Counting to Twenty

Overview

This 30-minute session is the second lesson in a 16-lesson unit titled French Foundations for Beginners. It focuses on teaching Year 7 students to count from 1 to 20 in French through interactive games, writing exercises, and speaking practice. The lesson aligns closely with the National Curriculum for England's Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) programme of study for Key Stage 3.

National Curriculum Links

• MFL KS3 Programme of Study:

  • Pupils should be taught to:
    • understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources.
    • speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions.
    • broaden their vocabulary and develop their ability to understand new words that are introduced into familiar written material.
    • write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt.

• KS3 MFL Programmes focus on:

  • Developing phonics knowledge and pronunciation skills.
  • Using numbers in context.
  • Developing receptive (listening and reading), productive (speaking and writing), and interactive skills.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Recognise and accurately pronounce the French numbers from 1 to 20.
2. Write the numbers from 1 to 20 in French legibly.
3. Use numbers in simple counting sequences orally.
4. Demonstrate understanding via interactive, game-based activities.

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Resources Needed

• Flashcards with numbers 1-20 in French and corresponding digits.
• Whiteboard and dry wipe markers or paper and pen for writing practice.
• Audio clips of native French speakers counting 1–20.
• Printable worksheet with matching exercises and number writing practice.

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Lesson Structure

1. Starter Activity (5 minutes)

• Begin with a quick warm-up revisiting numbers 1–10 from the previous lesson.
• Use flashcards showing the number digit and ask the student to say the French number aloud.
• Play an audio clip of a native speaker counting from 1 to 10 to model pronunciation.
• Ask the student to repeat after each number to practise accurate pronunciation.

2. Introduction to Numbers 11-20 (8 minutes)

• Present the French numbers 11 to 20 using flashcards, clearly pronouncing each one.
• Break down any challenging numbers (like quinze, dix-sept) to highlight their parts for easier memorisation.
• Use a ‘listen and repeat’ exercise: play an audio clip counting 1 to 20 and ask the student to join in.
• Write the numbers on the whiteboard and point to each while pronouncing.

3. Counting Game: Number Chain (7 minutes)

• Explain the number chain game: the teacher says a number, the student says the next one in French, continuing upwards to 20, then restarting at 1.
• To add challenge, occasionally switch to reverse counting from 20 to 1.
• This interactive game promotes fluency, listening, and immediate recall.
• Encourage clear pronunciation and self-correction.

4. Writing Practice (7 minutes)

• Distribute a worksheet with:
  • A column of digits from 1 to 20 for the student to write the corresponding French word next to.
  • A matching exercise where the student matches French numbers to pictures showing the amount (e.g., 15 apples).
• Circulate (or provide direct guidance) to support handwriting and spelling accuracy.
• Reinforce phonetic spelling and mnemonic tips learned earlier.

5. Plenary and Assessment (3 minutes)

• Recap key learning: ask the student to count aloud 1 to 20 in French from memory.
• Praise correct pronunciation and gently correct inaccuracies.
• Short informal assessment: the teacher says a number in English, the student writes it in French or says it aloud.
• Provide immediate feedback and encouragement.

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Differentiation and Support

• For any difficulties with pronunciation, use visual phonics cues (e.g., mouth shapes, rhythm).
• If writing is a challenge, allow the student to type answers on a tablet or say answers verbally.
• For extension, encourage the student to use numbers in simple sentences, e.g., “J’ai quinze ans” (“I am fifteen years old”).

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Cross-Curricular Links

• Maths: reinforcing numeracy and number sequences through foreign language learning.
• ICT: listening to audio clips builds digital literacy and audio comprehension skills.
• PSHE: building confidence in speaking a new language supports personal development.

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Assessment and Feedback

• Informal formative assessment through listening and speaking activities with immediate feedback.
• Written exercise marks for recognition and spelling of French numbers.
• Teacher observations recorded in learning journals to track pronunciation and recall progress.

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Teacher’s Notes

• Ensure all audio materials use clear, standard French pronunciation to support pupils’ listening skills.
• Use enthusiasm and praise to motivate the learner, especially in a one-to-one context.
• Keep activities dynamic and varied to sustain engagement within the 30-minute timeframe.

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This plan fully aligns with the National Curriculum’s aims to develop pupils' proficiency in another language through engaging and scaffolded activities, promoting increased confidence in speaking, reading, writing, and listening in French.