Interested in joining Sixth Form at Holcombe Grammar School in September 2024?

To apply, please click here.

French

Curriculum Intent

In French students will:

  • Be aspirational and ready for the next step in life. By the end of KS4, French learners will see the importance of languages and be motivated to continue with languages for Sixth Form and for University. Furthermore, they will be able to use languages in real life.
  • Develop as effective, efficient, resilient learners who can work independently towards ambitious goals. Students will become independent learners by embedding challenging language in their normal day to day interactions and they will able to debate about current and global issues and be aware of the challenges that exist in a multicultural society and in consequence able to express their point of view about it.

  • Achieve high quality academic outcomes. By the end of KS4, students will be doing full GCSE past papers in the four skills (Listening/ Reading/Speaking/ Writing). Learners will consolidate knowledge of vocabulary and grammar terms and structures and they will be building on the previous knowledge acquired throughout KS3 and KS4. New knowledge is acquired and consolidated on a variety of topics. Students will be monitored and targeted regularly through cyclical assessments and meta-memory AFL, questioning etc. Students will be fully aware of the requirements for the GCSE exam and with exam skills that will help them with the GCSE outcomes. Students will acquire some transferable knowledge and skills that can be used and developed further at A Level and real-life situations.
  • Develop an awareness of their own strengths and acquire effective habits to be successful at school and beyond. Through the use of base line data and prelims (PLC reflection), students will be able to identify key areas of strength and weakness and address them. They will also be able to select the right thinking tools that enable them to reflect on feedback and progress further. Students will be able to prioritise the areas that need most attention and create revision resources accordingly.
  • Develop long term knowledge and skills which can be effectively deployed in new circumstances. Students will be able to be confident using the target language not only for GCSE purposes but also in real life situations (for example on holidays). They will also be able to focus upon the knowledge of the exam content, focusing on the 28-mark question (in the writing), literary questions and longer and more complex translations; applying relevant lexis and grammar structures.
  • Develop the cultural capital to be able to successfully engage with a wide variety of social situations. Students will study different topic areas as well as authentic material such as literary extracts to enhance their cultural awareness and study the French speaking world. Students will have the chance to participate in the Mardi Gras competition, St Nicolas assembly and French trips.
  • Develop an awareness of their place as a citizen in the school, wider community and the world beyond. Students are confident working with each other collaborating throughout different tasks. The Edexcel Specification selected for study develops students’ knowledge and deals with current and global issues, which in turn develops their social awareness. As part of the course students need to present about current issues in the target language.

Key Stage 3

Year 7 is a critical year because students begin to learn how to communicate effectively in French. Students cover a variety of topics, which relate to themselves and also developing relationships with others. Students develop teamwork and organisational skills through working together. They also build upon their previous knowledge and consolidate it. Students are able to present themselves and talk about their likes and dislikes on a variety of topics such as school or sports.

In Year 7:

  • All pupils are issued with Knowledge Banks.
  • The textbook used in lessons is Accès for Terms 1 and 2 and then Studio 1 (Pearsons)
  • Emphasis is placed on learning in class through participation in French as well as regular consolidation and further practice at home.
Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
– Introducing Yourself
– Pencil Case Items
– Cultural Opportunities
– Where I live
– Weather
– Opinions and Reasons
– Cultural Opportunities
– Recap of Term 1
– Family and Describing Yourself.
– Describing Others (3rd Person)
– Cultural Opportunities.
– Recap Terms 1 and 2
– School
– Items in the Classroom
– Cultural Opportunities.
– Recap Terms 1-3
– Sports
-Free time activities
– Cultural opportunities.
-Recap terms 1-4
– Recap of All Modules
– Extended Cultural Opportunities

 


In Year 8:

  • All pupils have been given Knowledge Banks with all the Year 7 topics which they should have revised during the holidays.
  • All pupils are issued with Knowledge Banks for the Year tropics.
  • The textbook used in lessons is Studio 2 Rouge (Pearsons) which is the follow up of Studio 1.
  • Like in Year 7, emphasis is placed on learning in class through participation in class in French as well as regular consolidation and further practice at home.

In Year 8 students, go into more detail in terms of developing their grammar and topics. Students consolidate their previous learning and build upon it. They also add complexity into their answers including a range of vocabulary and expressions and the use of three different tenses. Students are also able to express their own opinion in a variety of ways.

