Learning a foreign language helps young people develop an appreciation of other cultures and deepens their understanding of the world. At Upton we aim to enable pupils to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. Above all, we aim to provide opportunities for our pupils to communicate for practical purposes, so that they can use these skills within real-life situations.

At Upton the Modern Foreign Language we study is Mandarin Chinese. Mandarin Chinese opens up a world of opportunity . As the most spoken language in the world, it can connect speakers with an exciting and dynamic culture.  Mandarin has been identified as one of the most important languages for the UK’s future prosperity, but at this stage our aim is to open pupils' eyes to differing cultures that exist in their world. 

Children become familiarised with the written word when each new item of vocabulary is introduced, and they are encouraged to make links between phonemes and graphemes as soon as possible. Pupils gradually extend their vocabulary and come to grips with using more complex language.

Upton also features a Language of the Term every term that links to ‘home’ languages of some of its pupils, while Year 6 prepare for their move to secondary education and more traditional MFL by linking to French pen-pals.

As well as multi-lingual displays around the school in corridors and classrooms, Upton features a greeting board outside the main reception welcoming pupils, families and visitors in ten different languages.

Click below to see what the school are covering in Mandarin

MFL Immersion Projects allow the opportunity for shared cultural experiences and appreciation of diversity. Upton School are proud to link with Broadstairs English Centre (BEC), who are  ranked inside the top 2% of all accredited English Centres by the British Council, to engage with this venture.

An immersion project involves groups of foreign primary-aged children coming to the school and taking part in lessons with our own pupils. Each visitor is assigned two Upton 'buddies' whose job is it to ensure that they know where to go and what to do. This is an excellent opportunity for our pupils to experience the qualities of leadership, responsibility and our Core Value of Friendship.

During the visit, the foreign students share their culture and language with us and our pupils reciprocate. Prior to the pandemic, we welcomed visitors from the Dino Elementary School of Prague, in the Czech Republic, for a one week visit and also 30 Chinese pupils from a school  in Beijing who were with us for a full four weeks!

Upton is home to children who speak many differing languages. Our core MFL is Mandarin but we also have a Language of the Term that children engage with which is linked to the languages our children speak.

In Year 6, our pupils have a long-standing link with Ecole Primaire George Sand in Wattignies, France. Each year pupils from each school correspond with each other via letter and then visit during the summer months. 

Please click  for more information about our visit from Dino Elementary School or to find out more about the Chinese visitors from Beijing or for more information.