Senior Department | French
Building further on the foundations laid down in the Junior Department, our aim is to maintain the boys’ interest and excitement for the language and culture of France and French speaking countries. In doing this we aim to prepare the way for success at Common Entrance and Scholarship examinations and beyond.
Boys at Cranmore start learning French in Form 1 using 8 different booklets organised by topics. They carry on using 3 booklets during their first term of Form 2.
From the second term of Form 2, as their linguistic confidence steadily grows, the boys begin extending their basic vocabulary through a more formal course of study aimed at developing equally all four areas of language: listening, speaking, reading and writing. For this course they use the books Actif 1 in Forms 2 and 3. In Form 4 they are using Actif 2.
For their preparation for Common Entrance we are using Équipe 4 in Form 5 and 6 and Tricolore 3 for their preparation for Scholarship in Form 5 and 6.
We try as far as possible to keep the emphasis on the fun dimension of language, encouraging the boys wherever possible to continue to learn through practical and authentic exercises such as role-plays, quizzes, songs and IT work, as well as doing various creative written exercises in their workbooks and activities books.
The French Department 2007-2008:
Mrs C. Dally is teaching the Ones
Mr B. Martin is teaching the Twos
Mrs T. Turner is teaching the Threes, 5CEs and 6S
Ms N. Meneghin, French native speaker, is teaching the Fours, 5S, 6CEs and is preparing Form 6 for their Speaking exams (Scholars and Common Entrance).
All of us are experienced and fluent in French; therefore our lessons are mainly conducted in French. It might be difficult for the students who are not used to it yet, but help and support will be provided for those who need it and I guarantee that little by little your son will enjoy it and will make good progress.
I am aware that it is hard for a new boy who hasn’t done any French before to join a class already confident in the language. A French catch –up club runs every Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 for boys in Forms 3 to 6 and to guide the new boys. Our aim is to provide extra help with homework or anything that hasn’t been understood properly during the lesson.
I am always grateful for anything extra outside the classroom as it helps to validate the subject in the eyes of the boys. Such help is especially useful if it is fun.
During the lessons we use a large range of visual and auditory resources in order to motivate every single student. There are smart boards with Board work software and Task Magic in every classroom, text books, activities books, tape and CD recorders, CDs, songs, flashcards, OHTs, French board games, reading cards, French story books and French DVDs. We also have a mini language lab at the back of the classrooms with 5 headphones that students can use
Form 1 and 2.
In Form 1 your son will use 8 topic based booklets and in Form 2 they will use 3 topic booklets until Christmas. From Christmas, Form 2 will work on Actif 1 yellow and Carnet Actif 1 Unit 1 and 2. In Form 3 they will start with Unit 3 .
Form 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Each boy in Form 3 and 5 has been given a pink book in which to do their class work and homework. A small red vocabulary book to complete their tests every Mondays, a small green vocab book where they will stick their vocab list given weekly, a plastic folder (red/ yellow/ blue/green according to their year group) for the additional worksheets, and a verb booklet. Form 5 will also be given an ISEB vocabulary book for Common Entrance and KS3. They should use it in Form 6 too.
Vocabulary
In Form 3, 4, 5 and 6 ten words per week are set for learning (sometimes up to 15 in Form 5 and 6). Everyone is tested on Monday. This does entail revision on Saturday and Sunday. The boys should get into the habit of doing a little bit of French everyday…even during holidays. French can be fun!
Assessments
To arrive at a fairly objective idea of a boy’s standard, the homework and class work marks are averaged over the half term and grades are awarded as follows: An average of 49% or below is given a 5. An average of 50% to 59% receives a 4. 60% to 74% is graded as 3, 75% to 89% gets a 2, and 90% to 100% gets a 1.
The French exchange
Every year students in Form 2, 3, 4 and 5 will have the opportunity to welcome a French student of the same age for 2-3 weeks. The date and number of students vary from one year to another. We are unable to welcome more than 2 students per class. Last year we welcomed 7 students in April and 7 students in June. This year, the French boys will be with us in April/May.
A return visit is planned this year during the first week of Easter holidays. We will be leaving on Wednesday 19th March 2008 and return on Wednesday 26th March 2008. Our boys will be able to attend a French school and spend the Easter weekend with their host families.
French trip
Every other year we organise a residential trip to France. The last trip was in August 2007. Forty seven boys went to Paris for a week. You can see our pictures on this website. We went to Vaux le Vicomte, Parc Astérix, Brie-Comte Robert and spent a day in Paris: Les bateaux mouches sur la Seine, La Tour Eiffel, le Musée des Sciences et de l’industrie de la Villette and La Géode.
On 26th June 2008 Form 5 will go to the Cote d’Opale for the day.
French pen friends
Form 4 boys are given the opportunity to have a French pen friend. We are developing a strong link with a French primary school in the South West of France not far away from Toulouse.
The Junior Language Challenge
Cranmore is taking part in this national competition every year. This three-round competition starts in April and finishes in November. This year the first round is learning Dutch.
I hope your son will enjoy speaking and learning French here at Cranmore.
Ms N. MENEGHIN (Head of Department)
