Why learn French?

In today’s world it is becoming increasingly important to speak a different language and being able to do so has many benefits:

  • Open up a world of job opportunities: The world is changing fast and there are a growing number of careers which require people to be able to communicate with people in other countries. There are many courses at university which promote the study of a foreign language alongside another subject. 
  • Broaden your horizons: Have you thought about living and working in a different country?
  • Develop your employability skills: Key employability skills such as listening, presenting, creativity, problem solving, aiming high, staying positive, teamwork and leadership are all enhanced through the study of a foreign language.
  • A stepping stone to other languages: Learning French will give you an insight into how to learn a language. It will then be easier to learn a second language…or even a third!
  • Communicate with other people in their own language: This will give you a different perspective next time you go on holiday. International travel is so much easier when you can speak a different language.
  • Keep your brain healthy: research has shown that learning a language can help improve your memory and increase your attention span.
  • Understanding and appreciating different cultures: Learning a language promotes a deeper understanding of other cultures as well as your own and helps to promote positive attitudes.

French Curriculum Overview

Please click the year group and half-term to view additional information.

unit 1 - weeks 1-15. Introductions unit 2 - weeks 16-28: A week in my life unit 3 - weeks 29-39: My home
Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge
Phonics Phonics Phonics
nasals (on an en), SFC (ptsx), un/ une, oi, SFE, SFC v SFE, ç, j/ ge h/th qu, nasals (on en an un in), e v SFE, x-liaison, SFC, ch, SFC, u i/y, éau/ eau, eu  r, -er (like é)ill/ ille, ville, nasals (on en an un in), e v SFE, SFC
Vocabulary Vocabulary Vocabulary
greetings school subjects and opinions where I live
numbers (to 31) and age teachers' personalities rooms
months and birthdays numbers to 100 description of house/ rooms
school equipment telling the time daily routine (+ time/ sequencers)
prrsonality the school day breakfast food and drink
likes and dislikes free time: what you like doing & what you do opinions: aimer/ adorer/ détester + infinitive
opinions: j'aime + noun weather Grammar
Grammar opinions: aimer/ detester/ adorer + noun present tense
present tense opinions: car c’est + adjective reflexive verbs
paradigms of avoir/ être  opinions: aimer + infinitive il y a…/ il n’y a pas de…
gender of nouns: un/ une Grammar definite/ indefinite articles
questions with raised intonation present tense demonstrative adjectives : ce cet cette ces
connectives: et, mais full paradigms of regular  -er verbs ‘in’
negatives: ne…pas as a phrase reference to paradigms of -ir and -re verbs pre-nominal adjectives (BAGS adjectives)
regular adjective endings as complement to verb irregular verb faire full paradigm  partitive article
intensifiers: assez, très, trop, un peu, vraiment gender of nouns – definite article aimer/ adorer/ détester + infinitive
aimer + definite article when expressing opinions connectives: et, mais, car  
regular adjective endings as complement to verb adjectival endings (S & pl) as complement to verb  
intensifiers: assez, très, trop, un peu, vraiment aimer + infinitive  
aimer + definite article when expressing opinions negatives – ne…pas  
  faire – impersonal verb (weather)  
Skills / application of knowledge Skills / application of knowledge Skills / application of knowledge
Developing good pronunciation Developing good pronunciation Developing good pronunciation
Asking questions with raised intonation Expressing opinions: adorer, detester + noun Expressing opinions using aimer + infinitive
Developing translation/ transcription skills at word level  Using connectives to extend sentences  
Listening for specific detail Manipulating regular -er verbs to talk about what other people do  
Expressing opinions with aimer + noun Manipulating the irregular verb ‘faire’ to talk about what other people do  
Links to prior learning Links to prior learning Links to prior learning
