French

French at Southfield School is about helping each student to become more confident, more creative, more globally aware, and, of course, more fluent in what is arguably the world’s most beautiful language. 

Our curriculum gradually introduces new vocabulary and grammar to enable students to fully express themselves and to expand their knowledge not only of French, but of the workings of language itself. Students learn through relevant and stimulating topics with real life application and a strong dose of Francophone culture, supported by myriad online resources and opportunities within and outside of the classroom. Whether it’s discussing their opinions on the secularism of French society at Key Stage 3, suggesting solutions to global problems such as climate change in Key Stage 4, or watching Mathieu Kassovitz’s La Haine

 in Key Stage 5, French offers something for everyone. By the end of their journey students will leave as more confident, well-rounded individuals with strong communication and interpersonal skills, a thorough understanding of grammar and how languages work, and a broad knowledge of the Francophone world. 

KS3-4 Pathways (Southfield) GCSE French (AQA)
KS4-5 Pathways (Southfield) A Level French (AQA)
KS5- Higher & Further Education
Pathways		 BA French, BA Modern Languages, BA International Relations, LLB Law, BA Politics, BA Philosophy, BA History, BA English literature, BA Journalism, BA/BSc Business and Management, BA Marketing, BA/BSc Economics, BA Education studies, BA classics. All of the above subjects can also be combined into a joint honours degree with French, as well as other combinations such as Life Sciences with French, or even the BASc at UCL: their Arts and Sciences degree which can include a year abroad.
Careers  Translation, interpreting, law, business, finance, politics, medicine, teaching, national security, civil service, diplomacy, immigration, United Nations, sales and marketing, PR, copywriting, journalism, product support, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, international aid, travel and holiday sector, media, human resources
KS4 Specification links 

http://aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658/specification-at-a-glance

AQA | GCSE | French | Specification at a glance -(exams from June 2026)
KS5 Specification links

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/as-and-a-level/french-7652/specification-at-a-glance
Year 7

Unit 1 - Back to school

Key questions/concepts

  • Alphabet, numbers, greetings/ French pronunciation

  • Siblings, ages/ using "avoir", understanding pronouns

  • Classroom description, opinions & reasons/ using articles & connectives, understanding -er verbs

  • Description of self and others/ adjectival agreement & qualifiers, understanding gender

  • Activities/ using infinitives of -er verbs, introduction of possessive pronouns

Timeframe

  • September - December

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Noun The name of a thing, such as an object, a place, or a person (tree, book, idea, etc...)
Pronoun A word that can be used in place of nouns (I, he, they etc...)
Article A word that defines a noun (a/the)
Adjective A word naming an attribute of a noun (small, yellow, smart, etc...)
Verb A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence (eat, think, be, etc...)

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Primary
  • Languages Online: Français - Primary
  • BBC Bitesize: French - KS3 French
  • The Fables - La Fontaine
  • The Little Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

 

Unit 2 - In the classroom

Key questions/concepts

  • Colours and shapes

  • Saying the time/ using "il est"

  • School subjects & school uniform/ adjective syntax, using "c'est"

  • School day routine/ conjugating -er verbs

  • School description/ developing reading comprehension skills

Timeframe

  • January - April

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Gender Whether a word is masculine or feminine in the French language
Connective A word or phrase linking other linguistic units (and, or, but, etc...)
Agreement Changing the ending of a word to show its gender and/or number (ie: adding an -s at the end of a noun if it is in the plural form)
Infinitive The basic and unchanged form of a verb (e.g. to do)
Conjugating Changing the basic form of a verb so it matches the person or tense e.g. adding -ed at the end of a verb in English to show it is in the past tense)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Primary
  • Languages Online: Français - Primary
  • BBC Bitesize: French - KS3 French
  • Miss Charity - Marie-Aude Murail
  • Catherine Certitude - Modiano & Sempé

 

Unit 3 - My free time

Key questions/concepts

  • French speaking countries, weather and seasons

  • Sports/ using preposition with "jouer"

  • Other leisure activities/ using "faire", understanding other prepositions

  • Favourite activities/ developing reading skills in longer texts

  • Asking questions/ understanding use of intonation in the interrogative form

Timeframe

  • May - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Cognate A word which looks and means the same in both languages
Preposition A word either preceding or following another word to link its meaning to the rest of the sentence (up, down, into, etc...)
Irregular verb A verb which doesn't follow the usual pattern of endings 
Intensifier A word used in front of an adjective to give more precision (very, too, quite, etc...)
False-friend A word which looks the same in both languages but has a different meaning in each language

