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1.4 L'alphabet The alphabet
This chapter aims to help children recognise French letter names when they hear them. It's the same 26 letters A-Z as in English (only the added accents are different). Young beginners will not find it very helpful to be able to list the French letter-names in order from memory. Children will find that it's much easier to understand when a word is spelt out in French, especially once they have learnt to deal with the few "false friends". We present groupings by sound to make it easier to remember where the alphabet in French is different. We suggest some activities like spelling games that will give pupils fun experience of responding to the French letter names, without expecting them to memorise and produce the list from A to Z.
Films to see A1. French alphabet circus B1. Spelling games Later on it may be worth revisiting this section. Learning how to understand words spelt out in an authentic French way will be useful for acquiring new vocabulary. The French sounds often help children to work out how to pronounce an unfamiliar word. The section also provides good practice with typical French sounds and introduces some common organisations which are known by their initials - particularly the French railways, S.N.C.F, which are the subject of this section’s “talking point.”
Part A: The alphabet in French
Planning your lessons
Learning 26 sounds matched up to the letters A-Z and remembering them is a fairly daunting task for most children. Introducing them in groups helps, so that, with practice, pupils become familiar with a manageable number of letter-names at a time. Follow this with some spelling activities from those suggested.
Film A1: :The letters perform in an animated circus.... “A B”
Activities
Letters grouped by sound
Letters are shown in six groups - probably the easiest way to remember their sounds. First there are letters with a closed “e” sound, as in the English word “café”:
Warm up
❑ Start the lesson with a game from Ch.1.3 to remind children how to say their names.
B C D G P T V
Watch film 4 A1 "L'alphabet"
❑ Watch film 4 A1, giving children the chance to join in as the letter sounds become familiar. Alphabet circus animation The opening sequence shows the animated letters A-Z performing as circus acrobats. Each letter is named in French as it enters the ring.
In Saint Omer station, we hear some of these letters spelt out, referring to the high-speed train, the “T-G-V” - Train à Grande Vitesse. 4.1 4.1