top of page
Eiffel Tower View

Modern Languages 
French

Welcome To The
French Department

BIENVENUE!

​

Welcome to our thriving French Department at St.Louis Grammar School. Our French Department is a vibrant hub of linguistic and cultural activity. Led by a dedicated team of four specialist French teachers, we are passionate about bringing the language to life and equipping our students with the skills to thrive in a globalised world.

MEET THE STAFF

​

Mrs Gibney – Head of French

Mrs Downey – Teacher of French

Miss Smith – Teacher of French

Mrs McCann – Teacher of French

A MODERN APPROACH TO LEARNING

We deliver an exciting and broad curriculum designed to transform students into confident 21st-century linguists. Our pedagogy is rooted in evidence-based methods; throughout the school. We employ Gianfranco Conti’s sentence builder grids at all levels. Feedback from our learners has been extremely positive, with students reporting significantly higher levels of retention, confidence, and enthusiasm.

 

Years 8 & 9

All students begin their journey here, building a solid foundation in phonics and grammar using the Conti EPI approach, further reinforced with sentence builder grids and accompanying games on ‘The Language Gym’ website.

 

Year 10

For those who have discovered a passion for the language, French can be continued into Year 10, allowing students to deepen their fluency before embarking on their GCSE qualification if they so desire. Students in Year 10 have the opportunity to visit France. However, students do not have to be studying French in order to go. Trips are based on a first-come-first-serve basis and places fill up very quickly!

CCEA GCSE FRENCH

French is a highly popular choice at GCSE in St. Louis. We follow the CCEA GCSE French specification, supported by tailor-made topic-specific teacher resources and Pearson ‘ActiveLearn’ digital platform. In Years 11 and 12 students build on the foundations from Key Stage 3. Topics include:

​

  • Identity, Lifestyle and Culture: Family and Friends, Social Media, Free Time and Daily Routine and Culture, Customs, Festivals and Celebrations

  • Local, National, International and Global Areas of Interest: My Local Area and the Wider Environment, Community involvement, Social and Global Issues and Travel and Tourism

  • School Life, Studies and the World of Work: My Studies and School Life, Extracurricular Activities, Part-time jobs and Money Management, Future Plans and Careers

 

At GCSE level students are assessed across four key skills, each worth 25% of the final grade: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. All external examinations take place in Year 12 and students can currently be entered for a mixture of both Foundation and Higher tiers, according to their ability

CCEA GCE (A-LEVEL) FRENCH

We are exceptionally proud to run successful A-Level classes, following the CCEA GCE French pathway, where students explore French literature, cinema, contemporary societal issues in addition to learning about the current political life in France and the Révolution Française !

 

The A-Level course is divided into AS (40%) and A2 (60%) levels.

​

  • AS Level: Includes a speaking presentation, a listening/reading/use of language paper, and an extended writing essay based on a set film or literary text.

  • A2 Level: Focuses on advanced fluency through an individual research project (speaking), complex listening and reading tasks, and a second extended writing essay based on a set literary work.

 

Topics include: Relationships, Culture and Lifestyle, Young People in Society and Our Place in A Changing World.

ENRICHMENT & FUTURE CAREERS

The Biennial French Trip: Every two years, we offer an immersive cultural visit to the Parisian capital. Highlights include a Seine River Cruise, the Montparnasse Tower, the Eiffel Tower, Sacré-Cœur in Montmartre alongside shopping in the French fashion capital of the world.

Magic & Adventure: There’s something for everyone at Disneyland Resort Paris, from meeting Mickey Mouse to adrenaline rides for those thrill-seekers.

French Gastronomy: Students can sample traditional delicacies, from French onion soup to frogs' legs and snails!

A-Level University Experience: A specialist trip to Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) is organised to explore the vast career opportunities for French speakers.

INNOVATION & ICT IN THE CLASSROOM

Our students regularly engage with a wide variety of ICT tools, including:

  • Interactive Platforms: Access to Pearson’s ActiveLearn, The Language Gym, and Kerboodle.

  • Competitive Learning: We use Blooket, Quizlet, and Wordwall for interactive vocabulary retrieval.

  • Multimedia Resources: Lessons are enriched with content from YouTube, BBC Languages, TES, Twinkl and custom-made PowerPoint resources.

PRIMARY TRANSITION: P6/7 DAYS & OPEN NIGHTS

We take great pride in welcoming our future linguists. The French department runs highly successful P6/7 Taster Days and vibrant Open Nights, designed to give prospective students a first-hand look at the fun and rewards of learning a language.

 

A highlight of our Open Night is our famous French Café, where we put on an incredible array of delicacies for all to enjoy. Visitors can sample:

  • Freshly baked croissants and pains au chocolat.

  • Traditional French baguettes and breadsticks.

  • A selection of regional fromages (cheeses).

  • Fresh grapes and strawberries.

 

Students can make their very own 3D Eiffel Tower and sift through a display of student work!

bottom of page