French and Latin at LFI

Websites:
-To inform you about any events and projects going on in the different classes:
https://lettreslfi.wordpress.com 
-Language support for being taught through French: www.flsco.net
-A learning platform to support collaborative work: http://tistou.eu

The course aims to develop the pupils’ reading and their ability to express themselves orally and in writing, but also their ability to analyse, their critical faculty and their literary and artistic culture.

In addition we prepare the pupils for the state examinations – the Brevet des Collèges (equivalent of Junior Certificate) and Baccalaureate (equivalent of Leaving Certificate).

Furthermore, in the context of the school’s bilingual project, we attach particular importance to developing all the pupils’ knowledge of the French language and French culture, whether they are French speaking or English speaking, whilst giving them the possibility to find similarities and make comparisons with their own culture.

2. Link between primary and secondary school:
The change from primary to secondary school is an important step in a pupil's life. Specific actions are undertaken to allow this transition to be as smooth as possible, for example a collaborative story writing project.  3. Literature in the senior cycle:
A new class is beginning in September 2010.
‘Learning through Exploration and Research: Literature and Society’ aims to convince pupils of the interest and social usefulness of an education in humanities. The course is interdisciplinary, led by the French and literature teacher and the history and geography teacher.
In contrast to traditional teaching practice, the course emphasises project based learning. As such, it is both creative and practical. Within the general topic area of literature and society, three themes of research and exploration will be investigated:
- From clay tablets to digital screens: the adventure of books and writing through the ages
- Landscape: reality and representation
- Writing to change the world: authors and great social debates
The course will use the important social and cultural primary sources offered by Dublin and is open to all students interested in humanities, art, and literature.

4. Intercultural
In order to integrate the teaching of French in our multicultural context, we organise exchanges with English and German speaking teachers.

5. Classical culture and the Web:
Learning Latin is an important part of the pupils’ linguistic and cultural education.
Even though Latin is a classical language – sometimes even considered a ‘dead language’- it lends itself to modern teaching practices. In 2010, through http://tistou.eu, Latin students will be in contact with other Latin students in France with whom they will share projects and research.

6. Syllabi

            a. French courses at LFI follow the syllabi from the French Department of Education:

Sixième and Junior Cycle:
Pupils at junior level will learn to develop language skills through the study of literature and the visual media. An in-depth knowledge of grammar and vocabulary is essential to analyse texts, and to be capable of writing well.   Furthermore, the pupils will develop their taste for reading and for creative writing by taking on both contemporary and more classical texts.

The syllabus is composed of six parts:
-language study (grammar)
-reading
-written expression
-oral expression
-history of art
-media studies

At the end of troisième (third year), the pupils sit the French exam in the Brevet des Collèges.

Senior Cycle
Pupils at this level will deepen their knowledge of literature through a comparative approach to French and European texts and their cultural context. Developing the pupils’ interest in literature is central, as is strengthening their ability to analyse and compose texts.

The course covers:

-History of literature.
-Literary genres and styles.
-Meaning and originality of each text.
-The arguments used and the effect of the text on the reader.

Pupils prepare to sit the first part of the French exam in the baccalaureate at the end of première (fifth year).

The LFI also offers an optional literature class in Terminale (sixth year).

b. Latin is optional and follows the official syllabus:

From cinquième (first year) to Terminale (sixth year)
It aims to:
- develop reading abilities,
-develop the pupils’ curiosity and imagination through the study of mythology and the representation of the world particular to Antiquity, as well as ancient art forms.
-enrich their understanding of the French language, in particular through etymology, translation and comparison with other Latin languages.
-form their judgement through the study of ways of thinking in Antiquity and thus develop their capacity to argue and deliberate.
-teach them to situate themselves historically and give them a better understanding of the present.

For this subject, teaching is organised around reading, translating, and commenting on adapted texts, study of the language and Roman civilisation art.