French

Bonjour!

Bienvenue dans notre section. Voici quelques informations sur ‘la vie française’ à Thornhill College.

N’hésitez pas à nous contacter pour plus de renseignements.

French is offered as a Modern European Language at Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and A Level.

Performance at "Café Thornhill", Open Night 2008

The Year 14 Team who reached the Semi-Final of the Northern Ireland CILT French debating Competition 2008

Pupils are encouraged to see French not only as an academic subject but as a living language both in the classroom (greetings, classroom instructions, prayers, talk of weather, birthdays etc.) and outside the classroom (awareness of French culture and media, pen-pal exchanges, trips to France, visits by French people to the school).

Language Assistant

Every year we benefit from the services of a French-speaking language assistant who, although employed mainly in classes with senior pupils, is also encouraged to visit junior classes and become involved as much as possible in the daily life of the school.

The French assistant also plays a lead role in the Year 8 French club ‘Club F’, organising games and activities to support the learning of French outside the classroom.

French Assistant Jean-Loup Lauginie with members of "Club F" - The French Club

2008 French Trip

French Trip

The French Trip is offered to pupils every two years (alternating with the Spanish Trip) and is based in and around Paris.

The trip is a great educational, cultural and social experience for our pupils. They get the opportunity to visit many of the sights and monuments of the French capital, but are also encouraged to practice their French in the hotel and in shops and restaurants.

Outside Paris there are visits to Versailles, France Miniature, and the very popular French Theme Park – ‘Parc Astérix’.

Visits / Competitions

The French Department encourages any experience which will benefit the linguistic and/or cultural awareness of the pupils.

French speaking visitors are always welcome, either as speakers / performers to our pupils or as fellow-students mixing with our pupils in the daily life of the school.

Here are some examples:

• Year 8 pupils are encouraged to join the French Club – ‘Club F’ – to practice their language through games.

• Classes in Year 9 organise French breakfasts and fashion shows to practice their language.

• In celebration of the European Day of Languages (26 September) we invite a French Theatre Group - ‘Onatti’ to perform to pupils in Years 10 and 11.

• Pupils in Years 13 and 14 take part in A Level Revision courses at the University of Ulster and Queen’s University, and have attended the showing of French films in the local cinema.

• Year 14 pupils also take part in the Northern Ireland CILT A Level French Debating Competition.

The Onatti Theatre Company performing a French Play

Au petit déjeuner – a French breakfast

Celebrating Success

End of Year Certificates
Awarded to pupils in Years 8 – 10 for overall performance to an agreed standard in the Internal School examinations.

AIB Cups for French
Awarded annually to pupils who achieve the highest marks in examination in Years 11 and 13.

Élève du Mois
‘Pupil of the Month’ Certificate awarded by each class-teacher and displayed on Departmental Noticeboard before being given to pupil.

Portes-Ouvertes
Certificates are awarded to those pupils who participate in Open Night activities e.g. Greeting pupils and parents, preparing displays, helping with the ‘French Café’ 

Departmental Notice Board
Recipents of ‘Élève du Mois’ certificates, winners of internal and external competitions and pupils who produce excellent performances in examinations are rewarded through having their names / pictures displayed on Departmental Notice Board.

Teachers are also encouraged to recognise success in day-to-day teaching through the awarding of stickers, comments in the Daybook, etc. and in the display of pupil work in classroom and Languages corridor.

Further success is celebrated as follows:

The Thornton Cup

The Thornton Cup, in honour of former Head of French and Vice-Principal, Mrs. Marie Thornton, is awarded annually for a project which examines a topic relating to France or French culture, e.g.

• A Town / Region in France;

• French Speaking countries throughout the world;

• An aspect of life in France e.g. Food / School / Fashion / Music / Sport / Industry;

• Famous French People

The award is open to individual pupils in years 8 - 10 and the Thornton Cup is awarded to overall best entry.

The winning project (opposite) and winner of the Thornton Cup 2008:

Sophie O’Donnell