French First Level
L’alphabet
First Level Significant Aspects of Learning
• Use language in a range of contexts and across learning
• Continue to develop confidence and enthusiasm to communicate using the
language being learnt
• Develop an awareness and understanding of patterns and sounds of language
• Begin to develop an understanding of, interest in and respect for other
countries, cultures and languages
• Appreciate and understand the value of language learning
• Recognise familiar written words when listening
• Explore how gesture, expression and emphasis are used to help
understanding.
• Listen, recognise and respond to familiar voices in short, predictable
conversations
• Understand and respond to familiar spoken vocabulary
• Actively take part in daily routines
• Listen and join in with stories, song or poem
• Enjoy engaging with simple and familiar texts on my own and with others
using resources to support learning
• Participate in familiar games, paired speaking and short role plays
• Take part in simple, paired conversations about themselves giving simple
opinions and asking simple questions
Vocabulary
10. The Alphabet
At First Level the focus should be on being able to say the alphabet in French.
L’alphabet
the alphabet
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
ah
bay
say
day
eu
ef
jay
ash
ee
jee
ka
el
em
en
oh
pay
koo
er
es
tay
oo
vay
doob le vay
eeks
eegrek
zed
For First Level focus mainly
on being able to say the
alphabet in French, working
your way up to spelling in
French at 2nd Level.
L’alphabet en français
ah
bay
say
day
euh
eff
jay
ash
ee
jee
kah
ell
em
en
oh
pay
coo
err
ess
tay
oo
vay
doob-le-vay
eex
ee-grek
zed
Embedding the language
You could use the alphabet as a countdown
in class for getting tidied up etc.
You could ask pupils how something might
be spelt in French. This can really help to
enhance their spelling English as they are
thinking twice as hard about the letter
sequencing of a word.
Sample activities
You will find a bank of sample activities which you can use to
practise the vocabulary in the classroom.
This is not a prescriptive list of activities and you can use or
adapt them to suit the needs of your class.
L’alphabet c’est cool!
a b c d
e f g
h i j k
l m n o p
q r s t
u v w
x y z
L’alphabet c’est cool!
a b c d
e f g
h i j k
l m n o p
q r s t
u v w
x y z
L’alphabet c’est cool!
a b c d
e f g
h i j k
l m n o p
q r s t
u v w
x y z
L’alphabet c’est cool!
a b c d
e f g
h i j k
l m n o p
q r s t
u v w
x y z
L’alphabet c’est cool!
a b c d
e f g
h i j k
l m n o p
q r s t
u v w
x y z
Match the sounds to the letters
• For this activity you will need the “Letters co-op task
cards” document which is on the website in the extra
resources section.
• Print off the sounds and place them around the
classroom at “stations”.
• Pupils should write the alphabet in their jotters.
• In pairs, pupils will then visit each letter sound for a
set time and will copy it down beside the
corresponding letter.
• At the end, you can check these with the sound files
on the vocabulary slides.
Trouvez les
sons…
qui
correspondent…
…aux lettres.
Par exemple…
A = Ah
Ecoutez
l’alphabet
C’est correcte?
Cochez les
réponses.
Linking the sounds to actions
You can link the sounds to actions – see if the pupils
can pupils can come up with a set for your class.
Some suggestions:
Ah – like sticking your tongue out for a doctor
Bay – a coastal bay or in French baby is bébé so you
could do a baby in your arms mime.
Say – Is like saying something so you could do
something to mimic that.
Day – like a day / sunrise for example
Euh (e) – sound a bit like being punched in the stomach!
Etc. These are fun to make up and it’s good to let the
pupils choose which ones help them remember best.
Once you’ve got a set you can practise them
altogether.
Alpha-tig!
• This is best played in a gym hall/outside.
• Choose 3 or 4 pupils who will be it.
• Give each of remaining pupils a letter so that they make up the
whole alphabet. Some people will have two letters.
• They will then write their letter on a bit of paper and stick it to
themselves with sellotape etc. Double up letters if necessary.
• Make sure they each know their own letter and know how to
pronounce it in French. You could do this by getting them to line
up in order of the alphabet and to say it along the line.
• You will then say a word and the pupils who are “it” have to then
tig those with the letters. It’s the rest of the alphabets job to
protect them!
• Once they have the letters, bring them out to the front and they
can spell out the word in French.
Alpha-shapes
Say a letter and get the pupils to try and
form that letter by shaping themselves
like in on the floor (or standing).
Get everyone to say it once they are in
position!
Songs and videos!
You will find a bank of sample songs and videos which you can use
to practise the vocabulary in the classroom.
This is not a prescriptive list of songs and you can use or adapt
them to suit the needs of your class.
La chanson de l’alphabet
A B C D E FG
HIJK
LMNOP
QRS
TUV
WXYZ
Maintenant je les connais
Toutes les lettres de l’alphabet
C’est l’alphabet song
Military style alphabet
A comme abricot
French alphabet song
ICT Resources online
You will find a bank of sample ICT activities which you can use to
practise the vocabulary in the classroom.
This is not a prescriptive list of activities and you can use or
adapt them to suit the needs of your class.
Each of the slides contains an image of the website page. If you
click on the image it will take you to the page. Alternatively you
can use a link address which you will find in the slide notes.
Poisson rouge alphabet
Lexique.fr
Au revoir!