Course Outline

For our GCSE French Preparation Course

GCSE French Preparation Course Outline

The GCSE French Preparation Course is the perfect guide to succeeding in the GCSE exam. It is split into six sections:

Speaking

  • 1 introduction video providing details about this part of the GCSE exam
  • 1 tips video
  • 4 demo videos showing how to tackle each task
  • 59 speaking videos, categorised by theme and topic, providing students with answers to questions and tips to get top marks
  • Support guides with all videos, providing further notes and tips for success
  • 6 role play worksheets, 6 photocard worksheets and 8 read aloud exercises for students to practice each type of tasks
  • Answer sheets for all tasks

Reading

  • 1 introduction video providing details about this part of the GCSE exam
  • 1 tips video
  • 5 demo videos showing how to tackle various exercises
  • 60 exercises (translation from French to English, multiple choice, true/false/not mentioned, testimonials, gap fill) provided in quiz format and designed to improve and perfect students' reading comprehension
  • Support guides for all quizzes, with further notes and tips

Listening

  • 1 introduction video providing details about this part of the GCSE exam
  • 1 tips video
  • 4 demo videos showing how to tackle various exercises
  • 78 exercises (dictations, finish the sentence, positive/negative, open questions, multiple choice) provided in audio quiz format to get students used to hearing spoken French
  • Support guides for all quizzes, with further notes and tips

Writing

  • 1 introduction video providing details about this part of the GCSE exam
  • 1 tips video
  • 3 demo videos showing how to tackle each type of exercises
  • 60 exercises (translation from English into French, 90 words structured writing tasks and 150 words open-ended writing tasks) provided in quiz and worksheet format to enable students to refine their writing skills
  • Support guides and answer sheets for all exercises

Vocabulary

  • 85+ vocabulary lists organised by theme, with each word available in both written and audio form
  • Multiple choice quizzes with all lists to support students' learning

Conjugations

  • 34 conjugation lists for the most common verbs, conjugated into 6 tenses and available in both written and audio form
  • Multiple choice quizzes with all lists to support students' learning

Speaking

Learning objectives

This section will help students:

  • learn how to formulate statements, opinions, questions and answers
  • expand their vocabulary to cover a broad range of everyday conversations
  • improve their pronunciation
  • improve their conversation skills generally
  • feel confident speaking French

Demo videos

  • 1 video providing tips to prepare for this part of the GCSE exam
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle the read aloud exercise + support guide with instructions and answers
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle the photocard+unprepared questions exercise + support guide with tips and answers
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to answer some general conversation questions + support guide with tips and answers
  • 1 guided video simulating a full GCSE exam practice, including role play, read aloud and photocard description followed by a general conversation around unprepared questions + support guide with tips and answers

People and lifestyle

  • 21 general conversation videos answering the following questions:

    Identity and Relationships with others:
    Parle-moi de toi - video 1
    Parle-moi de ta famille - video 2
    Est-ce que tu t’entends bien avec ta famille ? - video 3
    Décris ton meilleur ami/ta meilleure amie - video 4
    Selon toi, quel est le plus grand problème pour les jeunes aujourd'hui ? - video 5
    Est-ce que tu voudrais te marier plus tard ? - video 6
    Est-ce que tu voudrais avoir des enfants ? - video 7

    Healthy living and lifestyle:
    Qu’est-ce que tu aimes manger ? - video 8
    Es-tu végétarien(ne) et pourquoi ? - video 9
    Qu’est-ce que tu as fait la semaine dernière pour garder la forme ? - video 10
    Est-ce que tu bois l'alcool ? Est-ce que tu fumes ? - video 11

    Education and work:

    Décris ton uniforme. Est-ce que tu aimes ton uniforme ? - video 12
    Décris-moi ton collège - video 13
    Décris une journée typique au collège - video 14
    Quelles matières est-ce que tu aimes ? Pourquoi ? - video 15
    Que penses-tu des règlements scolaires dans ton école ? - video 16
    Qu'est-ce que tu voudrais faire l'année prochaine ? - video 17
    Est-ce que tu veux aller à l'université ? Pourquoi ? Pourquoi pas ? - video 18
    Qu’est-ce que tu fais pour gagner de l’argent ? - video 19
    Quel serait ton emploi idéal ? - video 20
    Quels sont les avantages de faire un stage ? - video 21

  • 1 photocard video: Health - video 22

Popular culture

  • 18 general conversation videos answering the following questions:

