French Through Film (Elective)

A man who is ignorant of foreign languages is ignorant of his own. Johann Goethe

Overview

Many French learners already know that watching movies is one of the best and most enjoyable ways to learn through immersion. Through the study of French film, students will enhance their language skills and further appreciate French culture. Films are authentic materials that expose students to the real language used by native speakers in daily life. They are also a great source of social, cultural and civilizational information.

Students intending to continue French in Year 11 must undertake two units of French in Year 10.

Aims

• Studetns will improve listening skills through films viewed and topics discussed
• Students will improve conversation skills through films viewed and topics discussed
• Students become familiar with diverse accents and speaking patterns of various regions of France and French-speaking countries
• Students learn common gestures and facial expressions used in communication
• Students develop more confidence in speaking skills through conversations generated by films viewed and topics discussed
• Students practice written expression via worksheets and projects
• Students will broaden vocabulary while learning new idiomatic and/or slang expressions and understanding the context in which they may be used
• Students review major grammar points as observed being used in context and put them into practice
• Students acquire a greater understanding of the history of film in general and the history of French film in particular
• Students acquire a greater understanding of the French historical, social and cultural context which constitute the background of the films studied

Topics Include

Films will be carefully selected based on a number of factors:

• Appropriate language level
• Appropriate content for the age range of the students
• Simulating content

Here are some examples of films which maybe covered during the unit of study:

• Le petit prince
• Ratatouille
• The 100 Foot Jouney and 
• Le Petit Nicolas

Time Allocation

• 4 periods per cycle

Prerequisites

• Recommended prior study: Year 9 French
• For students who have not taken French in Year 9: Teaching and learning will support and cater for mixed abilities.

Requirements

• Booklist Items
• Levy Cost

Assessment

• Writing, listening, speaking, reading comprehension and cultural knowledge and understanding tasks
• Classroom tasks, projects and activities (workbook/film review)
• Vocabulary tests
• Topic Test

“The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other.” That is why it was called Babel – because there the Lord confused the language of the whole world. From there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth.” Genesis 11:6-7, 9