Standard Grade Revision

This should be well underway. You have worked hard for Speaking assessments and to complete Writing folios, so make sure that it doesn't all go to waste. The exams for French will take place on the 11th May 2011. It might seem like a long way off but, in fact, exam leave will be here before you know it!

You will need time to identify what you need to do most urgently and plan accordingly. This is best done as soon as possible.

Look over your work from S3 and S4 and use the vocabulary sheets we provided. Some of your revision time should be chunked up for vocabulary learning - the 'little and often' approach usually works best but you should know what works best for you by now. You also need to practise Reading tasks and ensure that your dictionary skills are up to scratch.

I have already made a list of recommended sites but feel free to tell me about any more you come across.


A few pointers for Listening

Pupils are often unsure as to how to prepare for this element and find these tasks hardest to do well in. The vocabulary isn't necessarily more difficult, but it can sound a lot different to what you might expect.

There are things you can do.

1. Learn your vocabulary thoroughly - there is absolutely no substitute for this.

2. Make a note of the kind of words and phrases that frequently appear in exam papers and learn them.

3. Listen to French being spoken while reading a transcript in French. You often recognise the words when you see them and this will help you familiarise yourself with the sounds. You can do this with past papers and at places like the BBC French language site. Other sites like Language Guide provide pronunciation hints and some useful vocab.

4. Access French audio-visual materials online. You will hear how French should sound and, eventually, you will be able to pick out information. Try Mon JT Quotidien, French radio stations or other sites recommended in class and on this blog.

5. If there are words and phrases or sound patters you don't feel sure of and there isn't a sound clip of it available, try the Text to Speech site. Type or copy and paste the text in to the box and choose the French voice. While this is a computer programme and may not be 100% reliable for this, it's worth trying.

6. When completing the papers, read the instructions and questions carefully and check how many marks are available. Try to think about the type of answer you would be expected to write and the kind of information you would therefore expect to hear.

Any sentences you write and/or complete should make sense in English. Use the time between questions to check you have done all of this correctly and then look at the next question. Never leave any answers unattempted.