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Primary
  • Languages Online: Français - Primary
  • BBC Bitesize: French - KS3 French
  • The Eye of the Wolf - Daniel Pennac
  • Weird and Amazing Facts about French History and Culture - George Kennedy
Year 8

Unit 1 - Family life

Key questions/concepts

  • Talking about animals/using higher numbers

  • Describing your family and where you live

  • Describing where you live

  • Talking about breakfast

  • Learning about Bastille Day/ creating a cartoon family

Timeframe

  • September - December

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Description Giving information about something without including opinions
Possessive  Adjectives A describing word which clarifies ownership of a noun
Plural pronoun A word which replaces a plural noun
Partitive article Words which express a part of something e.g. some. Can also translate as of/from in French
Partitive article Using and substituting words to create texts of your own

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Beginner
  • Languages Online: Français - First Year
  • BBC Bitesize: French - KS3 French
  • Build your vocabulary on https://www.french-games.net/ Select the section for “beginners” and work through the following topics: animals, family, home
  • Nicholas - Goscinny & Sempé

 

Unit 2 - In town

Key questions/concepts

  • Talking about places in town or village

  • Saying where you go at the weekend

  • Inviting someone out/ordering drinks and snacks

  • Saying what you are going to do

  • Talking about plans for a special weekend

Timeframe

  • January - April

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Near future tense Saying what you are going to do
Irregular verb A verb which doesn't follow the usual pattern of endings 
Modal verb A verb that is followed by an infinitive e.g. vouloir (to want)
Informal Using tu to address someone you know well e.g. a friend
Formal Using vous to address someone you don't know or to be polite e.g. a stranger, your boss

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Beginner
  • Languages Online: Français - First Year
  • BBC Bitesize: French - KS3 French
  • Build your vocabulary on https://www.french-games.net/ Select the section for “beginners” and work through the following topics: numbers, places, food
  • Piglettes - Clémentine Beauvais

 

Unit 3 - Holidays

Key questions/concepts

  • Saying what you did during the holidays

  • Describing a visit to a theme park

  • Saying where you went and how

  • Using the negative in the perfect tense

  • Asking and answering questions about a trip

Timeframe

  • May - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Perfect tense The past tense used for a finished action e.g. I ate, I have gone
Auxiliary verb A helper verb used to form the past tense. This is always a conjugation of avoir or être
Past participle A verb that has been put into the past tense e.g. ate (mangé), chose (choisi)
Past participle agreement If être is used in the past tense, the past participle must agree with the subject: adding an e for feminine and an s for plural
Irregular past participle A past participle which doesn't follow the normal rules e.g. fait (from faire)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Beginner
  • Languages Online: Français - First Year
  • Emergency numbers in France: https://www.france24.com/en/travel
  • Build your vocabulary on https://www.french-games.net/ Select the section for “beginners” and work through the following topics: holiday, world
  • Dog - Daniel Pennac
Year 9

Unit 1 - Festivities

Key questions/concepts

  • Festivals and Celebrations

  • Giving extended opinions

  • Transactional language

  • Traditional French dishes

  • Christmas and New Year

Timeframe

  • September - October

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Present tense A tense used to describe an action that is currently going on, or a habitual ongoing action
Near future tense A tense used to descibe an action that is going to happen in the future
Infinitive The basic and unchanged form of a verb, begins in English with 'to...' eg. 'to listen'
Opinion verbs Verbs which describe an opinion towards something, eg. to love/to like/to hate
Justifications Extended answers which give a reason for something, often used in conjunction with opinions, eg. 'I love reading because...'

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Beginner
  • Languages Online: Français - Second Year
  • BBC Bitesize: French - KS3 French
  • Build your vocabulary on https://www.french-games.net/ Select the section for intermediate + sentences and work through the following topics: food
  • Asterix The Gaul - Goscinny & Uderzo

 

Unit 1 - Hobbies

Key questions/concepts

  • Digital technology

  • Going to the cinema

  • Free-time and leisure activities

  • Shopping activities

  • Using three tenses together

Timeframe

  • November - December

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Regular present tense verbs Verbs which follow a set pattern in the present tense
Irregular present tense verbs Verbs which do not follow a set pattern in the present tense
Perfect tense The past tense used for a finished action e.g. I ate, I have gone
Adjective agreement Adjective endings which change according to whether who or what they are describing is masculine, feminine or plural
Negative sentences Sentences which describe something that does not happen eg. I do not play football

