New
New
Message to a friend: writing words and phrases
I can write a short letter in French to a friend.
Lesson 4 of 4
New
New
- Year 4
Message to a friend: writing words and phrases
I can write a short letter in French to a friend.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- It is important to practise key vocabulary regularly.
- 'Je suis' is from the verb 'être' and means 'I am', e.g. 'je suis Sophie' ('I am Sophie').
- 'J'ai', from the verb 'avoir', means I have: 'j'ai un chat' (I have a cat). Use 'j'ai' for age: 'j'ai six ans' (I am 6).
- When writing a letter, think carefully about formal or informal greetings and sign-offs: 'salut', 'Monsieur', 'Madame'.
Keywords
Je suis - from the verb être, meaning 'I am'
J'ai - from the verb 'avoir', meaning 'I have'; also used with age, e.g. j'ai huit ans - I am eight years old
Common misconception
Like in English, we use the verb 'I am' ('je suis') with age.
In French, we use the verb 'I have' ('j'ai') with age, e.g. 'j'ai huit ans' - 'I am (have) eight (years)'.
Share the pupils' letters with penpals. It is possible to find a penpal scheme through the British Council. Scan and send the letters and wait for a response!
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Put the days of the week in the correct order starting with Sunday.
Put the days of the week in the correct order starting with Sunday.
Q2.Match the sentences.
Match the sentences.
Q3.What sort of animal is 'un chat'?
What sort of animal is 'un chat'?
Q4.Which of these words means 'how much / how many'?
Which of these words means 'how much / how many'?
trois
nombre
quatre
dix
Q5.Read this passage and tick the sentences which are correct. Je suis Magali. J'ai onze ans et j'habite à Paris. J'ai un chien qui s'appelle Jojo. J'aime les animaux et jouer au basket. Je suis grande.
Read this passage and tick the sentences which are correct. Je suis Magali. J'ai onze ans et j'habite à Paris. J'ai un chien qui s'appelle Jojo. J'aime les animaux et jouer au basket. Je suis grande.
Magali is 10
Magali has a cat
Q6.Put the words in order to make a sentence about Eric.
Put the words in order to make a sentence about Eric.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these words is not a cognate?
Which of these words is not a cognate?
la couleur
la France
l'orange
la question
Q2.If you were writing a letter to a friend the same age as you, which of these greetings could you use?
If you were writing a letter to a friend the same age as you, which of these greetings could you use?
Monsieur
Madame
Q3.Match the infinitives.
Match the infinitives.
Q4.Translate 'Je suis'.
Translate 'Je suis'.
Q5.Translate 'J'ai'.
Translate 'J'ai'.
Q6.How do you say, I am 6, in French?
How do you say, I am 6, in French?