builds on the KS2 national curriculum opinions opinions
  verb paradigms: -er verbs + faire verb paradigms – réflexive verbs
  numbers  
Assessment Assessment Assessment
regular vocabulary tests regular vocabulary tests regular vocabulary tests
CAP 1: personal information speaking assessment. CAP 5: extended writing – a school day CAP 7: end of year assessment (LRW)
CAP 2: end of unit assessment (LRW) CAP 6: speaking assessment and phonics check  
CAP 3: extended writing – me and others    
CAP 4: phonics check    
unit 1 - weeks 1-15: Holidays unit 2 - weeks 16-28: My neighbourhood unit 3 - weeks 29-39: My future
Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge
Phonics Phonics Phonics
nasals (on en an un in) -gn, r, a, é, u, cognates with é/ SFC, SFE, SFC + nasal on, ou  tion/ ssion, qu, liaisons. è/ ê, cognates with vowels, nasals (on om en an un in), eu/ ou, au eau o, ail/ aille, a, oi  i/y, ç, h/th, ill/ille, ail/aille, nasals (on om en an un in
Vocabulary Vocabulary Vocabulary
holidays: destination, accommodation, facilities, transport where I live – where I live, location earning pocket money- what I can and must do
activities on holiday places in the town and descriptions spending pocket money in the future
weather on holiday using prepositions future plans
opinions : (R) aimer + noun giving directions future jobs and reasons
opinions : (R) aimer + noun + car/ parce que + adj using two tenses together  using three tenses together
opinions : (R) aimer + inf + car/ parce que + adj Grammar Grammar
opinions : c’était…/ c’étaient + adj present tense  near future tense 
opinions: il y a …./ il y avait…...   vouloir
Grammar perfect tense using two tenses together, 
present tense il y a…/ il n’y a pas (de)… aller – full paradigm
perfect tense + avoir/ être key verbs pouvoir no article when talking about jobs
il y avait using two tenses together   
Il faisait + weather avoir/ être (R)habiter – full paradigm regular -er verbs   
R) gender of nouns    
(R) un/ le,  une/ la, des/ les (R)gender of nouns  
(R) intensifiers : very, too, really, quite, a bit pre- & post- nominal adjectives & agreement  
ne…pas + perfect tense prepositions  
(R) sequencers: first, then, after that, then, finally imperatives - formal  
connectives: donc, quand    
Skills / application of knowledge Skills / application of knowledge Skills / application of knowledge
Developing good pronunciation Developing good pronunciation Developing good pronunciation
using tenses using tenses using tenses
Links to prior learning Links to prior learning Links to prior learning
avoir & être used for the perfect tense using two tenses verb paradigms – aller – irregular verb
Using sequencers, connectives & intensifiers talking about where I live verb paradigms- pouvoir- irregular verb
Assessment Assessment Assessment
regular vocabulary tests regular vocabulary tests regular vocabulary tests
speaking – discussion about a past holiday extended writing – a town end of year assessment (Listening reading)
end of unit assessment (Listening and reading) end of unit assessment (Listening and reading) extended writing – my life
phonics- read aloud    
unit 1 - weeks 1-15. Me then and now unit 2 - weeks 16-28: my daily routine
Knowledge Knowledge
Phonics Phonics
nasals (on an en), SFC (ptsx), un/ une, oi, SFE, SFC v SFE, ç, j/ ge h/th qu, nasals (on en an un in), e v SFE, x-liaison, SFC, ch, SFC, u i/y, éau/ eau, eu
Vocabulary Vocabulary
personality breakfast foods and drink
family members and relationships places to eat
appearance- hair and eye telling the time
clothing and colours daily routine
sports after school activities
illness and injury opinions of food
ways to be healthy time
Grammar  
present tense  
paradigms of avoir/ être   
imperfect tense Grammar
negative structures paradigms of manger/boire
j'ai mal  near future tense (revision)
il faut + infinitive reflexive verbs
partititve articles- faire de perfect tense (revision)
jouer à using du/de la, de l', des
time phrases sequencers
quantifiers regular 'er' present tense verbs
imperfect tense faire and aller paradigms
Comparitive perfect tense with avoir & etre
Modal verbs  
Skills / application of knowledge Skills / application of knowledge
developing good pronunciation developing good pronunciation
asking questions with raised intonation asking questions with raised intonation
