French

Subject Leader: Mrs Amy Coates

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What are we studying?

We follow the course “Expo” which consists of a pupil book and audio- CDs.  Students develop skills in understanding written and spoken French and in actively using the language to speak and write.  They develop language learning techniques, which will aid them in learning across the curriculum and with future languages. Students study five or six different topic areas and each topic covers a wide range of vocabulary and several elements of grammar.

How are we assessed?

Students have vocabulary and spelling tests every week, as far as is possible.

They complete at least two written homework tasks per topic, which are graded, in terms of expected progress towards target, as either +, = or -.

They complete one speaking or writing assessment and one reading or listening assessment at the end of each topic, this is usually five times a year.  These assessments are completed in class in test conditions. For each assessment students will be given a level and this will be compared to their target level to measure progress and performance.

How are we grouped?

Groupings in Year 7 are initially based on the KS2 SATs scores and students are placed into one of 2 bands accordingly to ability; each band having 3 sets. For the whole of Year 7 students will be in the same set for French, ICT and Humanities subjects.

These groups are reviewed and adjusted and anyone clearly mis-placed is moved as soon as possible. Set changes during the course of Year 7 are difficult because there needs to be agreement between all of these subjects to any moves. Therefore it is often the case that set movements do not take place until the end of the year. These movements will be based on assessments and work completed during the course of Year 7.

Students in set 6 for English do not study a foreign language and receive additional literacy support. At the end of the year students may move a set depending on assessment outcomes.

What homework are we expected to do?

Students need to learn vocabulary and spellings on a weekly basis. If spelling/vocabulary homework is not set they can choose ten words or an item of grammar that they found challenging to work on. They are also set homework activities consisting of reading or writing tasks, which must be completed in their dark green Assessment For Learning books. Students do not normally receive more than one homework task per week, in addition to vocabulary learning. At the end of each topic, students need to learn and revise thoroughly for the end of topic assessments.

What can parents do to help?

Review the Assessment For Learning book regularly and fill in the comment box on each end of topic assessment. Discuss your child’s progress with him/her.

Ensure that students learn vocabulary at home every week. If spelling/vocabulary homework is not set they can choose ten words or an item of grammar that they found challenging to work on.

Provide an “easy learning” bi-lingual dictionary and encourage your child to use it when completing written homework.

Direct students to vocabulary building websites, (a list can be found in the student diaries.)

Provide students with as much visual and audio stimulus as possible, for example, French magazines, French radio/TV and, if possible, a trip to France.