    Free time activities:
    Que fais-tu normalement le weekend - video 1
    Qu’est-ce que tu as fait le week-end dernier ? - video 2
    Qu'est-ce que tu vas faire le week-end prochain ? - video 3
    Qu'est-ce que tu aimes faire pendant ton temps libre ? - video 4
    Est-ce que tu préfères sortir avec tes amis ou rester chez toi ? - video 5
    Quel genre de musique ou de film est-ce que tu préfères ? - video 6
    Quel est le dernier film que tu as vu au cinéma ? - video 7
    Est-ce que tu préfères la télévision ou le cinéma? Pourquoi ? - video 8
    Quel est ton sport préféré ? Pourquoi ? - video 9

    Customs, festivals and traditions:

    Qu’est-ce que tu as fait pour célébrer ton anniversaire ? - video 10
    Quelle est ta fête préférée ? Pourquoi ? - video 11
    Qu’est-ce que tu as fait pour célébrer Noël l’année dernière ? - video 12
    Est-ce que tu connais les traditions du carnaval dans le monde francophone ? - video 13
    Explique-moi en quoi consiste la Fête de la musique. - video 14

    Celebrity culture:
    Est-ce qu'il y a une célébrité que tu admires ? Pourquoi ? - video 15
    Que penses-tu du mode de vie d'une star ? - video 16
    À ton avis, quels sont les avantages et les inconvénients d'être célèbre ? - video 17
    Qu'est-ce que tu penses des influenceurs et pourquoi ? - video 18

  • 1 photocard video: To be famous - video 19

Communication and the world around us

  • 18 general conversation videos answering the following questions:

    Travel and tourism, including places of interest:
    Où passes-tu tes vacances ? - video 1
    Selon toi, est-ce que les vacances sont importantes ? - video 2
    Où vas-tu passer passer tes vacances cette année ? - video 3
    Quelles seraient tes vacances idéales ? - video 4
    Préfères-tu passer tes vacances en ville ou à la campagne ? Pourquoi ? - video 5
    Comment seraient tes vacances idéales ? - video 6

    Media and Technology:
    Comment est-ce que tu utilises ton portable ? - video 7
    Est-ce que tu utilises trop ton portable ? - video 8
    Quand as-tu utilisé ton portable pour la dernière fois ? - video 9
    Est-ce que tu voudrais un nouveau portable et pourquoi ? - video 10
    Quels sont les dangers du Net ? - video 11

    The environment and where people live:
    Décris-moi ta maison ou ta ville. - video 12
    Qu’est-ce que tu aimerais changer dans ta ville ? - video 13
    Qu’est-ce qu’on peut faire dans ta région ? - video 14
    Préfères-tu habiter en ville ou à la campagne ? - video 15
    Qu’est-ce que tu fais pour protéger l’environnement ? - video 16
    Quel est le plus grand problème de notre environnement ? - video 17
    Quels sont les plus grands dangers pour la planète ? - video 18

  • 1 photocard video: The holidays - video 19

Reading

Learning objectives

This section will help students:

  • familiarise themselves with important aspects of French grammar
  • get used to reading short- and medium-length texts in French
  • learn and use effective reading comprehension techniques
  • familiarise themselves with exam-style reading exercises
  • expand and enrich their vocabulary

Demo videos

  • 1 video providing tips to prepare for this part of the GCSE exam
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle a gap fill exercise + support guide
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle a true/false/not mentioned exercise + support guide
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle a multiple choice exercise + support guide
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle a testimonial exercise + support guide
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle a translation from French into English exercise + support guide

People and lifestyle

  • 4 translation exercises from French into English:

    Benoît
    - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    The dangers of smoking
    - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    High school - Topic 3 - Education and work
    Placement
    - Topic 3 - Education and work
  • 4 multiple choice exercises:

    Isabelle's family
    - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Farah's lifestyle - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    Clément's day at school - Topic 3 - Education and work
    Taking a gap year
    - Topic 3 - Education and work
  • 4 True/False/Not mentioned exercises:

    Marc's blog - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Laura's life
    - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Bruno's diet - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    The school brochure - Topic 3 - Education and work
  • 4 testimonials exercises:

    Describing friends - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Drugs and alcohol - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    A good teacher
    - Topic 3 - Education and work
    The apprenticeship - Topic 3 - Education and work
  • 4 gap fill exercises:

    Letter to Théo - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Healthy living
    - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    The computer teacher - Topic 3 - Education and work
    University life - Topic 3 - Education and work

Popular culture

  • 4 translation exercises from French into English:

    A busy weekend - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    Christmas
    - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    Bastille day - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    Life as an influencer
    - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture

  • 4 multiple choice exercises:

    Clémentine's hobbies - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    Saint-Nicolas
    - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    Alexandre's New Year's Eve
    - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    A celebrity's responsibilities - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture

  • 4 true/false/not mentioned exercises:

