A Critical Examination of the Beliefs about Learning a Foreign Language at Primary School

and finally attendance at a short course on methods of presenting the language
to junior pupils (Schools Council, 1966: 3). The literature on the Pilot Scheme
suggests that most training took place in language laboratories and through
audio-visual methodology and materials. A number of colleges started to offer
BEd courses in French, also based on the audio-visual methodology
(Hoy, 1977).

1.3.3 Methodology and Materials Used in the Pilot Scheme

Hawkins (1981) reports that the 'Bonjour Line' and 'En Avant' audio-visual
courses for children were used by schools participating in the Pilot Scheme as
well as in associated schools and Wigram, staff inspector for foreign languages,
reports that both audio-visual methodology and materials produced by the
Nuffield Foundation were widely used and adhered to closely during the Pilot
Scheme in both primary and secondary schools (Wigram, 1973). According to
the Schools Council (1966: 6) 80 per cent of the schools in the pilot areas were
using the Nuffield materials.

1.3.4 Patterns of Provision

Lessons were normally taught by primary class teachers on a daily basis for
around 20-30 minutes. The majority of teachers seemed to think that 30
minutes a day was plenty of time for most children. The general pattern of
timetabling varied considerably from school to school, with clearly set aside
lessons for French in some schools and the teaching of parts of lessons through
French in others.

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