developing translation/transaction skills developing translation/transaction skills
listening for specific detail listening for specific detail
expressing and justifying opinions expressing and justifying opinions
using 3 tenses using 3 tenses
Links to prior learning Links to prior learning
adjectives m/f/pl opinions 
colours verb paradigms
jouer and faire with sports tenses
time phrases sequencers
Assessment Assessment
CAP 1: I can produce an extended text  CAP 4: I can demonstrate understanding of phonics, vocabulary & Grammar
CAP 2: I can read French texts and pick out specific details regular vocab tests
CAP 3: I can listen to sppoken French and pick out specific details  
CAP 4: I can demonstrate understanding of phonics vocabulary & grammar  
regular vocab tests  
unit 3 - weeks 29-35: music and technology unit 4- weeks 36-39: holidays past, present and future
Knowledge Knowledge
Phonics Phonics
 r, -er (like é)ill/ ille, ville, nasals (on en an un in), e v SFE, SFC practice of all KS3 phonics
Vocabulary Vocabulary
kinds of music holidays - present tense
adjectives to describe favourite singer holidays past tense
technology- when and how it is used holidays future tense
  Francophone countries
  giving and justifying opinions
  Grammar
Grammar present tense regular verbs
present tense ER verbs present tense etre & aller
Time phrases perfect tense avoir verbs
Irregular verbs mettre, prendre, faire, aller perfect tense etre verbs
giving opinions near future tense
justifying opinions time phrases
using direct object pronouns sequencers
Skills / application of knowledge Skills / application of knowledge
using connectives to extend sentences developing good pronunciation
manipulating regular er verbs asking questions with raised intonation
expressing and justifying opinions developing translation/transaction skills
Irregular verbs using connectives to extend sentences
  using 3 tenses
present tense ER verbs using appropriate time phrases
Links to prior learning Links to prior learning
opinions opinions
irregular verbs  verb paradigms
adjectives  time phrases
technology sequencers
Assessment Assessment
CAP 1: I can answer familiar questions in conversations CAP 4: I can demonstrate understanding of phonics, vocabulary & Grammar
CAP 2: I can read French texts and pick out specific details regular vocab tests
CAP 3: I can listen to spoken French and pick out specific details   
CAP 4: I can demonstrate understanding of phonics, vocabulary & Grammar   
regular vocab tests  
Module 1: weeks 1- 8 Module 2: Weeks 9-15 Module 3: Weeks 16-21
Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge
Ma vie en ligne Une week-end en famille quelle est ta matière préférée ?
Tu as une vie active ? L’amitié est la clé du bonheur c’est injuste
Qu’est-ce que tu regardes ? couleur famille as-tu fait des progrès ?
Qu’est-ce qu’on va faire ? La place des idoles souvenirs d’école
Qu’est-ce que tu as fait ? famille, amour, gâteau les langues et l’avenir
Jeux de la francophonie   Explicit Grammar:
Explicit Grammar: Explicit Grammar: comparative adjectival structures: plus/moins…que
Present tense regular & irregular verbs reflexive verbs: present tense  il faut + infinitive
C’est + adjective (opinions) on & nous = we  il est (+adj) de + infinitive
On possessive adjectives  irregular past participles
Négatives : nepas, ne…rien nejamais, ne…personne in present/ perfect tenses adjectival agreement Negatives: perfect tense
Quel, quelle, quels, quelles position of adjectives superlatives
Near future tense emphatic pronouns (receptive)  imperfect tense
Perfect tense direct object pronouns negatives: ne…aucun/ ne…ni…ni, ne…que
Asking questions: intonation/  inversion of subject & verb/ addition of hyphen in perfect tense present & perfect tenses contrasted & used together  
  irregular past participles  
  adverb formation  
Skills / application of knowledge Skills / application of knowledge Skills / application of knowledge
Discussing different points of view Using sequencers, qualifiers/ intensifiers Giving opinions with reasons
Listening & transcribing Translating Expressing opinions, agreeing/ disagreeing
Predicting Describing a photo Spotting present/ perfect tense structures in a text
Role plays Using present, perfect and near future tenses Asking/ answering questions in imperfect tense