    Last weekend - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    The birthday party - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    July 14th - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    To be a YouTuber - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture

  • 4 testimonials exercises:

    Free time activities
    - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    Easter - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    To be a singer - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture
    Your idol
    - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture

  • 4 gap fill exercises:

    Team sport - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    The music fan
    - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    1st May - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    Self-image
    - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture

Communication and the world around us

  • 4 translation exercises from French into English:

    Holidays with friends - Topic 1 - Travel, tourism and places of interest
    My town - Topic 1 - Travel and tourism, including places of interest
    How I use my laptop - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    The environment - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
  • 4 multiple choice exercises:

    Local tourism - Topic 1 - Travel, tourism and places of interest
    Young kids and new technologies - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    Live in a house or flat?
    - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
    Helping the planet - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
  • 4 true/false/not mentioned exercises:

    My holidays as a child
    - Topic 1 - Travel, tourism and places of interest
    Advantages of new technology
    - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    A more eco-friendly region
    - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
    Letter to the mayor
    - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
  • 4 testimonials exercises:

    My ideal holiday - Topic 1 - Travel, tourism and places of interest
    Summer activities
    - Topic 1 - Travel, tourism and places of interest
    My mobile phone - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    Endangered planet
    - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
  • 4 gap fill exercises:

    My worst holidays - Topic 1 - Travel, tourism and places of interest
    The campsite
    - Topic 1 - Travel, tourism and places of interest
    Be careful online
    - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    My village - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live

Listening

Learning objectives

This section will help students:

  • get used to French intonations and pronunciation
  • familiarise themselves with words and phrases they are likely to hear in everyday speech and common topics
  • extract key information from spoken French
  • familiarise themselves with exam-style listening exercises

Demo videos

  • 1 video providing tips to prepare for this part of the GCSE exam
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle a multiple choice exercise + support guide
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle a positive/negative exercise + support guide
  • 1 guided videos demonstrating how to tackle a finish the sentence exercise + support guide
  • 1 guided videos demonstrating how to tackle an open question exercise + support guide

People and lifestyle

  • 6 dictation exercises covering all topics + support guides
  • 5 finish the sentence exercises:
    Want to have children? - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Rihanna on food - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    Health Issues - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    Ideal secondary school - Topic 3 - Education and work
    University or work
    - Topic 3 - Education and work
  • 5 positive/negative exercises:
    Blended families - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Eating less meat - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    Preferred subject - Topic 3 - Education and work
    A gap year before university - Topic 3 - Education and work
    Career choices - Topic 3 - Education and work
  • 5 open question exercises:
    Cyril on his best friend - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Chloe discusses marriage
    - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Margot's opinion on drugs and alcohol - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    A typical day at school - Topic 3 - Education and work
    Clara's internship - Topic 3 - Education and work
  • 5 multiple choice exercises:
    Pierre talks about family - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Sophie talks about her friends
    - Topic 1 - Identity and Relationships with others
    Leila on exercising
    - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    Diane on the dangers of dieting
    - Topic 2 - Healthy living and lifestyle
    Ulysse on after studies work - Topic 3 - Education and work

Popular culture

  • 6 dictation exercises covering all topics + support guides
  • 5 finish the sentence exercises:
    Favourite activities - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    Learning an instrument
    - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    Chandeleur - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    Who do you admire - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture
    My favourite celebrity - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture
  • 5 positive/negative exercises:
    Activities next weekend - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    Exercising on the weekend
    - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    La galette des rois - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    Fame
    - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture
    To be a role model - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture
  • 5 open question exercises:
    Music and films - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    Marta's New Year's Eve - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    Juliette's last Christmas - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    Émile's favourite celebrity
    - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture
    Antonia's view on fame
    - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture
  • 5 multiple choice exercises:
    Elise's activities - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    Ludo's spare time
    - Topic 1 - Free time activities
    Christmas celebrations - Topic 2 - Customs, festivals and traditions
    Élodie's favourite influencer
    - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture
    Romane's views on famous people - Topic 3 - Celebrity culture

Communication and the world around us

  • 6 dictation exercises covering all topics + support guides
  • 6 finish the sentence exercises:
    Social media discussion - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    Good practices on social media
    - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    Internet safety
    - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    Audrey's home town
    - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
    Samuel on the environment
    - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
    Carole on the biggest environmental problems
    - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
  • 5 positive/negative exercises:
    Camping experience - Topic 1 - Travel and tourism, including places of interest
    Online shopping - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    Use of smartphone - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    Nice neighbourhood?
    - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
    My region - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
  • 4 open question exercises:
    Asking directions - Topic 1 - Travel and tourism, including places of interest
    The dangers of social media
    - Topic 2 - Media and technology
    Why recycling is important - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
    Sarah on her actions to protect the environment - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
  • 5 multiple choice exercises:
    Holiday abroad - Topic 1 - Travel and tourism, including places of interest
    Worst holiday - Topic 1 - Travel and tourism, including places of interest
    Where Hélène lives - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
    Where to live? - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live
    Rachel on recycling - Topic 3 - The environment and where people live

