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

Children are to answer 'je voudrais^, plus a drink. Some remember some of the
drinks but not the genders which they e ther leave out or get wrong.

Lesson Eight

Revision based on: ^,Qu'est-ce que tu aimes?' and 'J^,aime...'

Plenty of hands up, answers on the whole correct but single words only.

Pronunciation is weak, e.g. ^rTschaime'

Teacher moves on to listening activity∕worksheet 'La Iiste des boissons'

On the tape waiter: 'Qu'est-ce que tu veux?'

Customer: ^,Je voudrais...'

Pupils write down in French or English or draw what is being ordered.

Plenty need help and some simply copy a number of drinks from the menu on
the worksheet regardless of what is said on the tape.

Se∞nd listening, pupils fill in prices of drinks but not many get this right, they
don't recognise the numbers.

Teacher: 'Some of you panic, don't, it doesn't matter if you don't understand first
time'.

Some do not understand second time.

Teacher moves on to group work and asks pupils to get into groups of 4. This
seems to take a long time.

One pupil is the waiter the other three order an item of drink.

Join one group. The 'waiter¹ does not say anything. Supposed to say
'Qu'est-ce que tu veux?'

Those that order use simple items of vocabulary without genders. None in the
group use 'je voudrais'. Some manage to remember to say please and thank
you.

Most groups are happy to present their group's 'work' at the end of the lesson
and do a little role play in front of the class. Those that do not get a chance
seem disappointed. Much enthusiasm but little correct use of French beyond
single items of vocab '∞ca' or cafe' or 'orangina'.

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