The French Department
As more than 200 million people speak French on the five continents, in the French Department we want to share with students our passion for French and the French-speaking world. In a globalised world where French is the second most widely learned language after English, the ability to speak French is an advantage on the international job market.
Right from the outset, we encourage our students to begin communicating with confidence and enthusiasm. In our lessons, we challenge students to communicate with one another in French, to read authentic materials, to understand native speakers and to write extended pieces to express themselves. As French is the international language of Cooking, Fashion, Theatre, the Visual Arts and Dance, we provide as many opportunities as possible for our students to experience French culture and to understand the importance of French outside the classroom.
Year 7 Curriculum
The Year 7 course uses “Allez!” to build on the vocabulary and skills learned in Year 6. Extra classes are provided for those who have not done French at Primary School. Students are taught in teaching groups for 5 periods per week.
Classes are conducted mainly in French and students are actively encouraged to use the foreign language themselves. The four skills of Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing are developed during the course and are assessed both during the year and at the end of the year. Students also increase their knowledge and awareness of grammar.
The topics covered include self, home, family, pets, hobbies, holidays and school. A wide variety of activities is used to present and practise the necessary vocabulary and structures. Work on dictionary skills, spelling and pronunciation is built into the course as appropriate, as is the use of Information Technology.
Year 8 Curriculum
The Year 8 course uses “Allez! 1” and “Allez! 2” to consolidate and extend the knowledge and skills acquired in Year 7. The Year group is currently taught in ability groups.
By the end of the year, most students should be able to operate in both the present, past tense and near future tense, deal with basic “survival” situations in France, such as shopping for food, visiting the doctors and give information and opinions on topics such as holidays and hobbies. The four skills are developed, as are other language skills such as the use of a dictionary.
In June there is a centre-based trip to Northern France where students have the opportunity to take part in a number of cultural visits and linguistic activities.
Assessment takes a variety of forms, culminating in end of year examinations.
Year 9 Curriculum
Year 9 is a key year in the learning of French because it is when the future tense is combined with the present and the 2 past tenses. This gives students the ability to express ideas and opinions on a number of topics, such as personal relationships and healthy lifestyles. Other topic areas are of a more general nature and include leisure, the local area and fashion. Students are also given the opportunity to practise their speaking skills with the Foreign Language Assistant during their French lessons.
All of these skills are put to good use by those students who join us on the French Exchange to Nantes. This is a great opportunity for learners to develop language and social skills. Our exchange school is in Nantes in Brittany and the families offer us a warm welcome.
The Year group is taught in set groups based on ability in French. At the end of this Key Stage students are given a National Curriculum Teacher Assessment Level. At the end of year 9, students should be working towards level six and our most able linguists aim to achieve a level seven. Assessment is by tests and end of year examinations.
