of learning that language in secondary school.

But surprisingly, this is just a minor benefit. Indeed, in a major study of the subject Michał B. Paradowski, of the University of Warsaw, discovered that children gain a vast array of benefits from learning a second language.

They gain, for example, a sharper perception of language. They learn more rapidly in their native language, become more efficient communicators in English, are better able to deal with distractions, develop a greater vocabulary size in English, develop sharper memories, become better at problem solving…

In fact the list that Paradowski has found goes on and on. It can improve a child’s critical thinking ability, they have a better understanding and appreciation of people of other countries, and are less likely to have racist tendencies…

So overwhelming are the benefits that it is perhaps surprising that more children are not exposed to a foreign language earlier on.

In order to help with the teaching of foreign languages in primary schools we have developed two volumes containing activities that can be used in every classroom.

Suitable for most languages, the books contain activities which help children to develop oracy and literacy skills in relation to the Key Stage 2 Framework for Language.

100+ Fun Ideas for Practising Modern Foreign Languages in the Primary Classroom contains 137 fun activities for developing oracy and literacy skills using simple props such as flashcards, puppets and bean bags. The tried and tested activities in this book are interactive and allow for as many children as possible at one time to communicate.

More Fun Ideas for Advancing Modern Foreign Languages in the Primary Classroom contains 77 activities for use with pupils who have been studying a new language for a while and are ready to progress beyond learning simple vocabulary and phrases.

This resource will help pupils learn to manipulate the language, improve their decoding skills and discover how the new language functions at sentence level.

Free sample pages are available at the web links below:

100+ Fun Ideas for Practising Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) in the Primary Classroom

More Fun ideas for Advancing Modern Foreign Languages in the Primary Classroom

You can order these resources in any of these ways:

  • On our website at the above web links
  • By phone on 01449 766629
  • By fax on 01449 767122
  • By email to orders@tradecounter.co.uk
  • By post to Brilliant Publications, c/o Trade Counter Distribution, Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND.