French Reference Grammar - introduction
'Grammar is the way that words make sense. It is a code or set of rules accepted by any community who share a language.' (Language into Languages Teaching, University of Glasgow, Scottish Executive Education Department, 2001)
What follows is an attempt to set out the rules of grammar for the structures which are often used in the teaching of French for P6 and P7.
It is not intended for use by pupils, unless perhaps as a spell-check for the months of the year, for example.
Why use this resource?
It is appreciated that a number of teachers who have completed their MLPS training may feel a little insecure in their knowledge of basic French grammar. This is understandable, and this reference grammar attempts to be a resource to help. It is by definition very restricted, but closely tied to the requirements of teachers offering French in the primary school.
The fact that it has been produced does not mean that primary school teachers will now be expected to teach grammar formally as it is laid out here. There is no expectation that pupils should work through this grammar resource. As noted above, it is a reference resource for teachers, to try to make them more comfortable with the rules behind the communicative language which they are offering in class.
It is felt that a degree of security about the rules of grammar will make teachers more comfortable in their use of French.
How should I use this resource?
As will be seen throughout the course, we do not shy away from explaining simple rules of grammar to the pupils. However, such explanations should be done in a sensitive way. There is nothing to be gained in foreign language teaching from leaving pupils unsure and insecure when a simple explanation, where possible drawing analogies with English, would remove doubts and make the picture clearer.
Any explanation of grammar given to pupils should not be taken directly from this resource and projected on the whiteboard. Instead, teachers can use the resource to find out the correct form before going on to explain, in their own words, any basic rules of grammar. These explanations will vary according to the needs of the pupils, some of whom will benefit from a sharper exposure to grammar.
Word file: Classroom commands in French for primary teachers (22 KB)