The development work for this toolkit in Hackney has contributed to the draft national curriculum for languages, and it is designed to be consistent with it, particularly in the early stages. It is free to use for any non-profit purposes.
As we learn, neural networks form in our brain. These are the physical basis of understanding, working on tiny charges of electricity. All else depends on them, and until this is understood and made the basis of teaching, children will continue to fail. This new evidence - the earliest is under twenty years old - demands revision of any educational theory that is not consistent with it. The main theories that are consistent with it are those of Vygotsky (Thought and Language - the rest of his work needs to be treated on the merits of individual propositions) Bruner (Courteous translation of adult concepts into language that children can understand), Montessori and E D Hirsch - the operations of the brain are severely limited if they have no access to knowledge stored in long-term memory.
This toolkit shows how to build neural networks in the initial stages of learning French. Additional lesson plans up to 20 will be added shortly, with a toolkit for Spanish. Once these principles are established, the root networks will be in place, and teaching can proceed as we choose.
Download Primary French Toolkit Introduction and Principles.
Download Primary_french_toolkit 1-6
The Spanish Toolkit is here.
Ulearn Chinese offers a compatible approach to Mandarin.