MFL in a Special School

[Helen]

Hiya All
I have been asked to give some support to a Special school which 'caters for children with complex and profound multiple learning difficulties aged 2 - 11.'
The majority of the children are non verbal and have limited communication skills so they are looking at developing opportunities to develop cultural awareness.

I was wondering if anyone has had any experience of 'doing' MFL and can offer me any suggestions as to how to approach this. I was thinking of taking a mucial/ art slant but would welcome any suggestions/ advice/ help.

Thanks

Helen

[Lorraine]

Off the top of my head, not having done anything like this, what about looking at Helen Keller approaches to learning using multi-sensory learning? Would need some research but I would think music and art -especially 3D, clay figures anything tactile / or auditory sotraditional rhymes / songs might be useful. Also cooking and of course puppets.

[French Tutor]

Hello! I'm coming in a bit late but:
The simplest of the simplest games, very very few words per sessions, material rewards and smile, always smile. Songs, you need to adapt to simplify them to the max, mouvements for a short while and if it is manageable. I have the advantage of Babelzone in my school which allows the use of the screen for a few minutes, but there maybe other simple presentations.
We do use playdo, puppets, glue coloured materials on frames (Me! here!) etc... always bit a craft for the ones who like it. Even if they do not all do it, it is an essential visual reminder that we were here last time and we did that and we said that. And now, because we have this to make, we are going to say this....
Get an other adult present here to play a role play of a minute, with lots of quiet but expressive "drama", Hello Mrs xxx Are you OK et...
The difference in sounds and pronunciation and nice photos of the world, animals, are part of cultural awareness. I tell them that French people cannot say the properly, they love it.