Introduction
- How to use this book: for teachers and for students
- What you need to know about the exams, including assessment; VCAA prescribed themes and topics; suggested sub-topics for French VCE; and Stepping Stones: essential strategies for success in the oral and written examinations.
1 Preparing for the Oral Examination: Speaking
Part A Conversation and sample student responses
Part B Detailed discussion and sample student responses
2 Preparing for the Written Examination: Listening
Before the exam
During the exam
Part A Practice questions
Part B Practice question
Answer explanations to practice questions
3 Preparing for the Written Examination: Reading
During the exam
Part A Practice questions
Part B Practice question
Answer explanations to practice questions
4 Preparing for the Written Examination: Writing
Before the exam
During the exam
Kinds of writing
Text types
Model essays
Checklist: ‘Est-ce ton Papyrus?’
5 Study Tools
Vocabulary preparation
Example vocabulary and phrases
Common pronunciation errors
Idiomatic expressions: proverbs and sayings
Idiomatic expressions: body parts
Les “faux amis”
Grammar: guidelines for revising
Grammar: self evaluation chart
Dictionary use
Acronyms
6 Written Practice Exams
Four full-length practice exams
Discs at the back of the book:
Disc 1: Approximately 30 audio tracks for the listening tasks/practice exams
Disc 2: Solutions to practice exams and transcripts to audio tracks
Alan Chamberlain taught in NSW before teaching and studying at the University of Paris-Sorbonne. He has had a long career in teaching French. He was the Associate Professor in French at the University of New South Wales and then an Associate Professor in languages education at the University of Brunei. Alan is a well-respected co-author of the market-leading Tapis Volant series.
Since gaining her Master’s degree in linguistics, literature, translation, civilisation and education, Maud has taught extensively in France, England and Australia (A&AS-Level, IB and VCE). For the past 15 years, she has held leadership positions at a prestigious, award-winning independent school in Australia. Maud is a French teacher, published author, assessor and consultant, advising on educational material across the domain of languages. In the last five years, Maud has combined her teaching and curriculum expertise with her enthusiasm for interacting with other educators. She has presented a variety of highly engaging and stimulating PDs. Maud Fugier-Sola's passion lies in language teaching, curriculum planning, student engagement, mastery of the macro language skills and sharing successful strategies for quality teaching and learning experiences.
Michael has had experience teaching French to students in France, England and Australia mainly at secondary and tertiary level. Michael has also worked as an interpreter and translator while in England. Michael is working closely with Year 12 VCE and IB students preparing for the Oral and Written examinations. He has consulted and authored online resources and applications for students learning French, and has recorded numerous resources in French. He has been involved in multiple immersion camps and overseas trips. Michael has a clear passion for linguistics, grammar and literature and has a particular interest in teaching methodologies for French.
Four full-length practice written exams with an accompanying exam countdown clock timer
audio tracks included, with listening examples (and accompanying transcripts) to improve listening comprehension, and recorded sample student responses for the Oral Exam
‘Good’ and ‘excellent’ example student responses for both the Oral and Written Exams, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each response
Topic-based lists of vocabulary, proverbs, sayings, idioms and other authentic expressions specifically aimed to help students prepare for the Oral Exam
Scaffolded strategies and tasks to plan, prepare and write the French written response for the Written Exam. These include do’s and don’ts checklists, topic and text type mind maps, and tips and traps.