Year 8 students will be able to talk about their holidays, family life and also about someone else. They will be able to talk about where they live, the weather, as well as likes and dislikes. Students will be able to talk about what they do in their free time and will be able to explain what they did during the previous week and where they will do the following weekend. Shopping appears to be important to everyone and so students learn how to describe where they go, when they go out and what they eat and drink. They will also be able to talk about their school and school routine.

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
– Time
– Free Time Activities
– Present Tense
– Opinions and Reasons
– Cultural Opportunities
– Past Tense Holidays
– Cultural Opportunities
– Recap of Term 1
– My Identity
– Future Tense
– Cultural Opportunities.
– Recap Terms 1 and 2
– Where I Live
– Future/Conditional
– Comparatives
– Cultural Opportunities
– Recap Terms 1-3
– Clothes
– Food and Drink
– Cultural Opportunities
– Recap Terms 1-4

– Recap of All Modules.
– Extended Cultural Opportunities.

 


In Year 9:

  • All pupils have been given Knowledge Banks with all the Year 7 and 8 topics which they should have revised during the holidays.
  • All pupils are issued with Knowledge Banks for Year 9.
  • The textbook used in lessons is Studio Edexcel (Pearsons) which is the follow up of Studio 2.
  • Like in Year 8, emphasis is placed on learning in class through participation in class in French as well as regular consolidation and further practice at home.

Students are encouraged to undertake their own learning outside of the classroom, by using websites such as Linguascope, Duolingo and Seneca learning.

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
  • Holidays in the present and past.
  • Present tense and preterite tense.
  • Cultural opportunities.  
  • LOVE MFL- focus on Linking words and Opinions and reasons.
  • Listening exam technique. 
  • Speaking exam technique-role play/conversation.
  • Writing exam technique- translation of bullet points/ 40-50 words writing task.
  • Holidays in the present and past.
  • Present tense and preterite tense.
  • Cultural opportunities.  
  • LOVE MFL- focus on Linking words/Opinions and reasons.
  • Listening exam technique. 
  • Speaking exam technique-role play/conversation.
  • Writing exam technique- translation of bullet points/40-50 words writing task.
  • School in the present and in the past. 
  • Speaking exam technique- photo card/conversation.
  • Future (Immediate and simple) 
  • LOVE MFL-focus on Mixture of tenses/Exciting vocabulary/Full descriptions. 
  • Cultural opportunities.
  • Writing exam technique- 80-90 words task. 
  • Recap of term 1- retrieval activities.
  • School in the present and in the past.
  • Speaking exam technique - photo card/conversation.
  • Future (Immediate and simple) 
  • LOVE MFL-focus on Mixture of tenses/Exciting vocabulary/Full descriptions. 
  • Cultural opportunities.
  • Writing exam technique- 80-90 words task. 
  • Recap of term 1- retrieval activities.
  • Identity and culture- recap of present and preterite tense.
  • LOVE MFL-focus on Very accurate/A-level phrases. 
  • Listening exam technique.
  • Writing exam technique- focus on 80-90 words task/ translations.
  • Speaking exam technique- role play/conversation.
  • Cultural opportunities.
  • Recap terms 1-2- retrieval activities.
  • Identity and culture- recap of present and preterite tense.
  • LOVE MFL-focus on Very accurate/A-level phrases. 
  • Listening exam technique.
  • Writing exam technique- focus on 80-90 words task/ translations.
  • Speaking exam technique- role play/conversation.     
  • Cultural opportunities.  
  • Recap terms 1-2- retrieval activities.

 

KS3 Learning Journey

Please see attached Key Stage 3 Learning Journey for French.

Key Stage 4

Students could choose one or both of the languages that they have studied at Key Stage 3. A growing number of able linguists are choosing both because, as we use the same examination board for each, students find that it can be a huge help to follow both courses simultaneously.

The study of a foreign language is also necessary for pupils who wish to achieve an EBacc. Universities view languages favourably and employers value a CV that shows achievement in MFL (Modern Foreign Languages).

Course Title: GCSE French

Examination Board: EDEXCEL   

Examination Details:100% external assessment- all papers to be set and marked by Edexcel.

 

Listening: 25% of overall mark

Students will be expected to understand a series of extracts and conversations in French, spoken clearly and comparatively slowly. At least 20% of all instructions will be in French. Answers will be mainly non-verbal.

Speaking: 25% of overall mark. Speaking will comprise of 3 components:

  • Task 1 – a role play based on one topic.
  • Task 2 – questions based on a picture stimulus based on one topic that is allocated by Pearson.
  • Task 3 – conversation based on two themes. The first theme is based on the topic chosen by the student in advance of the assessment. The second theme is allocated by Edexcel (previously studied in class).

