Aims
- To provide a learning environment in which pupils can both enjoy language learning activities and find intellectual stimulation.
- To develop pupils’ fluency and accuracy in the four skill areas of listening, speaking, reading and writing.
- To equip pupils to be successful in public examinations and beyond.
Staff and facilities
The department is staffed by 5 teachers and occupies 5 classrooms and one smaller room, used by Sixth Form groups. There are also 2 language laboratories, one of which is a multimedia centre.
How much time will I spend on this subject per 10 day cycle?
- Lower School – 3 lessons (3 hours) with half an hour of homework
- GCSE – 5 lessons (5 hours) with 2 hours of homework
- A Level – 10 lessons (10 hours) with additional individual study
French in the Lower School
Pupils are taught in form groups. We use the core textbook, Encore Tricolore, supplemented by our own materials.
Topics covered include
- Self identification
- Where you live
- Pets
- Sports and hobbies
- Clothes
- Food
- Drink
- Shopping
- A variety of other real life situations.
Pupils are encouraged to speak and write at length. Activities are varied and include the use of pair work, group work and projects.
French further up the school
We currently prepare pupils for the CIE IGCSE French examination. On average each group has 18 pupils. The course book used is Encore Tricolore and we study topics such as health, leisure, holidays, home, environment, work and education. Pupils are encouraged to speak and write at length for their own self-expression, as well as for the purpose of the public examination.
A Level
At A Level there are usually 2 groups in Lower Sixth and two groups in Upper Sixth. Each group consists, on average, of 10 pupils. The groups are taught by 2 teachers each of whom is responsible for a particular area of the specification. Of the 10 lessons each cycle,2 are in the language laboratory. Upper Sixth pupils study 2 set texts and a range of language topics. Built into the courses are opportunities for thorough revision and consolidation of grammar and chances to visit productions of French plays and conferences.
Trips
All First Year pupils have the opportunity to travel to France at Easter and take part in a week of activities. We currently offer a language trip to Paris for pupils in Fourth Year and a work experience trip to Nantes for Sixth Form students.
Language assistant
The language assistant works mainly with the Sixth Form but each Fifth Year set has the chance to work with them once a week.
