French

French is taught by Aberlour House teachers in Years 4 and 5, with the emphasis on learning vocabulary, enjoyment and on communicating through oral work, so that students acquire the correct sounds.

From Year 6, French is taught by language specialists from Gordonstoun. While continuing to emphasise oral and listening work, more time is spent progressively on understanding grammar, on reading texts and on writing correctly. The aim is for a smooth transition through Aberlour House into the French classes in the senior school.

Year 4

Basic personal information
Days of the week, months of the year, times.
Numbers
Family and Pets
Weather

The emphasis is on oral work to learn vocabulary, using games and songs to re-enforce new concepts.
Worksheets are used for consolidation and differentiation

Year 5

Revision of basic personal information
Days of the week, months of the year, times.
Numbers up to 100
Revision of family and pets
Weather
Sports
Colours
The Body

The emphasis is still on oral work, using games and songs to re-enforce new concepts.
Worksheets are used for consolidation and differentiation

Year 6

The vocabulary covered in Years 4 and 5 is re-enforced to allow students who have just joined the school to learn the basic words learned in Years 4 and 5.

Also covered are

Seasons
Genders of nouns (le / la un / une)
How adjectives change
Classroom vocabulary
School subjects
Expressing basic opinions
Telling the time

More emphasis is now placed on the spelling of words and understanding why words change their spelling.

Year 7

A textbook is now used so that the senior Aberlour curriculum meshes with the work covered in Gordonstoun. At present, the course is based around "Equipe Nouvelle 1".

The first part of the year is spent re-enforcing the work covered in previous years so that the many students who enter Aberlour in Year 7 can acquire a basic knowledge of French quickly to join with the others.

While the emphasis is still on enjoyment, on communication and on using a variety of activities, some more serious grammar learning is undertaken, for example the declining of adjectives, understanding verb patterns in the present tense and some irregular verbs. Greater emphasis is placed on extended written work.

Extension work is carried out on the topic of school.

New topics covered include

Free time and hobbies
Food and drink
At home

Year 8

The students in Year 8 continue to use "Equipe Nouvelle 1" and then work through as much as possible of "Equipe Nouvelle 2".

The main aim is to have covered as much ground as possible so that the Aberlour students are in the highest sets possible for French in Year 9 at Gordonstoun. Students sit the CE Listening, Reading and Writing exams and have an oral exam with a member of the Godonstoun staff to assess their level on entry to the senior school.

Topics covered include