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Beginner
  • Languages Online: Français - Second Year
  • BBC Bitesize: French - KS3 French
  • Build your vocabulary on https://www.french-games.net/  Select the section for intermediate + sentences and work through the following topics: time, hobbies, sports
  • School Blues - Daniel Pennac

 

Unit 3 - Where I live

Key questions/concepts

  • Describing where you live

  • Household chores

  • Daily routine

  • Moving house

  • Describing a region in different tenses

Timeframe

  • January - March

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Modal verbs Verbs which are usually followed by an infinitive eg. pouvoir and devoir
Reflexive verbs A verb which has an extra reflexive pronoun in front of the verb
Reflexive pronouns An extra pronoun used with reflexive verbs ie. me, te, se etc. to show the action comes back to the person
Irregular adjectives Adjectives which do not follow a set pattern with their gender agreements
Gender All nouns in French have a gender - either masculine or feminine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Beginner
  • Languages Online: Français - Second Year
  • BBC Bitesize: French - KS3 French
  • Build your vocabulary on https://www.french-games.net/  Select the section for intermediate + sentences and work through the following topics: home, places
  • Around the world in 80 days - Jules Verne

 

Unit 4 - Sports

Key questions/concepts

  • Giving opinions about sports

  • Asking the way and giving directions

  • Giving advice

  • Talking about injuries and illness

  • Asking and answering questions in three tenses

Timeframe

  • April - May

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Comparative Comparing two things e.g. something is better than something else
Superlative Describing something as the best or worst in a certain quality e.g. the tallest
Imperative A verb form used to give instructions or orders
Interrogative A question word e.g. what, who, why
Intonation The tone of your voice e.g. high or low pitch

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Beginner
  • Languages Online: Français - Second Year
  • BBC Bitesize: French - KS3 French
  • Discover France's most famous football team: Paris Saint-Germain here: https://en.psg.fr/
  • The Misanthrope, Tartuffe, and Other Plays - Molière (translated by Slater)

 

Unit 5 - GCSE Transition

Key questions/concepts

  • GCSE skills

  • Grammar review

  • Cultural knowledge

  • Film studies

  • Relationships & future plans

Timeframe

  • June - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Setting Location and time something takes place
Atmosphere The feelings created by the scene, influenced by things such as lighting, music, camera angles, action
Motif An idea repeated throughout a piece of work
Context The setting or events that have happened which make sense of the situation
Moral The message a story is trying to transmit

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle KS3 Revision
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Lower Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • BBC Bitesize: French - GCSE French - AQA - Grammar
  • Les Choristes (film)
Year 10

Unit 1 - Me, my family and friends

Key questions/concepts

  • Personality

  • Family

  • Friends

  • Relationships

  • Marriage

Timeframe

  • September - October

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Reflexive verbs A verb which has an extra reflexive pronoun in front of the verb
Reflexive pronouns An extra pronoun used with reflexive verbs ie. me, te, se etc. to show the action comes back to the person
Immediate and simple future tense Immediate uses aller + infinitive, simple uses infinitive plus endings
Comparative & Superlative To make comparisons and to express "the most"
Adjectives Describing words that need to agree with the noun

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle Unit 1 & BBC Bitesize GCSE French Me, my family and friends
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Lower Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • La Famille Bélier (film)
  • Pardon my French - Charles Timoney

 

Unit 2 - Technology in everyday life

Key questions/concepts

  • Communicating online

  • Social media

  • Advantages & Disadvantages of technology

  • Uses of technology

Timeframe

  • November - December

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Interrogative adjectives "Quel" meaning which or what
Impersonal structures Use "il" as the subject pronoun eg. il faut, il est possible de
Subjunctive Specifically used after certain structures eg. bien que, il faut que
Pronouns Denotes the subject of the sentence
Direct & Indirect pronouns Used to replace nouns or to avoid repeating a noun

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle Unit 2 & BBC Bitesize GCSE French Technology in everyday life
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Lower Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • https://www.caminteresse.fr/ Complete the quiz twice a month 
  • All the light we cannot see - Anthony Doer

 

Unit 3 - Freetime activities

Key questions/concepts

  • Freetime activities

  • Music

  • Hobbies

  • Food

  • Sport

Timeframe

  • January - February

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Infinitive The basic and unchanged form of a verb, begins in English with 'to...' eg. 'to listen'
Demonstrative pronouns Meaning "it", "that", "those" 
Complex negatives Alternatives to "ne...pas", e.g. "ne... jamais" (never)
Emphatic pronouns Used for emphasis, after a preposition and/or comparative e.g. moi
Imperfect tense To describe what something used to be like, or an event that regularly took place in the past or lasted a long period of time e.g. it was cold

