 |
At Alleyn Court Prep School we teach French to all children, whatever their ability. A modern foreign language forms part of the school curriculum policy to provide a broad and balanced education to all children. Through our teaching of French we provide learning opportunities that enable all pupils to make progress. We do this by setting suitable learning challenges and responding to each child’s different needs.
At Alleyn Court Prep School we make Modern Languages an enjoyable learning experience. All pupils start learning French in the last year of Pre-prep and are taught by a qualified, French native speaker all the way to Year 6.
French lessons at Alleyn Court
The Pre-Prep: The lessons are designed to be a fun introduction to French, as well as to encourage and develop an interest in France, its people and hopefully other countries and cultures. The lessons consist of oral work only. The children have one lesson of French per week (30 minutes). Each child is given the opportunity to speak on an individual basis (voluntarily) or with his/her class, with an emphasis on pronunciation.
Years 1, 2, 3 and 4: During these four years, the emphasis of the French lessons is put on the oral work to make sure that the pronunciation and intonation can not be marred by the written word.
Year 1 and Year 3 mirror the same topics with further extension to vocabulary and grammar for the older year. The same happens for Year 2 and Year 4. Year after year, the vocabulary is being first reinforced (especially important for new pupils joining the school at different moments) then increased and developed. The use of more complex phrases and grammar rules is being integrated year after year within their listening and speaking tasks.
The main aims are that by the end of Year 4, pupils know facts about France, that they feel at ease with the French pronunciation and the different sounds, that they can talk about different topics with confidence and that they are ready to read and write about those topics.
Years 5 and 6: During these two years, we work on all four skills starting with a slight emphasis on reading and writing, as they are the two new skills. Then, the 4 skills are given the same importance. By the end of Year 6, pupils will have learnt a wide range of vocabulary but also will be able to write confidently in the present, past and future tenses.
Topics and Opportunities
Topics covered in lessons include: The language of the classroom; House, home and daily routine and chores; Life and work at school; Time, dates, numbers and prices; Personal description; Family friends and pets; Meeting people; Free-time activities; Describing holiday activities; Visiting a café or restaurant; Simple health problems; Description of a town or region; Finding the way and using transport; Understanding tourist information; Shopping; Weather.