FRENCH

French has been taught at Frensham since its foundation close to a century ago, and the study of French continues to flourish.

In Year 7, students study French four times per week throughout the year, offering continuity to students arriving in Year 7 who having completed several years of French, alongside girls for whom this is their first experience of learning a foreign language. Effort is made to provide for the range of individual needs in our approach to each student's acquisition of language skills.

From the outset, emphasis is on the development of a student's Speaking and Listening skills, encouraging the use of language in realistic situations as the pathway to acquisition of Reading and Writing skills. Students are also introduced to aspects of contemporary metropolitan France, its culture and geography, and to the place of French language and history throughout the world.

Students are encouraged to use language that is relevant to their life experience through study of such topics as families, pets, hobbies, school and friends. Cooperative learning is stimulated through pair work, group activities, role-plays and whole-group projects. The range and scope of activities are designed to meet the needs of a multi ability classroom; the exercise of learning a foreign language is meant to be fun - an integral part of the Frensham language-learning method.

In Year 8 students may continue studying French or choose Japanese instead and, at the end of Year 8, elect to study a language for the next two years. At the end of Year 10 a majority of students elect to continue their studies of language into the Senior Years to HSC level, where small classes, individual attention and richness of experience characterise the programme and approach.

In Years 11 and 12 students have the opportunity to refine and develop their skills, reaching a stage, especially in the Extension course, where they can comprehend virtually all they hear, and can respond fluently and accurately both verbally or in writing at a level of sophistication roughly commensurate with their conversational English.

The current French language syllabus offers new goals and opportunities more relevant than ever to today's young people. In Australia's multi-cultural society, it has never been more worthwhile to take up the chance to learn what is - after English - the world's most popular second language!