Writing

Learning objectives

This section will help students:
  • learn how to translate from English to French
  • practise dictations
  • improve their orthography, including spelling, punctuation and accents/diacritics
  • learn how to write about a variety of topics

Demo videos

  • 1 video providing tips to prepare for this part of the GCSE exam
  • 1 guided videos demonstrating how to handle a translation exercise, from English to French + support guide
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle section B: write a 90 word text + support guide
  • 1 guided video demonstrating how to tackle section C: write a 150 word text + support guide

People and lifestyle

  • 6 translation exercises in quiz format covering all topics
  • 7 worksheets for section B covering all topics:
    Family
    Friendship
    Healthy diet

    Dangers of drugs

    Exercising to stay fit
    Internship
    My school
  • 7 worksheets for section C covering all topics:
    Personality
    My friends
    A healthy life
    To be vegetarian
    After school
    Taking a gap year
    Work experience

Popular culture

  • 6 translation exercises in quiz format covering all topics
  • 7 worksheets for section B covering all topics:
    Playing an instrument
    Your weekend
    Celebrating St Nicolas
    Your birthday
    Easter celebration
    My favourite singer
    Your role model
  • 7 worksheets for section C covering all topics:
    My hobbies
    Practising a sport
    The concert
    New Year's Eve
    Music day
    Who do you admire?
    Being famous

Communication and the world around us

  • 6 translation exercises in quiz format covering all topics
  • 7 worksheets for section B covering all topics:
    Using the internet
    The dangers of social media
    Your house
    Your ideal town
    Letter on recycling
    Forum on the environment
    Global warming
  • 7 worksheets for section C covering all topics:
    The advantages of social media
    Online scams
    My childhood neighbourhood
    Your next place to live
    Saving energy
    Environmental protest
    Protecting the planet

Vocabulary

Learning objectives

To get top marks on each of the above sections, students are expected to have a strong command of core French vocabulary. We’ve made teaching vocabulary as simple as possible by dividing the requisite words into more than 60 vocabulary lists, categorised by theme and word class.

This section will help students:

    • familiarise themselves with different vocabulary topics
    • expand their vocabulary knowledge
    • improve their pronunciation with the help of audio tracks
    • practice through quizzes

Basic vocabulary

  • 22 lists of basic nouns, with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides
  • 4 lists of common adverbs (place, time, manner, etc.) with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides
  • 2 lists of essential prepositions with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides
  • 3 lists of essential connectives with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides

People and lifestyle

  • 11 lists of basic nouns covering all topics within this theme, with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides
  • 3 lists of verbs covering all topics within this theme, with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides
  • 7 lists of adjectives covering all topics within this theme, with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides

Popular culture

  • 7 lists of nouns covering all topics within this theme, with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides
  • 4 lists of verbs covering all topics within this theme, with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides
  • 4 lists of adjectives covering all topics within this theme, with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides

Communication and the world around us

  • 10 lists of nouns covering all topics within this theme, with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides
  • 5 lists of verbs covering all topics within this theme, with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides
  • 5 lists of adjectives covering all topics within this theme, with audio tracks, quizzes + support guides

Conjugation

Learning objectives

Conjugation lists are available for 34 key verbs. Each verb is conjugated into 6 tenses: présent, passé composé, imparfait, futur simple, conditionnel and impératif, and each conjugation is accompanied by an audio track to help students perfect their listening and pronunciation, as well as a quiz, to enable students to practice what they learn.

This section will help students:

  • learn and memorise key verbs
  • improve their pronunciation with the help of audio tracks
  • familiarise themselves with the various conjugations for each verb
  • practice what they learn through quizzes

Auxiliary verbs

  • être
  • avoir

Group 1

  • écouter
  • espérer
  • jouer
  • manger
  • oublier
  • passer
  • s'appeler
  • s'habiller
  • se lever
  • travailler

Group 2

  • accomplir
  • agir
  • choisir
  • finir
  • obéir
  • réussir

Group 3

  • aller
  • attendre
  • comprendre
  • connaître
  • devoir
  • dire
  • faire
  • lire
  • partir
  • pouvoir
  • prendre
  • savoir
  • sortir
  • venir
  • voir
  • vouloir
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