At Glengarry Primary School, we believe that the learning of a Language Other Than English will enhance the development of students as individuals and also as members of the wider community of multi-cultural Australia. The students will also develop a deeper understanding of their own language and gain a more meaningful understanding of the similarities and differences between different cultures and languages.

At Glengarry Primary School all students get the opportunity learn French. Students learn French in years 3 to 7and some students do so earlier.

We believe that we learn a L.O.T.E. in order to be able to communicate in that language. Lots of communication during French lessons takes place as oral language. We hold conversations, sing songs, listen to authentic language, watch videos, conduct oral surveys, read books, take part in role plays, play games and encourage talk in French during most of the lesson by both teacher and students.

The children also learn to read and write in French. Early writing in French is typically phonetic in nature. The students try to write how they hear and say the words much as they do when learning to write in English.

Students listen to, view, read and respond to many different texts. CD's, videos, a wide variety of books and as much reality as is possible are used to immerse the students in French. This year we had a French puppet play for the students to watch. Often we have a French Assistant for one day per week to help the students in their oral work as well as assist them to understand the culture of France and the French.

The children progress at different rates in their learning, some being happy to copy and practise known words, sentence structure and language forms, whilst others are launching into their own attempts at using the language, experimenting with full sentence writing and speaking, transferring language structures learnt in one situation to use them in other situations.

 

French Singing Festival

This has become an annual event for the year 3 & 4 students. It's held at Perth Modern School. The event is organised by the Teachers of French Association (T.O.F.A). Our students join students from 14 other schools throughout Western Australia to sing songs and celebrate their newly learned French skills..