FRENCH

Mission:

The overall aim of studying French at The Manurewa High School is to give the students the necessary skills and language to be able to communicate effectively and authentically in French. The intention is for them to be able to travel to a French speaking country and be able to understand and communicate what they need and want to do or say.

 The skills learnt by studying a foreign language are easily transferred to the study of English and indeed all other subjects: language structure, confidence, skills of analysis, but most of all, communication.

 General Aims

Achievement Aims

Students will:

Courses

 French is offered from Year 9 (a semester option) through to Year 13.

The levels define a natural progression of learning. Differentiation between levels is built in through:

• The increasing complexity of the learning activities
• the increasing range and variety of the language used
• the expectation of increasing learner independence

 At Year 9, students are taught the basics of communicating in French (a survival programme)

• Personal introduction (name, age, birthday)
• Where you live
• Your house
• Your family

 At Year 10, students are taught through a series of communicative units:

• Shopping
• School
• Getting around Town
• Eating at home

 Year 11 consolidates learning for Years 9 and 10 and develops it further

• Eating out
• Health
• Sport and leisure
• Holidays
• Travel

 At senior levels, French study takes on a different form. The level of student mastery of the language is increased as some of the topics studied show:

• The environment
• Youth
• History
• Feminism
• Fashion
• Music
• Francophonie
• Literature

 Students are required to be able to converse and write about such topics and communicate their opinions effectively.  By the end of the Year 13 course, students will have read at least 2 literary texts (novel, poetry, film, short story) and be able to analyse them in French.

 Communication is the pivotal point of the language programmes. Effective, stimulating and varied communicative activities form the basis of the teaching and learning programme. Through such activities, students become more experienced and confident in other areas (for example cultural awareness) while involved in meaningful communication.

The contact hours for French are as follows:

 

Year 9:            4 contacts per week
Year 10:          3 contacts per week
Year 11:           5 contacts per week
Year 12:           5 contacts per week
Year 13:           5 contacts per week 

In addition to this, tutorials are offered on Thursday lunchtimes (or by appointment).  Students studying for Scholarship attend extra tutorials.

French Culture

Culture embodies the everyday experiences and lifestyles of native speakers as well as the historical background of their language. Language and culture are interwoven. Aspects of French culture are an integral part of the communicative functions and language skills.

• Crepe making
• Poisson d’avril
• Pâques
• French holidays and celebrations
• Petanque

In 2001 the International Languages Department held a highly successful “Language and Culture Day” with participation from Japanese, French and Maori students. The French students made crepes, played pétanque, sang a French song and participated in other French activities.

In 2001 and 2002, a dedicated group of French students performed a folk dance at the international Week celebrations

 

Each year, The Manurewa High School accepts exchange students from Tahiti. Students are encouraged to homestay and interact with these students and to take advantage of any trips to French speaking countries that are offered.

 In 2000, 24 students from The Manurewa High School went on a trip to France.

In addition to this, New Zealand has its own strong French community. Not only are there people from France and other French speaking nations who have emigrated to live here, but there is a strong group of Tahitian people, or people with Tahitian descent who have settled New Zealand. Of course, we also have our own French settlement of Akaroa in the South Island.

Teaching of French at Manurewa High School

French forms part of the International Languages Department and fits into the Languages Faculty. Staffing is therefore organised in the following manner:

 Head of International Languages        Ms P Cavanagh BA, Dip Tchg (Sec)

 Teacher in charge of French               Ms G Angevi

Professional Development

At The Manurewa High School priority is given to developing knowledgeable and efficient staff:

All French staff are encouraged to be enthusiastic in delivering all aspects of the curriculum.

Emphasis is placed on developing and enhancing classroom and language skills and on innovative teaching practice. Where possible, staff are sent to courses to aid this.

The school Appraisal System also encourages confidence in developing good classroom practice.

With the implementation of NCEA  there has been a greater need to communicate with other French teachers. Cluster groups have been set up (MHS is part of the Counties Manukau group) to help with task development and moderation.

The award of funding this year from the Ministry of Education’s second language learning funding pool has also allowed us to start a liaison programme between intermediate schools in the area and MHS.

Resources

The International Languages Department is well resourced, especially in regard to ICT.

French uses a variety of media for learning:

• Textbooks
• Teacher made dossiers
• Video
• Song
• Images
• Internet
• Computer software

Of course, much resourcing comes from the students themselves as they speak and present language in class, role play and communicate in the target language.

As well as resourcing in school, we are fortunate to have a language association and the French Embassy for resource assistance.

In 2001, MHS was granted funding from the Ministry of Education to purchase resources for junior level students in the area of ICT. This has enabled us to buy the latest in video, computer and audio software, and provides more interesting, innovative and motivating methods of language teaching in the classroom.

Assessment

Assessment for French is formative and summative and is continuous throughout the year.

Each year level is tested regularly and continuously on vocabulary (short tests).

At the end of each topic studied, students sit a unit test, covering the 4 language skills of Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking 

Exams are held as follows:

Year 9:              Semester test towards the end of the 20 week option
Year 10:            School Exams in Terms 2 and 4
Year 11:            School Exams in Terms 2 and 3. 
                        NCEA Exams in Term 4
Year 12:            School exams in Terms 2 and 3
                        NCEA Exams in Term 4
Year 13:            School exams in Terms 2 and 3
                        NCEA Exams in Term 4

 Additional assessment opportunities

• Australian Language Certificates               (Years 11 – 12)
• Alliance Française oral competition           (Year 11 - 13)