FRENCH
"Si vous parlez à un homme dans une langue qu’il comprend, vous parlez à sa tête. Si vous lui parlez dans sa langue, vous parlez à son cœur."
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."
NELSON MANDELA.
The ability to speak, listen, read, and write in a foreign language is a wonderful skill.
We find that children are keen to engage in French learning as they aren’t as self-conscious as adults. Children are generally much more proficient than their parents as they gain a French accent and know many keywords.
At CCCS, all boys take French from Reception to Year 8. All lessons are taught by French language specialists. The youngest learners are introduced to the language through games and songs. As they progress through the school, boys develop a more thorough and academic understanding of French grammar and vocabulary. In Years 7 and 8, in order to prepare more effectively for their Common Entrance and other exams, boys are set in French according to their linguistic ability.
At CCCS, all boys take French from Reception to Year 8. All lessons are taught by French language specialists. The youngest learners are introduced to the language through games and songs. As they progress through the school, boys develop a more thorough and academic understanding of French grammar and vocabulary. In Years 7 and 8, in order to prepare more effectively for their Common Entrance and other exams, boys are set in French according to their linguistic ability.
Our French teachers work closely with other Departments so that cross-curricular projects are engaging. French Christmas carols, French Drama Workshops, the Solar System revised in French, The Bayeux Tapestry illustrated in History, to name a few.
As well as using French during lessons, boys take part in our whole-school French challenges, watch French Drama shows and enjoy our French themed days. We provide opportunities for the boys to speak in French. It isn’t rare to overhear French conversations in the corridors.
We organise local trips for the boys to order food in French at a 'café or a 'fromagerie' or hear French stories in the Story Museum. We also arrange an annual trip to France. The boys had a fantastic time in Normandy last year and are looking forward to going again this summer.
Some boys come to CCCS already fluent, at least orally, in French. We do extension work with them to ensure they receive the advanced teaching they require. Equally, for boys with specific learning difficulties, we work with the Special Educational Needs staff to provide the individual help these boys need to progress. Our philosophy is simple: all boys gain from learning languages, whatever their level, and all boys should be given the chance to fulfil their potential in French.
PRESS PLAY TO WATCH YEAR 6 VIDEO IN FRENCH