A Critical Examination of the Beliefs about Learning a Foreign Language at Primary School

names with these but a group of children of mixed ability had a go at writing
some sentences on personal information, name and age. Most were struggling
with this, nobody could write from memory which is no surprise as they had not
seen much written language. So far no reading beyond isolated words or
isolated sentences. Some had problems copying correctly from the board.
Letters or words missed out were pointed out to them but a couple of children
only recognised missed out language items after these were pointed out several
times. Some have a funny way of writing, they ignore margins or lines and
some cut off in mid word and start a new line. Do they know what they are
copying?

While children were 'busy' walked around class to revise some basic language
and asked some children questions such as 'comment t'appelles-tu?', ^,quel age
as-tu?' 'ou habites-tu?', ^,qu^,est-ce que tu aimes?'

A number of them could not remember any answers or ask somebody else.
'Commentje m'appelle..' was produced on a couple of occasions as a
response.

Some were still struggling with basic numbers. Some produced 'j'ai huit' or 'j'ai
neuf and left out 'ans'. Confusion over questions, 'Quel age as-tu?', for
example, is answered with 'J' habite...' They seem to give me any old answer to
a question.

What sounds like 'J'ai habite' is said several times.

Lesson Four

This is a lesson around games, particularly number games with throwing a ball
and most of what happens is in English apart from short instructions such as
'ecoutez', 'regardez' etc.

Involved in the games so not taking many notes. There is much fun and
excitement and all are involved. Very little focus however on 'accurate' use of
French. Some still struggle with basic numbers.

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