French

Jump to: Form 4 | Pre-Q | NCEA Level 2 and AS Level | NCEA Level 3 and A Level

Introduction

French is offered as a beginners’ course in Form 3 and can be studied through to NCEA and Cambridge International Examination A2 level following Grammar’s dual pathway policy.

All French students are grouped according to their prior attainment in French, based on their results in the reclassification examination.

As much learning as possible takes place in French. After five years of learning French, students should expect not only to give a good account of themselves in their everyday dealings in a French-speaking country but also be able to read widely in French and discuss a range of major issues with French-speaking people.

Form 4

Prerequisites: Form 3 French.

Course description/aims: The course aims to further develop the skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in French to enable students to communicate with confidence in a variety of everyday situations.

Students will also learn about the life and customs of the people of France and other countries of the French-speaking world. At the end of the course students will have a solid grasp of the vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation of the French language which will enable them to continue learning French in Form 5.

Course outline: Students regularly practise the four language skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening). Topics covered include travelling to and in France, holidays in France, family life, jobs, school life, life as a teenager, shopping, food and drink, health, going out and arranging to meet.

Methods of assessment: At the end of Terms 1, 2 and 4, students will sit examinations lasting between one and two hours. All examinations test the skills of listening, reading, and writing. The Terms 2 and 4 examinations also contain a speaking mark. In Term 3, students will sit a common test and will be tested on their speaking as well. There are also common tests at regular intervals during the terms to assess progress in the four skills.

Special equipment/costs: Education Perfect, as well as a workbook and a vocabulary booklet, are compulsory for all Form 4 students for $75. The internationally recognised DELF examination is an optional assessment for students which is assessed externally. The A2 Level best corresponds to Form 4 students. It is $75 and is usually sat at the end of August.

Continuation of subject: Pre-Q French.

Form 5 (Pre-Q)

Prerequisites: Form 4 French.

Course description/aims: The course builds further on the skills of oral and written communication and is highly practical with students learning to use French to enable them to cope in a variety of everyday situations.

Course outline: With the main grammatical structures of French having been dealt with in Forms 3 and 4, the Form 5 course is one of consolidation and reinforcement of the skills learnt during the previous years.

The topics studied will enable students not only to talk about aspects of their own life (personal details, family, description, leisure interests, housing, schooling, and daily routine), but also equip them with language necessary for coping in a French-speaking environment (holidays, travel, shopping, eating, and drinking, health, and communications). The students will also develop beginner knowledge in French literature.

Methods of assessment: At the end of Terms 1, 2 and 4, students will sit examinations lasting between one and two hours. All examinations test the skills of listening, reading, and writing. The Terms 2 and 4 examinations also contain a speaking mark. In Term 3, students will sit a common test and will be tested on their speaking as well. There are also common tests at regular intervals during the terms to assess progress in the four skills.

Special equipment/costs: Education Perfect, as well as a workbook and a Vocabulary Booklet are compulsory for all Form 4 students for $65. The internationally recognised DELF examination is an optional assessment for students which is assessed externally. The B1 level best corresponds to Form 5 students. It is $85 and is usually sat at the end of August.

Continuation of subject: All students may continue their study of French at NCEA Level 2 or Cambridge AS Level.

Form 6 (NCEA Level 2 and AS):

Prerequisites:

• AS entry requires a minimum of 70% at Pre-Q
• NCEA Level 2 requires a minimum of 50% at Pre-Q

Recommended achievement levels:

• Students averaging over 65% in Form 5 French have an appropriate achievement level to study Form 6 French
• Students averaging 50-60% in Form 5 French may find AS French difficult
• Students averaging under 45% in Form 5 French are not recommended to take Form 6 French
• Form 7 students who would like to take AS French after a one-year break need to talk to the Head of French before being admitted to the course

Course description/aims: The course aims to build further on the skills of oral and written communication by dealing with the more complex structures and wider vocabulary which will enable students to express their opinions in French on a wide variety of subjects of interest to young people.

They will be able to develop highly practical skills designed to help them cope with a range of situations they might encounter when travelling in French speaking countries. Students also develop listening, close reading, and paraphrasing skills.

Course outline: Students will be able to opt for either NCEA Level 2 or the Cambridge AS examination. A range of topics are covered in both courses, including but not limited to: culture, health and well-being, education and future plans, community and society, our responsibility for the planet, science and technology.

Methods of assessment: Students who opt for NCEA Level 2 will be able to gain credits in the four NCEA Achievement Standards internally assessed over the course of the year: two speaking assessments (a prepared talk and interactions) and two assessments to test students’ ability to write French with resources. Achievement Standards in Listening and Reading will be externally assessed at the end of the year.

Students who opt to sit the Cambridge AS examination at the end of the year will sit four papers:

• Paper 1: Listening
• Paper 2: Reading
• Paper 3: Writing
• Paper 4: Speaking

Special equipment/costs: Education Perfect is compulsory for all levels for $25. The internationally recognised DELF examination is an optional assessment for students which is assessed externally. The B1 level best corresponds to Form 6 students. It is $85 and is usually sat at the end of August.

Continuation of subject: NCEA Level 3 and Cambridge A Level.

Form 7 (NCEA Level 3 and A Level)

Prerequisites: Form 6 French.

Recommended achievement levels:

• Students averaging over 60% in Form 6 French have an appropriate achievement level to study Form 7 French
• Students averaging 50-60% in Form 6 French may find A Level French difficult
• Students averaging under 45% in Form 6 French are not recommended to take Form 7 French

Course description/aims: The course aims to build further on the skills of oral and written communication by dealing with more complex structures and wider vocabulary which will enable students to express their opinions in French on a wide variety of subjects of interest to young people. Students also develop close reading and paraphrasing skills.

Course outline: Students will opt for either NCEA Level 3 French or the A Level examination. Students who have already obtained a good pass in AS may opt for the A Level course in which an additional element is the study of French literature.

A range of topics are covered in both courses, including but not limited to: culture, health and well-being, education and future plans, community and society, our responsibility for the planet, science and technology.

Methods of assessment: There will be five NCEA Achievement Standards internally assessed over the course of the year: two speaking assessments (a prepared talk and interactions) and three assessments to test students’ ability to write French with resources. Achievement Standards in Listening and Reading will be externally assessed at the end of the year.

Students who opt to enter the Cambridge A Level examination will sit 3 papers during the May/June session:

• Paper 1: Reading
• Paper 2: Writing
• Paper 3: Literature

Once the July session has been completed, students will be prepared for the NCEA French Scholarship examination which they will sit at the end of the year.

Special equipment/costs: Education Perfect is compulsory for all levels for $25. The internationally recognised DELF examination is an optional assessment for students which is assessed externally. The B2 level best corresponds to Form 7 students. It is $85 and is usually sat at the end of August.

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