French

KS3 Overview

The French Department aspires to develop KS3 students’ curiosity of the language and the culture of French Speaking countries and regions in general. Our mission is to educate students who will become open-minded, respectful to cultural differences and have a strong desire to develop their linguistic skills. Learning a language is a cumulative process. It requires resilience, which is in itself rewarding. Pupils are stretched intellectually. Strong emphasis is placed on the teaching of grammar, vocabulary and phonics. Teachers encourage students to use the target language and to take on board independent learning.

Why learn French? 

Russell Group Universities consider languages favourably to enter any degree course. French is a facilitating subject and a subject most commonly required or preferred by universities to get on to a range of degree courses.

Nowadays, more than ever, the ability to speak a language is a highly sought-after skill in the job market. A knowledge of French opens the doors of French companies in France and other French-speaking parts of the world. French is both a working and an official language of the United Nations, The European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts. It is the language of the three cities where the EU institutions are headquartered. It is also the international language of cooking, fashion, theatre, the visual arts, dance and architecture. One in every five British exporters knows it is losing overseas business through its inability to overcome language and cultural differences. Many firms recognise that they have lost business because of the language skill factor or cultural barriers.

It is the only language, alongside English, that is taught in every country in the world. More than 200 million people speak French on five continents.

Expected Equipment

We have high expectation and we expect all students to be ready to learn when they arrive in lesson. This involves being fully equipped. In addition to their normal equipment, all students must have their bi-lingual dictionary.

Resources for learning

• In KS3 French, we use the following books:
• Accès Studio
• Studio 1
• Studio 2 Rouge
• Studio 3 Rouge
• French Grammar 11-14
• French Grammar & Translation Workbook
• French Grammar
• For independent learning, we encourage the use of Duolingo, Quizlet, Memrise, LanguageOnline and BBC GCSE Bitesize French
• There is also easy access to resources on the shared area to support independent learning

Learning is not confined to the classroom.  We offer a range of extracurricular activities to give our students the chance to experience languages in action.

• Pupils in Year 7 and 8 have the opportunity to join a French choir
• Pupils in Year 7 have the opportunity to visit Boulogne for 2 days in the summer term
• Pupils in Year 7 all take part in a Spelling Bee competition
• Pupils in Year 7 all take part in a Cultural Day in July
• Pupils in Year 7 may have the opportunity to work with pupils from our feeder schools
• Pupils in Year 8 have the opportunity to spend 5 days in March in Normandy.  This is a cross-curricular trip with History
• Pupils in Year 9 have the opportunity to spend 5 days in May-June in Belgium.  This is a cross-curricular trip with Science
• Film Club for Year 9 
• Weekly drop-in clinic for pupils who are looking for extra support
• Weekly cultural quiz.

Programme of Study

In addition to the textbooks, we use videos, games, films and many engaging resources to give our students a strong foundation of the knowledge of culture and all four linguistic skills: Reading, listening, Speaking and Writing. It allows students to develop the confidence they need to start their preparation for GCSE. 

KS4 Overview

We are passionate about languages and about giving our students the chance to experience a wide range of languages and cultures. Learning a language is a cumulative process. It requires resilience, which is in itself rewarding. Pupils are stretched intellectually. Strong emphasis is placed on the teaching of grammar, on encouraging pupil-use of target language, and adapting to the needs of individual students.

Why learn French? One in every five British exporters knows it is losing overseas business through its inability to overcome language and cultural differences. Many firms recognise that they have lost business because of the language skill factor or cultural barriers. More than 200 million people speak French on five continents. It is the only language, alongside English, that is taught in every country in the world. Nowadays, more than ever, the ability to speak a language is a highly sought-after skill in the job market. A knowledge of French opens the doors of French companies in France and other French-speaking parts of the world. French is both a working and an official language of the United Nations, The European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts. It is the language of the three cities where the EU institutions are headquartered. It is also the international language of cooking, fashion, theatre, the visual arts, dance and architecture.

Russell Group Universities consider languages favourably to enter any degree course. French is a facilitating subject and a subject most commonly required or preferred by universities to get on to a range of degree courses.

Expected Equipment

We expect all our students to be organised when they come to the lessons. As well as normal equipment, they should, as per school policy, have a red pen for peer-marking and a purple pen for self-marking. We recommend the purchase of a Bescherelle for grammar acquisition.

Resources for learning

• Access to a range of resources across the Studio AQA GCSE French Higher course, including a wide range of resources needed for independent study
• Easy access to the shared area to support learning
• Use of the Studymojo website
• French Grammar & Translation Workbook
• For independent learning, we encourage the use of Duolingo, Quizlet, BaBaDum, Memrise, Languages Online and BBC GCSE Bitesize French
• http://bescherelle.com/ to practise conjugation of verbs and authentic dictations in the target language used in French schools.

