French
Departmental Staff
| Head of Department: | |
| Mrs I S Weir | B.A. (French) |
| Teaching Staff: | |
| Mr D Macpherson | (Senior Teacher) |
| W A Cree | B.A., M.Ed. (Head of German) |
| Mrs R. Shaw | B.A. |
| Mrs M C Sheeran | B.A. (Head of Spanish) |
| Mr A McCrea | B.A. |
| Language Assistante: | |
Subject Curriculum
Key Stage 3
French is taught from Year 8 and the emphasis in class is on confident and effective communication in the target language from the earliest stages of the course. Pupils in Years 8 have 5 lessons of French per week. In Years 9 and 10 they have four periods of French per week. In these classes most of the time is spent developing the pupils’ confidence in acquiring new material and in using the new language. This process is encouraged by the use of pair-work, games and songs. Our French textbook “Équipe Nouvelle ” offers the opportunity for practice in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing over a wide range of topics. It has an integrated website with activities for each chapter and IT Tasks and Powerpoint do form an important element in the teaching of French.
GCSE
In Year 11 pupils may choose to continue their study of French as a single language option or can study it along with a second modern language from German and Spanish. In Key Stage 4 we follow the GCSE specification of the AQA Examination Board. For the first year of the course the students use the Francoscope Textbook and the online Learning NI network will allow us to set up a French Department Intranet next year to accompany our classroom teaching.
A'Level
Students may choose to study French at AS and A level. With the growing influence of Europe and the Euro on the Northern Ireland economy the study of a foreign language beyond GCSE can enhance future career opportunities.
Combination courses at university are now popular options. Accountancy and French, Law and French, International Business and French have been choices made by previous French students and as part of their degree, these undergraduates will normally spend up to one year on placement in a French business or at a French university.
The syllabus chosen by the French Department is AQA. (www.aqa.org.uk) The aim of this course is to develop the skills acquired in the first five years of French and to enable the students to improve their ability in comprehension skills in Listening and Reading and to speak and write fluently in French. The Elan Textbook is used to develop their awareness of French culture and current affairs and students are given the opportunity for more intense practice of their conversation skills in small tuition groups with the French Assistante. Pupils are also encouraged to read outside the classroom from the wide range of materials available on the Internet and to investigate further the topics covered in the French Department Brochures and in the Library.
Foreign Links
Pupils in Year 8 have had the opportunity to join a School Languages Visit to France. Last June 52 pupils and 7 members of staff spent four enjoyable days in Paris. Activities included a visit to Disneyland Paris, a boat trip on the River Seine and an evening “stroll” up the Eiffel Tower. Over forty BGS students and staff made it to the top and they sang the school song at the summit to celebrate our 150th celebrations. You can view photographs of the trip by following the link.
In 2007 one of our A Level French students will represent Northern Ireland on a visit to the European Parliament after his success in a local Rotary competition.