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle Unit 3 & BBC Bitesize GCSE French Free time activities + Food and eating out
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Lower Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • How the French New Wave changed the cinema https://nofilmschool.com/2016/09/french-new-wave-video-essay-godard
  • A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

 

Unit 4 - Customs and Festivals

Key questions/concepts

  • Celebrations

  • Festivals

  • Celebrations abroad

Timeframe

  • March - April

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Perfect reflexive tense Reflexive verbs in the past tense. They all use etre as the auxiliary
Perfect infinitive The infinitive of avoir or etre + past participle, meaning "having done something"
Agreement Endings required on adjectives and certain past participles according to the subject
Possessive adjectives Denoting ownership
Perfect tense The past tense used for a finished action e.g. I ate, I have gone

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle Unit 4 & BBC Bitesize GCSE French Customs and festivals
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Lower Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • Coco (film)
  • French Stories: A Dual-Language Book - Wallace Fowlie

 

Unit 5 - Home, town, neighbourhood and region

Key questions/concepts

  • Describing a home

  • Chores

  • Surroundings

  • Types of accomodation

  • Town description and activities

Timeframe

  • May - June

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Partitive article Words which express a part of something e.g. some. Can also translate as of/from in French
Conditional tense Used where we say "would" in English
Demonstrative adjectives Used to say "this", "that", "these", "those"
Prepositions To express where a noun is in relation to another
Possessive pronouns To express ownership

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle Unit 5 & BBC Bitesize GCSE French Home, town and shopping
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Lower Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • Read about the history of Paris Catacombs https://www.catacombes.paris.fr/en/history/site-history 
  • Short Stories in French for Beginners - Olly Richards, Richard Simcott

 

Unit 6 - Social issues

Key questions/concepts

  • Charities

  • Voluntary work

  • Eating habits

  • Staying healthy

Timeframe

  • June - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Present participle An ongoing action, ends in "-ing" in English
Pluperfect tense Refers to events having happened further back than the perfect or imperfect e.g. I had gone
Modal verbs Usually followed by an infinitive, "devoir", "pouvoir", "vouloir"
Imperative A verb form used to give instructions or orders
Expressions of quantity Expressions mostly followed by "de" e.g. beaucoup de

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle Unit 6 & BBC Bitesize GCSE French Social and global issues
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Lower Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • Find out about the French charity “Les restos du Coeur” https://www.restosducoeur.org/ 
  • Paroles - Jacques Prévert
Year 11

Unit 1 - Global issues

Key questions/concepts

  • Environmental problems and solutions

  • Global Issues

  • Inequality

  • World poverty

Timeframe

  • September - October

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Si clauses Used with present + future to express possibility, with "si" meaning if
Verbs of possibilty Suggest solutions to problems e.g. on peut
Subjunctive Specifically used after certain structures eg. bien que, il faut que
Pluperfect tense Refers to events having happened further back than the perfect or imperfect e.g. I had gone
Replacement pronouns The use of "en" and "y" to replace "de" and "à"

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle Unit 7 & BBC Bitesize GCSE French Social and global issues
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • Discover the French eco charity Les Amis de la Terre: https://www.amisdelaterre.org/
  • Calligrammes - Apollinaire

 

Unit 2 - Travel and tourism

Key questions/concepts

  • Holiday preferences and descriptions

  • Visiting different places in France

  • Visiting French towns and cities

Timeframe

  • November - December

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Sequencing words Used to narrate events and avoid lists of actions
Time frames Used to introduce tenses
Depuis To say how long you've been doing something, usually translates as since or for

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle Unit 8 & BBC Bitesize GCSE French Travel and tourism
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • Discover Lyon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mDwqkC-y7Y
  • L'Orpheline de Perdide - Stefan Wul

 

Unit 3 - My studies

Key questions/concepts

  • School day

  • School life in different countries

  • School rules and uniform

  • Ideal school

Timeframe

  • January - February

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Adverbs Used with a verb to express how, when, where or to what extent something happens e.g. quickly
Emphatic pronouns Used for emphasis, after a preposition and/or comparative e.g. moi
Impersonal structures Using "il" as the subject pronoun eg. il faut, il est possible de

