Bridging the gap between an A* at GCSE and making a sound start at A-Level :
>> Arrange a visit to a French-speaking country early on to boost your oral fluency. Save some money for it and plan it (for the summer after your GCSEs or October half-term, and any holiday after that).
>> Arrange a visit to a French-speaking country early on to boost your oral fluency. Save some money for it and plan it (for the summer after your GCSEs or October half-term, and any holiday after that).
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Make the most of a touristic holiday by doing the following :
Back at home... >> Read about current affairs, in English as well! The biggest difference students find generally between GCSE and A-Level French is the level of oral fluency needed. You will be required to discuss contemporary society issues which are very different from GCSE topics such as « your school » or « your holidays ». For example, you will have to discuss the impact of new technologies on social relationships, whether cannabis should be legalised or what the responsibilities of young people are in society. >> Switch all your electronic devices (mobile phone, ipad/tablets, ipod/mp3, PS/X-Box, laptop, Fb page,Kindle, email, etc) to default language FRENCH . It may be a bit fiddly at first but you will soon get used toit ! >> Watch French movies with subtitles (recommended list by genres here) >> Cook your cakes and biscuits following French recipes >> Check the results of sports events on French websites instead of English ones >> Read the A-level vocabulary lists to familiarise yourself with what you will have to learn over the 2-year course. Reflect on the words and ideas you most often need to use in life. Can you express these in French ? >> To revise verb tables, find mp3 downloads or apps to make it more fun. >> Buy a few essential resources, ready for September :
In lessons :
- When you have had to say something and you didn’t know a word, and the teacher helps you, write it down as soon as you are finished speaking, otherwise you’ll forget Ask for the spelling if needed. - Note down ideas on the topic under discussion (will be useful for the orals). Keep notes in different sections according to topics. - Jot down any idea for further research that you may wish to undertake in your private study (for example, you may want to find out a bit more about that singer we read the biography of, or may wish to listen to one of their songs on line ; or find out about a town, a museum, etc) - Make clear grammar notes (explanation in your own words, or reminders to check some things you may be unsure about, etc). >> Ask any questions in French, give any explanation in French. For example, why you are late, why you are tired, what you found difficult in the prep, the fact that you need to go to an appointment anything, in French ! When you communicate with your teachers by email, write in French. >> Contribute your own views on the topics discussed. Lessons are the only opportunity in the term time for you to develop your oral fluency and your accent. Also, when you speak, it helps you shape your thoughts and form an opinion. >> Make the Language block a French-speaking zone only. Speak French at every opportunity. Try and have lunch speaking in French with people from your class or French-speaking people from the school. Private study : >> Listen to French radio while getting ready in the morning >> Always keep your file well organised : file away all loose sheets, copy notes taken in class neatly if necessary. >> Go over assessed work and make sure you understand where you lost marks and what mistakes you made. Make a list of mistakes made and try and use corrected versions in future prep. >> After having completed Listening tasks in class or for preps, listen to the audio files again. Most of them are on the system. Alternatively, ask your teacher for the links, and if possible for the scripts. >> Read up grammar rules in textbooks. Don’t wait for teachers to tell you to do this. This should be ongoing independent study. >> When looking up words, use a traditional hardback dictionary (Collins for example) and write down family of words, not just the word you are looking for. When looking up a verb, also look up the noun derived from it (eg : partir / le départ) ; when looking up a noun, look up the adjective derived from it (eg : la tradition / traditionnel). Also write down idiomatic expressions linked to that particular word, if any.Eg : coûter / le coût / coûteux / le coût de la vie >> Revise GCSE vocabulary regularly (Malvern Book) as well as A-Level topic specific vocabulary. Learn over breakfast/before going to sleep. Write them on post-its and put on the walls in your bedroom, your planner, etc. Aim to learn 20 words a day. >> Read French magazines on-line like Geo-Ados, Paris Match, or Phosphore. Record some useful words and expressions. >> Listen to the French news on France Info regularly. Do not be put off if it seems very fast : the bulletins are repeated regularly. Listen with transcripts if they are available. >> Research people, places, monuments, museums, festivals, etc mentioned in class to develop your knowledge of contemporary French society. You don’t have to do in-depth research, but just write 10 lines, in simple French (even bullet points), with a couple of photos to illustrate. Then file this away in your « Culture » folder or section of your file. >> Watch French films with English (or better French) subtitles. You can borrow some for the MFL Dept.Get your friends round and make it a social event. >> Borrow books from the library. You can start with books you know the story of (e.g : Bridget Jones Diary or Harry Potter). >> Plan your visits to a French speaking country for the holidays. Go out and meet young people whilst youare there and you will make huge progress speaking. Try and stay with a host family. >> Better still, try and organise a holiday job or work experience in a French speaking country. Linguistic progress guaranteed, and a great thing to put in your UCAS and/or CV.www.workexperienceabroad.co.uk >> Learn on the go! If you are lucky enough to have a smart phone that can have Apps, download all the free "lite" versions of French Apps that you can find. They will be useful to practise vocabulary and some even offer exam-style reading comprehension questions. |