Telling the time   Using imperfect, present and near future tenses together
Past tense opinions    
Asking questions: past tense    
Using present & perfect tenses together    
Links to prior learning Links to prior learning Links to prior learning
Building on tenses: present, perfect, near future Reflexive verbs Simple comparisons
Expressing opinions Adjectives: position and agreement Perfect tense: past participles
Negatives Combining tenses imperfect tense
Asking questions   negatives
Assessment Assessment Assessment
End mod 1 assessment end of mod 2 assessment End of mod 3 assessment 
regular vocab tests regular vocab tests regular vocab tests
Module 4: Weeks 22-27 Module 5: Weeks 28-39  
Knowledge Knowledge  
bon appetit ! des vacances de rêve4  
bien dans ma peau on part pour la Corse  
ça ne va pas le monde en fête  
je change ma vie guide de voyage  
mieux vivre vive les vacances  
Explicit Grammar: Explicit Grammar:  
Partitive articles conditional tense: -er verbs  
Pronoun ‘en’ with present tense verbs irregular future stems  
Imperatives: ‘tu’ form il vaut la peine  
Modals + inf (devoir pouvoir vouloir) forming questions En/au countries  
Negative modals Que & qui  
 À + definite article Using the imperfect tense and the perfect tense  
Avoir mal  Past tense of modal verbs  
Reflexive verbs: perfect tense Opinions  
Simple future tense  Relative pronouns: qui/ que  
 Irregular verb forms across 3 tenses ‘In’  
Negatives: ne…plus Modal verbs: perfect tense  
Skills / application of knowledge Skills / application of knowledge  
Spotting small words that change meaning Extending sentences with added detail  
Giving advice: imperatives Giving advice: il vaut la peine de/ il vaut mieux  
Role playing Forming different types of questions  
Using more complex structures Using perfect & imperfect tenses together  
Using three timeframes: imperfect, present, simple future Creating complex sentences using relative pronouns  
Listening for clues: tenses Identifying positive and negative opinions  
     
     
Links to prior learning Links to prior learning  
Partitive articles Extending sentences  
negatives Asking questions  
Combining tenses negatives  
  Combining tenses  
Assessment Assessment  
End of Module 4 assessment End of year assessment modules 1-5  
regular vocab tests End of Year GCSE Foundation Exam L/R/W/S  
Module 6: weeks 1- 8 Module 7: Weeks 9-15 Module 8: Weeks 16-21
Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge
Notre monde est beau Là où j’habite Mon été de rêve
Planète en danger Sur la bonne route Mes passions et mon avenir
Des grandes gestes Tendances et shopping Express Mondial
Des petites gestes La maison de mes rêves Quelles sont tes compétences?
Innovation verte As-tu déjà visité Paris? Bien payé mais fatigant
Explicit grammar Explicit grammar Explicit grammar
Comparative and superlative Pronoun y Using three tenses to express the future
Passive voice Demonstrative adjectives- ce, cet, cette, ces Après avoir + past participle
Nous form of imperative Depuis Verbs that take être in the perfect tense
Negatives À and de with definite article Using infinitives as nouns
En + present participle Using de to indicate possession Using verbs followed by à or de
Imperfect vs perfect tense Si clauses  
Être en train Use of all tenses  
Skills/ application of knowledge Skills/ application of knowledge Skills/ application of knowledge
Reading Reading Reading
Listening Listening Listening
Dictation Dictation Dictation
Phonics Phonics Phonics
Writing Writing Writing
Role play Role play Role play
Asking questions Asking questions Asking questions
Translation Translation Translation
Read aloud Read aloud Read aloud
Photo card Photo card Photo card
Links to prior learning Links to prior learning Links to prior learning
Building on tenses Building on tenses Building on tenses
Justifying opinions Justifying opinions Justifying opinions
Negatives Negatives Negatives
Asking and forming questions Asking and forming questions Asking and forming questions
Assessment Assessment Assessment
Full mock assessment Revision for January mocks Revision for final GCSE exams
Regular weekly vocabulary tests Regular weekly vocabulary tests Regular weekly vocabulary tests
Monthly vocabulary Monthly vocabulary Monthly vocabulary