Modern languages – First level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland): What to Teach (Scotland)
Your Teacher Information Pack for Modern languages – First level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland) in Scotland: the curriculum structure, our short summaries with links to the official wording, and key dates.
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- Country
- Scotland
- Level
- First level
- Ages
- 5/6–8/9
- Source
- Curriculum for Excellence – experiences and outcomes (broad general education)
- Last checked
- 2026-10-20
Usually P2, P3, P4 (a guide, not a fixed year group). Roughly US Grades 1–3 (approximate).
Plan the whole year: open this course in the Year Planner – every lesson dated around your term dates, with a coverage check. Free.
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What to teach
Below are the experiences and outcomes with their official codes, in our own short summaries. Each code links to the official document.
Listening and talking: Listening for information
- MLAN 1-01a Explores language sounds and patterns through songs and rhymes, responding verbally or nonverbally.
- MLAN 1-01b Joins daily routines and follows simple gesture-supported instructions.
- MLAN 1-01c Understands language from familiar voices and sources.
Listening and talking: Listening and talking with others
- MLAN 1-02a Identifies key information in short predictable conversations and reacts.
- MLAN 1-02b Begins sharing personal information using familiar vocabulary.
- MLAN 1-03 Asks and answers simple questions to share information, with support.
- MLAN 1-05a Joins in with stories, songs, rhymes, and poems, showing understanding.
- MLAN 1-05b Takes part in a range of collaborative activities.
Listening and talking: Organising and using information
- MLAN 1-06 Develops awareness of social, cultural, and geographical features of target-country places.
Listening and talking: Using knowledge about language
- MLAN 1-07a Explores similarities and differences between sound patterns through play and songs.
- MLAN 1-07b Uses pronunciation knowledge so others understand familiar words and phrases.
Reading: Finding and using information
- MLAN 1-08a Recognises labels and environmental print, and sequences images and text.
- MLAN 1-08b Shows understanding of words and phrases containing familiar language, alone or in groups.
Reading: Reading to appreciate other cultures
- MLAN 1-09a Notes similarities and differences between Scotland and target-language countries.
Reading: Reading for interest and enjoyment
- MLAN 1-10a Has experienced a variety of simple, possibly adapted texts.
Reading: Using knowledge about language
- MLAN 1-11a Uses illustrated word banks and picture dictionaries to support understanding.
Writing: Writing
- MLAN 1-13 With support, begins experimenting with writing in the target language.
Assessments and key dates
Qualifications Scotland exams 2027: Mon, 26 April 2027 to Thu, 3 June 2027 (timetable). There are no national tests of curriculum levels; teachers judge progress using the Benchmarks.
Official documents
- education.gov.scot/Documents/modern-languages-eo.pdf
- education.gov.scot/curriculum-for-excellence/curriculum-for-excellence-documents/experiences-and-outcomes
Trusted free resources
- Education Scotland – the official curriculum site.
- BBC Bitesize – videos and quizzes by nation and stage.
Links only: we don't copy their content and we aren't connected to these organisations.
More packs
Modern languages – Second level · Modern languages – Third level · Modern languages – Fourth level · P2 Modern languages · P3 Modern languages · P4 Modern languages · P5 Modern languages · P6 Modern languages · All Scotland packs · Find another TIP
Codes and structure from Curriculum for Excellence experiences and outcomes and Benchmarks, Education Scotland (Crown copyright). Summaries are Classfern's own words – always read the official wording via the link.
No official wording is reproduced: codes and structure are facts, and the short descriptions are our own summaries. Always read the official wording via the links. Checked on 2026-10-20.
Classfern is not affiliated with or endorsed by Education Scotland, Qualifications Scotland (formerly SQA) or the Scottish Government.