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle Unit 9 & 10 & BBC Bitesize GCSE French Current and future studies
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • The French School System https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUcL-2zSTT4
  • Le Petit Prince - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

 

Unit 4 - Education post-16

Key questions/concepts

  • Future options

  • University and apprenticeships

Timeframe

  • March - April

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Faux amis Words that look like cognates, but have a completly different meaning

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 5 - Jobs and careers

Key questions/concepts

  • How to get a job

  • Advantages and disadvantages of jobs

Timeframe

  • April - May

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Passive Used to say what is done to someone/something e.g. he is helped

 

 

Wider reading

  • Kerboodle Unit 12 & BBC Bitesize GCSE French Jobs, career choices and ambitions
  • Language Gym: Game Room - French - (Select Game) - Intermediate
  • Languages Online: Français - Grammar
  • Les Intouchables (film)
  • Harry Potter à l'école des sorciers - J K Rowling (French edition)
Year 12

Unit 1 - La famille en voie de changement

Key questions/concepts

  • Trends in marriage and other forms of partnership

  • Merits of different family structures

  • Problems of different family structures

  • Relationships between different generations

  • Intergenerational problems

Timeframe

  • September - November

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Past historic tense A past tense used only in literary or very formal writing
Civil partnership A legally recognised union with rights similar to marriage, but without religious connotations
Cohabitation Living together with someone
Blended family A family which combines children from previous relationships
Autonomous Having the freedom to make your own decisions independent of others

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 2 - La cyber-société

Key questions/concepts

  • How has technology transformed every day life?

  • How technology benefits society

  • The dangers of technology

  • Different users of technology

  • Possible future developments in technology

Timeframe

  • November - January

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
To facilitate To enable someone/something to do something more easily
Technophile A lover of technology
Technophobe Someone who finds technology very difficult or avoids using it
Phishing A cyber attack which tricks people into revealing sensitive information, usually through a fraudulent email
To monitor To keep an eye on something

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 3 - Le role du bénévolat

Key questions/concepts

  • Voluntary sector in France

  • The range of volunteering work available

  • The benefits of volunteering for those who are helped

  • What type of people volunteer in France and why?

  • Benefits of volunteering for society

Timeframe

  • January - March

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Altruism Being selfless; doing something for others without expecting reward
Altruism Something useful or valuable
Misery State of extreme poverty
NGO Non-governmental organisation, usually a charity
Civic service Helping a community for minimal or no money

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 4 - Une culture fière de son patrimoine

Key questions/concepts

  • What is heritage?

  • How is heritage preserved in France?

  • How do heritage sites market themselves?

  • How heritage impacts society

  • How culture guides heritage in society

Timeframe

  • September - November

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
To enthral To capture someone's attention in an intense way
Heritage Something created in the past that forms part of the culture of a society
Conservation Keeping something the same by protecting it from damage
Restoration Returning something to its former condition or a former owner
To enrich Improve the quality of something

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 5 - La musique francophone contemporaine

Key questions/concepts

  • The popularity of contemporary francophone music

  • The diversity of genre and style in francophone music

  • Who listens to contemporary francophone music?

  • Threats to contemporary francophone music

  • How francophone music can be safeguarded

Timeframe

  • November - January

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
To distinguish To perceive differences
To foresee To be aware of in advance
To evolve To change or develop, usually in a good way
Tribute An act or piece of work designed to show admiration or gratitude
Innovation A new development or idea

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 6 - Le septième art

Key questions/concepts

  • Variety of French cinema

  • La Nouvelle Vague

  • Famous French film directors

  • Evolution of French cinema

  • French cinema today and film festivals

Timeframe

  • January - March

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Ambiguous Something that could have several meanings
To attain To manage to achieve
Captivating Something which captures someone's attention
Intriguing Something that arouses curiosity or interest
Extent Amount or reach

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 7 - Les aspects positifs d'une société diverse

Key questions/concepts

  • What is diversity?

