FRENCH
The aim of the department is to provide the pupils with the tools and skills which will enable them to learn languages with confidence, as well as to promote the idea of being citizens in a global community. Every pupil learns French at St Aubyns and the year 8 pupils have traditionally enjoyed great success in the subject at Common Entrance and Scholarship level. There is also a thriving Spanish club that takes place as a weekly activity.
French is enjoyed throughout the school from Reception to year 8 and is taught by specialist teachers with a passion for language learning. In the Pre-Prep, pupils have one lesson each week where they start to learn through songs and language games to wet their appetite for the Prep years. In years 3, 4 and 5 this increases to 2 lessons of 45 minutes. Year 6 has 3 lessons each week, whilst years 7 and 8 have four lessons of 45 minutes with weekly preps in years 5-8 to supplement this. We have a native speaker who comes into school to give extra speaking practice for the year 8s and we are also fortunate to have a French speaking teaching assistant to give the children extra support if they need it.
Throughout the year, pupils in years 5-7 perform a French play to the rest of the school during the morning Chapel service. The "Chapelle Française" is a great way to boost their confidence in speaking French and to have fun with the language. Recent French chapels this year have included the year 5s play about La Famille Misérable and Jean Petit Qui Danse song, the Year 7s reportage about the school trip to Paris and the year 6s Le Maillon Faible - The Weakest Link, about Easter in France. They have all been wonderful to watch.
One of the highlights in the school callender is our bi-annual visit to France, which is always extremely popular amongst the pupils in years 6,7 and 8. In February, 33 children discovered the wonders of Paris and put all their language skills to the test. Braving the icy conditions, the children thoroughly enjoyed their visits to several spectacular attractions such as the Eiffel Tower, the Château de Versailles, the Arc de Triomphe, the Stade de France and Notre-Dame Cathedral...amongst many others! It was an action-packed four days and a pleasure to hear the budding linguists of St Aubyns practising their French.
Scheme of Work
In the Prep section of the school pupils will study three Topic Areas each academic year.
Year 3: Me & My Family, My House & My School, On Holiday
Year 4: At Home, My School, The World Around Me
Year 5: My World, Food & Drink, Going Out
Year 6: Towns, Travel & Transport, Home Life, School Life
Year 7: Holiday & Public Services, Education & Work, Leisure & Entertainment
Year 8: CE or Scholarship preparation as appropriate
Click on the links below to go to some fun and interactive language websites: