Girls and boys in Years 1 and Year 2 of Beech House, Bolton School’s Infant School, are enjoying learning French with Miss Joanne Eccleshare, a specialist primary languages teacher. Miss Eccleshare also teaches at Hesketh House, Bolton School’s Junior Girls’ School, where she has been for twelve years teaching Key Stage 2 languages - Spanish to Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 and French to Years 5 and 6. Outside Bolton School she is also involved with initial teacher training and inspiring the next generation of language teachers.
Thrilled with her new job at Beech House, Miss Eccleshare said: ‘I am really enjoying my time teaching KS1 French at our Infant School. I love the idea of igniting a love of languages at such an early age. In order to engage the children I use lots of joining in activities - songs, games, rhymes and stories – I very much believe in the kinaesthetic approach to learning. The boys and girls have really taken to my puppet “Jacques in the Box”.
At such an early age, it is all about having fun, listening, joining in and responding whilst developing a tuneful ear and becoming a mimic! I like to think of the children as becoming “language explorers” who are experimenting with new sounds and words. They are like sponges at that age and it is a wonderful time to start learning a language. I am really looking forward to seeing the pupils progress into Junior School and beyond.
