Getting Around City

Context

Unit: Exploring French Travel Basics
Lesson: 4 of 10
Year Level: 12
Duration: 90 minutes
Class size: 7 students
Learning Area: Languages – French
Curriculum Version: Australian Curriculum v9

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Learning Objectives and Curriculum Alignment

This lesson focuses on communicative competence in French, specifically related to navigating urban environments using public transport and directions, aligning with the Australian Curriculum: Languages (v9).

Relevant Curriculum Codes and Descriptions

• AC9LF12C01: Initiate and sustain interactions on familiar and new topics using spoken and written French with increasing accuracy and complexity.
• AC9LF12C02: Create and interpret complex texts on topics related to social and cultural contexts, using a variety of sentence structures and vocabulary.
• AC9LF12U01: Analyse and explain how language practices and cultural norms shape communication, particularly in travel and everyday city life contexts.
• AC9LF12P01: Plan, rehearse, and present spoken, written, and multimodal texts appropriate to audience and purpose using relevant cultural conventions.

Key Capabilities:

• Communicating (exchanging information, using language features)
• Intercultural Understanding (exploring cultural perspectives about public spaces and transport)
• Personal and Social Capability (collaboration in role-plays)

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Lesson Overview

Time	Activity	Description	Curriculum Focus
0-10min	Warm-up and Context Introduction	Short discussion in French about how students usually get around their city or town; brainstorming transport vocabulary with teacher support.	Oral skills, vocabulary recall (AC9LF12C01)
10-25min	Vocabulary Input & Practice	Introduce and practise key vocabulary: metro, bus, tram, station, ticket, direction words (à gauche, à droite, tout droit), prepositions (près de, devant, derrière). Use flashcards, pictures and mini dialogues.	Vocabulary building, sentence structure (AC9LF12C02)
25-40min	Listening Activity	Students listen to a short French audio clip/dialogue involving asking for and giving directions on public transport. Task: answer comprehension questions in French.	Listening comprehension, cultural context (AC9LF12C02)
40-60min	Pair Role-play	Students role-play scenarios: asking for directions, buying tickets, and explaining routes. Example scenario cards provided. Teacher models language functions (e.g., "Excusez-moi, où est...?", "Prenez le bus numéro..."). Rotate roles.	Speaking skills, communication strategies, interaction (AC9LF12C01, AC9LF12P01)
60-75min	Creating a Map Dialogue	In pairs/groups, students create a multimodal presentation (spoken and map-based) showing how to get from one city landmark to another using different transport modes. Use simple digital tools or poster format.	Creative text production, multimodal literacy, cultural knowledge (AC9LF12P01, AC9LF12U01)
75-85min	Class Sharing and Feedback	Pairs present their map dialogues to the class. Peers and teacher provide feedback on language use and cultural appropriateness.	Oral skills assessment, intercultural understanding (AC9LF12C01, AC9LF12U01)
85-90min	Wrap-up and Reflection	Brief reflection in French: what travel vocabulary and expressions did you learn? How could this be useful? Teacher notes individual participation.	Metacognitive awareness, language reflection (AC9LF12U01)

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Detailed Lesson Activities

Warm-up (10 minutes)

• Begin in French: "Comment allez-vous à l'école? En bus, en voiture, à pied?"
• Students share briefly. List transport forms on whiteboard in French and English side-by-side.
• Use images or realia (e.g., ticket samples, maps of metro lines) to engage students.

Vocabulary Input and Practice (15 minutes)

• Introduce key transport vocabulary with images and choral repetition.
• Use TPR (Total Physical Response): walk left/right, point 'ici', 'là-bas' to reinforce direction words.
• Quick pair practice: one student asks "Où est la station de métro?" and partner responds.

Listening Activity (15 minutes)

• Play an audio clip/dialogue (teacher-created or from curriculum resource) with typical interactions at a bus stop or metro station.
• Example questions: "Quel bus prend le garçon?", "Où est la pharmacie?"
• Prompt students to answer orally or in writing, encouraging full sentences.

Pair Role-play (20 minutes)

• Distribute scenario cards (e.g., a tourist asks directions, a local explains routes, buying tickets, validating a pass).
• Model language templates on the board: "Excusez-moi, où se trouve...?" "Vous allez tout droit, puis à gauche..."
• Students switch roles to practise both asking and giving directions.

Creating a Map Dialogue (15 minutes)

• In pairs, students choose a famous French city or use a fictional city map provided.
• They write a short dialogue and use arrows and icons to show the route (analog or digital).
• Encourage use of prepositions, transport mode vocabulary, and polite expressions.

Class Sharing and Feedback (10 minutes)

• Each pair presents their route and dialogue.
• Teacher and peers listen for clear communication, correct vocabulary and cultural fluency (e.g., customary politeness).
• Quick positive feedback and areas for improvement.

Wrap-up and Reflection (5 minutes)

• Students individually state one new phrase or word learned today and how they might use it.
• Teacher summarises main learning points and connects to next lesson on "Booking Tickets & Accommodations".

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Assessment and Feedback

• Formative: Observation of participation in role-plays and pair presentations.
• Listening comprehension: Responses to audio questions demonstrate understanding of directions and transport vocabulary.
• Oral Production: Ability to use key expressions for asking and giving directions clearly and politely.
• Reflective Feedback: End of lesson reflections promote metacognitive awareness.

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Resources Needed

• Flashcards with transport and direction vocabulary
• Printed or digital maps of French cities (e.g., Paris, Lyon)
• Audio clip of people giving directions in French (authentic or teacher-created)
• Scenario cards for role-plays
• Paper/poster materials or tablets/laptops for creating route maps
• Whiteboard and markers

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Cultural Connections and Cross-Curriculum Priorities

• Discuss differences and similarities between French and Australian public transport systems and city layouts.
• Reflect on cultural politeness when asking strangers for directions in French-speaking countries.
• Include brief mention of transport etiquette in France (e.g., ticket checking, greetings).
• Encourage awareness of French language conventions in urban communication and signs.

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This plan aligns with the Australian Curriculum: Languages (v9) for Year 12 French learners by developing sophisticated communicative skills in practical travel contexts, drawing on cultural understanding and language systems required for real-world interaction with French-speaking environments【6:AC9LF8C05】【10:AC9LF10C03】【2:AC9LF6C05】【10:AC9LF10C03】.