Reading: 25% of overall mark.

  • At least 30% of the questions will be in French.
  • Students will be expected to read a variety of stimuli including a short literary piece.
  • 1 translation from French into English.

Writing: 25% of overall mark

  • Students will be expected to complete a variety of tasks including 1 translation (English-French) which will be in sentences or short passages depending on the tier.
  • In order to achieve a grade 5-9 at GCSE, students must be able to use a variety of grammatical structures including the past, present and future tenses and be able to express and justify opinions.

Course Outline

The course covers a variety of contexts linked to themes that relate to:

  • Identity and culture
  • Local, national, international and global areas of interest
  • Current and future study and employment
  • There will be an emphasis on the culture and identities of the French speaking countries and communities.
  • Students will also be exposed to literary texts, adapted as required.
  • There will be a focus on independent and spontaneous use of French.

An understanding of French-speaking life and culture forms an integral part of this course and it is hoped that students will visit a French speaking country either on holiday or on a school journey.  There will be residential trips (in the last two years, we went to Warsy and Normandy where we visited the Mont St Michael and the Bayeux tapestry)

Cross-Curricular Links

The French course will appeal to pupils who:

  • Have an interest in the French language
  • Are interested in finding out about another culture
  • Have a sense of adventure by taking part in visits
  • Are considering working in a French-speaking country

Furthermore, the course encourages a greater appreciation of French language, as well as a greater understanding of language in general. It would therefore be of great benefit to English Language and Literature students.

French also has wider links with Life Skills:

Health & wellbeing:

  • Personal information, greetings, how are you?
  • Healthy eating- food and drink.
  • Sport and sport habits, free time activities.
  • Drugs, alcohol and consequences (Year 11).
  • New technologies. Advantages and disadvantages of social networks, apps, video games.
  • Issues in school-exam stress/bullying. -Media and social media. Role models (Y9/Y10)
  • Relationships: Marriage, single sex families, same sex -Issues in school-exam stress/bullying. -Media and social media.
  • Living in the wider world (Careers)
  • World of work, importance of languages on helping to find a job. Studying and working abroad.
  • Writing a CV, applying for jobs and writing a covering letter.
  • Different customs and festivals – tolerance.

Students with a grade 6 or above will have achieved a firm foundation to study French at KS5.

The acquisition of a good A Level grade would allow you to pursue French and possibly other languages at university and would be a considerable advantage in the world of employment. Please do not overlook the possibility of studying abroad too!

The ability to speak other languages opens up countless opportunities in both the fields of leisure and work. There will be a shortage of qualified linguists and your services will be in great demand by industry if Britain is to compete in a business context on a global level. The course encourages a greater appreciation of French language, society and culture, as well as a greater understanding of language in general. It would therefore be of great benefit to English Language and Literature students.

 

Year 10

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
  • Interests and influences.
  • Recap present, preterite and future.
  • Reading exam technique.
  • LOVE MFL-Linking words, Opinions and reasons, Very accurate, Exciting vocabulary, Mixture of tenses, Full descriptions and A-level phrases.
  • Cultural opportunities.  
  • Speaking exam technique- photo card/conversation.
  • Recap terms 1-3-retrieval activities.
  • Holidays in the present and past.
  • Present tense and preterite tense.
  • Cultural opportunities.  
  • LOVE MFL- focus on Linking words/Opinions and reasons.
  • Listening exam technique. 
  • Speaking exam technique-role play/conversation.
  • Writing exam technique- translation of bullet points/40-50 words writing task.
  • Town and places.
  • Present tense
  • Recap Year 9
  • Cultural opportunities.  
  • LOVE MFL
  • Mastering the 80-90 words writing  task/ translations.
  • Introducing the 130-150 words task- bullet points and more complex phrases.
  • Speaking exam technique- role play/photo card/conversation.
  • School in the present and in the past. 
  • Speaking exam technique- photocard/conversation.
  • Future (Immediate and simple) 
  • LOVE MFL-focus on Mixture of tenses/Exciting vocabulary/Full descriptions. 
  • Cultural opportunities.
  • Writing exam technique- 80-90 words task. 
  • Recap of term 1- retrieval activities.
  • Towns and shopping
  • Recap 3 tenses
  •  Assessment technique
  • Past paper technique
  • Understanding the GCSE requirements  
  • LOVE MFL (as previous term)
  • Cultural opportunities.  
  • Speaking exam technique- photo card/conversation.
  • Recap terms 1-4-retrieval activities.
  • Food and customs
  • Speaking and writing technique  
  • Preterite vs imperfect 
  • LOVE MFL
  • Cultural opportunities.
  • Recap of term 1
  • Writing technique-80-90 words vs 130-150 words task.
  • Speaking exam technique- role play/presentation/conversation.
  • Translations TL to English.

