What will students be studying in French this year?
As not all students have studied French at primary school, we start at the very beginning with introductions and family but also covering a range of other topics, such as house, pets, places in town, leisure activities, weather and future plans and some common daily expressions. In Year 8 and 9, we build on knowledge from Year 7, looking at free-time, holidays, healthy lifestyle, school life, family and friends, customs and festivals, the French-speaking world and social/global issues. From the beginning we teach the grammatical structures of the language and the relationship between sounds and spelling. This enables students to become real French speakers, giving them the tools to manipulate the language for themselves. Lessons use a mix of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Video clips, songs, games and computer-based activities help to bring the language to life and impart an understanding of French culture. We offer extension activities for more advanced learners and a separate programme of study for bilingual students.
Expectations of students in French
The Year 7 French course is one hour a week, increasing to two hours a week in Year 8 and 9. Homework is set weekly (30 minutes), which may be grammar practice or vocabulary learning, a writing or comprehension exercise or research. It is important that students are regularly learning vocabulary and practising grammar as part of their homework routine. Students’ written work is marked using the MFL department’s marking codes. The codes identify the type of error rather than simply writing in the correction so that students learn how to redraft their own work. They will usually be given the opportunity to do this and to ask any questions in lesson time.
What are the major assessments this year?
There are formal end of unit assessments, as well as mid-unit assessments that take place across the academic year. These will take place roughly at the end of each half term and will address different skills as well as grammar. Each teacher will set ongoing grammar or vocabulary tests and will regularly assess and give feedback on written work.
What should my daughter do if she feels she is struggling in the subject?
The first step is for your child to ask for advice from their French teacher so that they can identify the problem and how to address it. There are many resources available to support students’ learning and guidance on some useful websites, such as Quizlet or Duolingo. Class resources are shared with students via Teams/SharePoint to support with independent study outside of the classroom.
How can I support my child?
The best way to support your child is by taking an interest in her language learning. It is not necessary for you to know any French yourself, although obviously it's great if you do. Otherwise asking them to explain what they have been doing in class, testing them on the vocabulary learnt, and looking through their book will help them consolidate their learning. Do encourage and praise them for their efforts. Please support your child’s efforts to use their own language in their written and oral work rather than relying on Google Translate/AI. Electronic translation tools give strange translations and lead to errors which use of a good dictionary (online or paper) can avoid.
What kind of independent work should my daughter be completing?
It is good practice to spend a few minutes looking through the lesson notes as soon as possible after the class, and then again, a few days later, rather than forgetting all about it till the next lesson! This is particularly true when it comes to learning new vocabulary. It does not need to take a long time but will help to keep the language fresh in the mind. As mentioned above, students are given a list of appropriate websites for French, including some for fun as well as specific aspects of learning. We also encourage students to take part in the French exchange in Year 9, which is both educational and enjoyable.
Who can I contact for further advice and information ?
Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher in the first instance but Miss Hau as Head of MFL is available at shau@newsteadwood.co.uk.