Extracurricular enrichment

Learning is not confined to the classroom. We offer a range of extracurricular activities to give our students the chance to experience languages in action.

• Pupils in Year 10 have the opportunity to spend 5 days in May-June in Belgium. This is a cross curricular trip with Science
• Pupils in Yr10 and 11 may have the opportunity to take place in an exchange with a school in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Provins
• Selected Year 11 students may have the opportunity each September to attend “Our business is languages” at Greenwich University. They can participate in a variety of hands-on activities and business simulations in workshops run by national and international companies using languages in real business contexts, giving them the chance to gain a useful insight into where languages can take them in their future careers
• Weekly Yr10 drop-in clinic for pupils who are looking for extra support
• Weekly Yr11 Higher and Foundation GCSE clinic.

Year 10-11 Programme of Study

Our students follow the AQA course and are generally entered for the higher tier examinations. The language work and knowledge is generated in exploring the three themes of identity and culture; local, national, international and global areas of interest; and current and future study and employment. Students in Years 10 and 11 have five French lessons per fortnight. Key Stage 3 skills are solidly consolidated. Rapid progress is made in terms of vocabulary, grammatical structure and everyday idioms, and opportunities are given for the students to manipulate the foreign language by themselves.

We are passionate about languages and about giving our students the chance to experience a wide range of languages and cultures.  Learning a language is a cumulative process.  It requires resilience, which is in itself rewarding.  Pupils are stretched intellectually.  Strong emphasis is placed on the teaching of grammar, on encouraging pupil-use of target language, and adapting to the needs of individual students.

Why learn French?  One in every five British exporters knows it is losing overseas business through its inability to overcome language and cultural differences.  Many firms recognise that they have lost business because of the language skill factor or cultural barriers.  More than 200 million people speak French on five continents. It is the only language, alongside English, that is taught in every country in the world.  Nowadays, more than ever, the ability to speak a language is a highly sought-after skill in the job market.  A knowledge of French opens the doors of French companies in France and other French-speaking parts of the world.  French is both a working and an official language of the United Nations, The European Union, UNESCO, NATO, the International Olympic Committee, the International Red Cross and international courts.  It is the language of the 3 cities where the EU institutions are headquartered.  It is also the international language of cooking, fashion, theatre, the visual arts, dance and architecture.

Russell Group Universities consider languages favourably to enter any degree course.  French is a facilitating subject and a subject most commonly required or preferred by universities to get on to a range of degree courses.

Expected Equipment

We expect all our students to be organised when they come to the lessons. As well as a normal equipment, they should, as per school policy, have a red pen for peer-marking and a purple pen for self-marking. We recommend the purchase of a Bescherelle for grammar acquisition.

Resources for learning

• Hodder Edexcel A Level textbook.
• Edexcel A Level French Grammar Practice textbook.
• Use of a plethora of authentic material to bring a new challenge to students and exposure to real life French.
• “No et moi”, Delphine de Vigan – studied in Yr12.
• “Intouchables”, directed by Olivier Nakache, Éric Toledano – studied in Yr13.
• http://bescherelle.com/ to practise conjugation of verbs and authentic dictations in the target language used in French schools.
• “1 jour, 1 question” videos.

Extracurricular enrichment

Learning is not confined to the classroom.  We offer a range of extracurricular activities to give our students the chance to experience languages in action.  

• Pupils in Years 12 and 13 may have the opportunity to take place in a 3 day-visit to Paris and visit our partner school, the Lycée Victor Drury.  
• Year 12 students have the opportunity to work in one of our feeder school. 
• Year 12 and 13 students have the opportunity to visit the Imperial War museum, as WW2 is Theme 4 of the A Level exam.
• Oxbridge essay competitions.

Programme of Study

Students follow the Edexcel two-year course.  This course has been developed to inspire all students who have an appreciation of the language, literature, film and culture of the French-speaking world.  It is a motivating course of study that will enable students to develop an advanced level knowledge and understanding of the French language, the culture of France and other Francophone countries, as well as practical and valuable language and transferable study skills.  The specification will help to prepare students for higher education and enhance their employability profile.

Students work in small groups with extra support to develop speaking skills.  Students study the language in far greater detail and depth. A variety of thought-provoking, contemporary issues is covered in the two years, including media, popular culture, healthy living, lifestyle, the environment, the multicultural society and contemporary social issues, to produce extended work and involves further input, thought and reflection.