Message to a friend: writing words and phrases
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write a short letter in French to a friend.
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)'.
Teacher tip
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!
Licence
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.
Q2.Match the sentences.
I live in Lille
I am 10
I am Alex
I like English
Today it's Wednesday
I am at school
Q3.What sort of animal is 'un chat'?
Q4.Which of these words means 'how much / how many'?
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.
Q6.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?
Q2.If you were writing a letter to a friend the same age as you, which of these greetings could you use?
Q3.Match the infinitives.
to be, being
to have, having
to live, living
to like, liking
to play, playing
to speak, speaking
Q4.Translate 'Je suis'.
Q5.Translate 'J'ai'.
Q6.How do you say, I am 6, in French?
To help you plan your 4 French lesson on: Message to a friend: writing words and phrases, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 French lesson on: Message to a friend: writing words and phrases, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 French lessons from the What I and others like doing: 2-verb phrases unit, dive into the full primary French curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.