Mastering ER Verbs

Australian Curriculum Alignment

Languages - French (Year 7):
Aligned with the Australian Curriculum v9.0, this lesson focuses on the following Content Descriptions within the Languages learning area:

• ACLFRU125: Recognise and use textual conventions and linguistic structures to communicate ideas in French, with a focus on present tense.
• ACLFRF122: Create simple sentences by applying knowledge of French grammatical structures, such as verb conjugations, to express ideas.

This lesson is designed to develop students’ foundational skills with ER verb conjugations while incorporating engaging activities tailored to their age group.

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Lesson Objectives

By the end of this 40-minute session, students will:

1. Identify the conjugation pattern for regular French ER verbs in the present tense.
2. Apply the conjugation pattern to different ER verbs to form simple sentences.
3. Practise using these verbs in interactive and playful ways to build linguistic confidence.

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Materials and Preparation

• Printed Resources: One-page ER verb conjugation chart with examples (provided to students).
• Cards: Custom flashcards for different ER verbs and subject pronouns.
• Smartboard or Whiteboard: For live conjugation practice and group activity.
• Dice: One per group, for a conjugation game.

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Lesson Structure

1. Warm-Up: French Conjugation Snap (7 minutes)

• Begin by greeting students in French with a phrase like, “Bonjour tout le monde!”
• Place a set of flashcards on one table: half with ER verbs like aimer, manger, danser, and others, and half with subject pronouns like je, tu, nous, etc.
• Students take turns flipping over one card from each pile and working together to conjugate the verb correctly with the provided pronoun as a team. For example, they might flip "manger" and "nous" for "nous mangeons."
• Keep the pace dynamic and fun to engage them right away!

2. Direct Teaching: ER Verb Conjugation Rules (10 minutes)

1. Explain the Rule: Write a regular ER verb (parler) on the board. Break down its conjugation in the present tense:
   • Je parle
   • Tu parles
   • Il/Elle/On parle
   • Nous parlons
   • Vous parlez
   • Ils/Elles parlent
2. Highlight the different endings for each subject pronoun (-e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent).
3. Use colour-coding or underline endings to aid visual learners.
4. Walk students through a second verb (danser) together, emphasising similarities in patterns.
5. Provide each student with a printed ER verbs chart to refer to.

3. Group Activity: Dice Conjugation Game (10 minutes)

• Set-Up:

  1. Divide students into small groups (4-5 students each).
  2. Provide each group with a six-sided die and a list of six subject pronouns corresponding to each die number:
     1 = Je
     2 = Tu
     3 = Il/Elle/On
     4 = Nous
     5 = Vous
     6 = Ils/Elles
  3. Groups should also receive a list of verbs (chanter, jouer, nager, etc.).

• How to Play:

  1. A student rolls the die and selects a verb from the list.
  2. They form a sentence aloud using the verb conjugated correctly with the rolled pronoun. For example, if they roll a 1 and choose nager, they say, “Je nage.”
  3. If their conjugation is correct, their team earns 1 point. If not, the next team can "steal" the point by correcting it! Add a little friendly competition to energise the class.

4. Real-World Application: Creative Sentences (8 minutes)

1. Ask students to create a short sentence that combines an ER verb with a topic relevant to Australian students. For example:
   • “Nous jouons au cricket.”
   • “Je nage à la piscine.”
2. Encourage students to think of activities or hobbies they enjoy (regarder la télévision, chanter une chanson, etc.) to make it personal and fun.
3. Students share their sentences with a partner or in a small group.

5. Quick Recap and Wrap-Up: "Sentence Race" (5 minutes)

• Challenge the entire class to come up with a chain of conjugated verbs:
  • Start with “Je parle,” and the next student must add “Tu parles,” followed by another adding “Il parle,” and so on.
  • Make it a fun speed challenge while reinforcing conjugation accuracy.

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Differentiation

• For Advanced Learners: Invite them to develop more complex sentences using prepositions (chez, à, avec) or common adverbs (souvent, toujours).
• For Students Needing Extra Support: Pair them with peer mentors during group activities or provide additional scaffolding, such as a mini poster or notes on the conjugation rules.

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Assessment

• Observe student participation during the Dice Conjugation Game and partner practice for an informal assessment of their understanding.
• Collect 2-3 creative sentences from each student as a formative check of their ability to conjugate verbs accurately and apply them to simple sentences.

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Reflection and Homework

Ask students to reflect in their notebooks (in English or French):

• “What are three new ER verbs you learned today?”
• “What was challenging about conjugating verbs?”

Homework: Students write five French sentences about their favourite hobbies or daily activities, using a regular ER verb in each.

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Teacher’s Wow Moment

This lesson blends language mechanics with movement, creativity, and teamwork—perfect for Year 7 students transitioning to more formal grammar-based language learning. The fun dice activity and personal connection to Australian contexts ensure students remain engaged while mastering the foundations of French verb grammar. With your energy and creativity, they'll surely develop a love for French!