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

Class repeats chorally and individually but individual pronunciation is not
checked.

After some practice teacher checks what they remember

Some pupils do remember the names of the animals although the girl next to
me has asked 4 times about the French for chat.

Many now lack concentration. Some suck their thumbs while speaking!

Teacher starts 'game' where those who remember an animal correctly get to
hold the card. This goes down very well. Plenty of hands up and
disappointment amongst those who don't get a card.

Teacher tells class that they can say 'Je voudrais plus animal' to get an animal
from somebody else.

Some use 'je voudrais' correctly but miss out gender of animal use single vocab
only.

Teacher moves on to animal worksheet

Teacherwrites on chalkboard: 'Tu as un animal?' repeated by class

Pupils do 'sondage' around the classroom to find out how many pupils have
what animal. They are meant to ask 'tu as un animal?' and answer oui∕non or
'J'ai...'

On sheet they put ticks against animal

Most of the children I speak to try to use the French question, much confusion
between chien∕chat

Lots of enjoyment.

Lesson Four

Teacher revises brothers∕sisters

Teacher asks me: Tu as des freres Zdes soeurs?'

I give the first answer: 'J'ai deux soeurs'

Teacher asks for meaning

Teacher asks: Qui a des freres des sours?'

No hands up

Pupil: ^,What does that mean?'

Teacher tells and asks again