KS2 MFL: 'Talking About Myself' in Spanish with Rhys Stephenson

Super Movers > MFL

CBBC's Rhys Stephenson introduces some simple Spanish phrases in this song for KS2.

Teacher notes

After viewing, singing and dancing along, your class could try some of these activities to further explore their learning:

Meeting and greeting:

• Ask the children to introduce themselves to their partner using Me llamo followed by their name. If children are reluctant to speak, you could use puppets or a giant toy microphone for encouragement.
• Practise the question ¿Cómo te llamas? with the whole class. It often helps to do an action while saying the question to help to remember it – you could draw a big question mark in the air while saying it. Try writing the phrase in the air in order to practise the ó and the ¿.
• Ask the children to move round the class, asking each other ¿Cómo te llamas? and replying Me llamo and their name. They could shake hands with each person they speak to. You could also encourage them to say hola and adiós at the beginning and end of their “meeting”.
• Find out what people in Spain do when they meet each other.
• Ask the children to research the names of other countries in the world where Spanish is spoken. Impress on the children that they can say hola to millions of children in lots of countries that are not Spain.

Giving your opinion

• Practise me gusta and no me gusta with the children. Doing an action while saying the phrases will help children to remember them. You could hold your thumbs up for me gusta and put them down for no me gusta.
• To practise listening, say the phrases me gusta and no me gusta and ask the children to do the correct action. To increase the challenge you could add other words or phrases (for example hola, adiós, muy bien) which don’t require an action and so children have to sit still.
• To practise speaking, do the actions and then children have to say the correct phrase. Again you could increase the challenge by adding some actions that are neither me gusta nor no me gusta and so for which the children will have to stay quiet.
• Ask the children if they can remember the English meanings of the Spanish verbs bailar, nadar, pintar, leer and correr, which Rhys sang in the song. Practise the verbs with the children, miming each activity to help them to remember.
• Put your thumbs up, and then mime dancing. Ask the children if they can say the whole sentence – an opinion and a verb. They should say Me gusta bailar. Practise in the same way with no me gusta and the other verbs. The children could practise in pairs or mime a sentence for their classmates to work out.
• Ask the class to use their bilingual dictionary to find some other useful “action” verbs in Spanish. The verb forms will need to end in -ar, -er or -ir. They can use your phonics package or a reliable text-to-speech app or site to help them to work out the pronunciation. They can then formulate some sentences with their new verbs, including miming them!

Language introduced

Curriculum notes

Learning aims or objectives

The Super Movers song Talking About Myself and these activity notes address the following learning objectives from the curriculum guidance of the four UK nations.

England

From the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum programme of study for Foreign Languages:

• listen attentively to spoken language and show understanding by joining in and responding
• explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and link the spelling, sound and meaning of words
• appreciate stories, songs, poems and rhymes in the language
• engage in conversations; ask and answer questions; express opinions […]
• speak in sentences, using familiar vocabulary, phrases and basic language structures
• broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material, including through using a dictionary
• understand basic grammar appropriate to the language being studied, including (where relevant): […] conjugation of high-frequency verbs (me gusta; infinitives); key features and patterns of the language (question forms, making a verb negative);[…] and how these differ from or are similar to English

Northern Ireland

It is not statutory for primary schools to teach a language other than English or Irish (in Irish-medium schools).

Scotland

Modern Languages - CfE Experiences and Outcomes, Second level

• I explore the patterns and sounds of language through songs and rhymes and show understanding and enjoyment by listening, joining in and responding. (MLAN 2-01a)
• I can listen to and respond to familiar voices in short, predictable conversations using straightforward language and non-verbal techniques (MLAN 2-02a)
• I can take part effectively in prepared conversations by sharing information about myself…or interests of my choice, using familiar vocabulary and basic language structures. (MLAN 2-03b)
• I can participate in familiar collaborative activities (MLAN 2-05b)

Wales

It’s not currently statutory to teach a language in KS2. However it will become so in September 2022.