 

Year 11

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
  • Future aspirations and work.
  • Simple future/immediate future/conditional
  • LOVE MFL
  • Cultural opportunities.
  • Recap Y10/ 11
  • Writing technique-130-150 words task. 
  • Speaking exam technique-phtocard/presentation/conversation.
  • Listening and reading exam technique.
  • Translations English to TL.
  • International and global dimension.
  • Subjunctive 
  • LOVE MFL
  • Cultural opportunities.  
  • Recap terms 1-4.
  • Writing technique-80-90 and 130-150 task.
  • Speaking exam technique- role play/presentation/conversation.
  • Translations TL to English and English to TL.
  • Listening and reading exam technique.
  • Listening and reading exam technique.
  • Speaking and writing exam technique.
  • LOVE MFL
  • Cultural opportunities.  
  • Writing technique-130-150 words task.
  • Speaking exam technique- photo card/presentation/conversation. 
  • Translations TL to English and English to TL.
  • Recap on holidays and school. 
  • Present/past/future 
  • Recap Y10
  • Grammar Recap
  • Complex structures embedding 
  • Literary texts introduced.
  • Extended cultural opportunities.
  • LOVE MFL (as previous terms)
  • Speaking exam technique- role play/photo card/conversation.
  • Mastering the 80-90 words writing task/ translations.
  • Retrieval activities.
  • Recap on identity and culture.
  • Imperfect
  • Interests and influences.  
  • Grammar Recap
  • Complex structures embedding 
  • Literary texts introduced.
  • Extended cultural opportunities.
  • LOVE MFL (as previous terms)
  • Speaking exam technique- role play/photo card/conversation.
  • Mastering the 80-90 words writing task/ translations.
  • Retrieval activities.
  • Recap on identity and culture.
  • Imperfect
  • Interests and influences
GCSEs

Please see below KS5 for Learning Journey.

Year 12 and 13

Nowadays, the ability to speak other languages opens up numerous opportunities for the fields of leisure and work. There will be a shortage of qualified linguists and the students’ services will be in great demand by industry if Britain is to compete in a business context on a global level. The course encourages a greater appreciation of French language, society and culture, as well as a greater understanding of language in general. It would therefore be of great benefit to English Language and Literature students.

Being able to communicate successfully in a foreign language and to understand other cultures can open up many career avenues in fields as diverse as marketing and PR, finance and banking, media, engineering, diplomacy, security, teaching and, of course, translating and interpreting.

It is highly regarded by top universities and employers and, in an increasingly global economy, give jobseekers a competitive edge.

The British Chambers of Commerce believes that the knowledge of foreign languages is a critical skill for the UK economy.

 

Year 12

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
  • Changes in French society: Evolution of Family.
  • World of Work
  • No and Me
  • Political and artistic culture in French speaking countries: Education
  • Essay planning
  • Subjunctive
  • Festivals and Music 
  • Revision of Grammar and translation
  • Essay Writing
  • Media
  • Focused Speaking  Practice.
  • Revision of Previous Topics 
  • Writing Time Practice
  • Research project first steps
  • Immigration

 


 

Year 13

Term 1Term 2Term 3Term 4Term 5Term 6
Immigration - positive and negative impact of immigrationImmigration and the extreme right.        Research ProjectOccupation and Resistance- Occupied FranceVichy’s Regime and ResistanceRevision and Exam PracticeRevision and Exams

KS4/5 Learning Journey

Please see attached Key Stage 4/5 Learning Journey for French.

Careers

Why should you learn a language?

Links to career prospects:

Direct use of languages following Higher Education: translating, interpreting, teaching, commerce, tourism and travel. Indirect use of languages for careers: law, accountancy, secretarial skills, export marketing and selling, insurance, hotels, catering, merchant banking, engineering, manufacturing, computing and purchasing.

British Values

In French you will also be able to reinforce the British values of:

  • Resilience
  • Tolerance
  • Mutual Respect
  • Rule of Law-accountability
  • Individual liberty
  • Democracy- student voice