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
Our French courses
People all over the world are learning French online with Alexa Polidoro