  • Benefits of living in an ethnically diverse society

  • LGBTQ+ in France

  • The need for tolerance and respect of diversity

  • How to promote diversity

Timeframe

  • April - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Integration Becoming a part of something
Asylum Protection granted to someone who has had to leave their own country because of a dangerous situation
Inevitable Something that can't be stopped from happening
To interact To communicate with something or someone
Abnormal Something which isn't normal

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 8 - L'Etranger

Key questions/concepts

  • Background to the novel and Albert Camus

  • In-depth study of the storyline and writing

  • Themes of the novel

  • Characters of the novel

  • Essay writing

Timeframe

  • April - July

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Absurdism The philosophical belief that life has no meaning and that this is something to embrace or revolt against
Existentialism The philosophical belief that life has no meaning, but that we as humans can create our own
Motif An idea repeated throughout a piece of work
Moral The message a story is trying to transmit
Martyr Someone who dies for a particular cause

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Modern Languages Study Guides: L'Etranger - Hélène Beaugy
  • Existentialism: A Very Short Introduction - Thomas Flynn
  • L'existentialisme est un humanisme - Jean-Paul Sartre
  • Le mythe de Sisyphe - Albert Camus
  • La Peste - Albert Camus
Year 13

Unit 1 - No et moi

Key questions/concepts

  • Background to the novel and its issues

  • In-depth study of aspects of the storyline and writing

  • Themes of the novel

  • Characters of the novel

  • Essay writing

Timeframe

  • September - December

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Linear structure When the events of a story take place in the order they happened
Flashback Looking back at an event that happened in the past, and which usually has a bearing on the present
Vicious cycle A cycle of events from which it's difficult to escape
High functioning Able to act in a way expected from society, despite personal difficulties
Autism A condition that can include challenges with social skills and communication, and obsessive knowledge of certain things

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

  • Modern Languages Study Guides: No et moi - Karine Harrington
  • Idées reçues sur les SDF: regard sur une réalité complexe - Thibaut Besozzi
  • Rien ne s'oppose à la nuit - Delphine de Vigan
  • Je tape la manche - Jean-Marie Roughol
  • Les Restos du Coeur: https://www.restosducoeur.org/

 

Unit 2 - Quelle vie pour les marginalisés?

Key questions/concepts

  • What is marginalisation?

  • Who is marginalised in France?

  • Why are people marginalised?

  • How can we help them?

  • What attitudes do people have towards the marginalised?

Timeframe

  • December - February

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Underprivileged Not having the same standard of living as most other people
Destitute Extremely poor and unable to look after oneself
Ethnic A group of people of a particular race
Marginalised Not part of the main group and treated as if they're not important
Redundancy When your job is no longer required

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 3 - Comment on traite les criminels

Key questions/concepts

  • How much crime is there in France?

  • Different attitudes to crime

  • Merits of prison

  • Problems caused by prison

  • Alternative forms of punishment

Timeframe

  • February - May

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
To abolish To get rid of or stop something
Acquittal When someone is found not guilty of the crime they were charged with
Violation Failing to follow a rule or agreement, treating something or someone with disrespect
Perpetrator The person who has committed a crime
Bail Releasing an accused person awaiting trial. Sometimes money has to be given to do this to ensure they appear in court

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 4 - Les ados, le droit de vote et l'engagement politique

Key questions/concepts

  • Arguments relating to the vote

  • The French political system and its evolution

  • Engagement of young people in politics

  • Young people's influence on politics

  • The future of politics and political engagement

Timeframe

  • September - December

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Assets A useful thing or person
Coalition A combination of different political parties working together
Committee A group of people appointed for a particular task
Democracy A political system in which the people in power are elected by the people
To dissolve To close something down

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 5 - Manifestations, grèves - à qui le pouvoir?

Key questions/concepts

  • What are unions?

  • Why are unions important?

  • Strikes and protests in France

  • Different methods of protesting

  • Attitudes towards strikes, protests and other political tensions

Timeframe

  • December - February

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Tenacity Being very tough and determined
To flout To openly go against something
Collective bargaining agreement A legal contract between an employer and a union representing employees
Subscription Paying money in advance to receive a product on a regular basis
Civil service The organisation that deals with the administration of a country

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

 

Unit 6 - La politique et l'immigration

Key questions/concepts

  • Immigration in France

  • Political issues concerning immigration in francophone countries

  • Viewpoints of political parties regarding immigration

  • Immigration from the standpoint of immigrants

  • Aspects of racism

Timeframe

  • February - May

Key vocabulary

Word/phrase Definition
Influx An arrival of a large number of people or things
To impose To force someone or a group of people to comply to something
To provoke To cause a, usually negative, reaction in someone
Census An official survey of a population
Refugee Someone who has been forced to leave their country

 

 

 

 

 

Wider reading

Back to Academic Curriculum

Admissions

Access our current admissions information

Examinations

Details on forthcoming exams

Professional Learning Hub

Collaborative staff development
Sixth Form
Academic Curriculum
Video
Explore our school...