CoPC - French Beginners Autumn 2025
- Andrew Starr
- 8 hours ago
- 13 min read
This blog post is for the French Beginners' Evening Class at the City of Portsmouth College, Highbury Campus.
A shortened link to this blog page is rebrand.ly/cfrb25a
If the above link returns an error, ajstarr.short.gy/blog will direct you to the blog index, where you can locate your page by scrolling down.
N.B.
Links in blue will work for you, but if they are red, then they will only work for me while in class.
The classes are due to run on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 7:30 pm on:
Tuesday, September 30th
Tuesday, October 7th
Tuesday, October 14th
Tuesday, October 21st
Tuesday, October 28th (half-term college is closed)
Tuesday, November 4th
Tuesday, November 11th
Tuesday, November 18th
Tuesday, November 25th
Tuesday, December 2nd
Tuesday, December 9th
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Outside of class
Friends in France - Some people maily from Caen looking for 'correspondants'
To improve your listening and speaking skills in a social setting, why not come to the evening or afternoon events I organise in the city?
We have a twin city in Caen. I am the Chair of the Twinning Association for France and Germany. To find out more about our twin cities, visit this website.
Tips for tuning your ear to French
Listen to French Music.
Watch French TV series and films (or at least videos/news in French)
There is a lot of stuff online for learning the French language (not all of it, correct!)
You can find some resources online to help you study French by yourself on a Padlet here
Find some Francophone music you like - there's an extraordinary amount out there, and all can be seen on YouTube whenever you like. I have written much more about French music here.
I will use some materials from the course book Entre Nous 1, aimed at the European Language Standards A1 (beginners). You may find it helpful to get a copy for home use and self-study.
This blog page will help you learn how to get all those accents on your various devices.
Friends in France - Some people mainly from Caen looking for 'correspondants'
If you're looking for a 'penpal' in Caen, here are some interested parties - mainly in their early 20s, studying at the University of Caen... One is a business and Economics teacher at the Lycée Malherbe in Caen. One lives in Belgium and is 77.
Please let me know if any are of interest, and I will provide you with their email addresses.
We have an exchange visit from Caen in June. There is also likely to be a day trip coming to visit Arundel on Saturday, 6th December, you would be welcome to join us and meet the French!
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On this link are beginners' videos from the 1990s BBC—Quinze Minutes Plus First 4—covering much of what we have and will cover in this 10-week course.
This college is already advertising and enrolling for the Spring term course detailed here.
mardi, 9 décembre
Correspondants à Caen - voir ci-dessus...
This college is already advertising and enrolling for the Spring term course detailed here.
This class will run again in January at 6 pm on Tuesdays. The classes are due to run on:
Tuesday: 13th, 20th & 27th January, 3rd, 10th, 24th February, 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th March.
(provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
The improvers' class runs from 7:30 to 9 pm on the same day.
You can register your interest in classes in January by emailing Jennifer Parr, the Adult Ed courses administrator. Alternatively, you can use the links above to register via the college website.
(provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
Vous allez peut-être présenter quelque chose ce soir sur vous-même ?
Thème 1
Aujourd'hui, nous allons parler de noël en français...
Thème 2
TV5 Monde
Thème 3 - deux chansons de noíl en provenance de Canada
mardi, 2 décembre
Correspondants à Caen - voir ci-dessus...
This college is already advertising and enrolling for the Spring term course detailed here.
This class will run again in January at 6 pm on Tuesdays. The classes are due to run on:
Tuesday: 13th, 20th & 27th January, 3rd, 10th, 24th February, 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th March.
(provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
The improvers' class runs from 7:30 to 9 pm on the same day.
You can register your interest in classes in January by emailing Jennifer Parr, the Adult Ed courses administrator. Alternatively, you can use the links above to register via the college website.
(provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
Aujourd'hui, on va parler de la légende de Saint Nicolas - qui va venir dans la nuit du 5 ou 6 décembre aux enfants sages dans l'est de la France.
Thème 1
Mais avant les destinations des vacances - Où allez-vous pendant les vacances en été 2026?
Je vais aller... au Pays de Galles, en Écosse, aux îles Anglo-Normandes...
Nous allons aller ... aux États-Unis, au Canada, en Australie, en Nouvelle Zélande...
Je vais rester... en Angleterre, à Portsmouth
Nous allons rester...
Thème 2 - Saint Nicolas.
Ici un clip de sa decente du beffroi à Arras.
Ce soir-là dans l'est de la France, des enfants vont être ravis de leurs petits cadeaux reçus de la part de Saint Nicolas.
Une histoire des faits de Saint Nicolas.
Qui a des origines de Lorraine, d'Alsace ou du Nord, connait bien Saint Nicolas !
Et met le soir du 5 décembre les souliers devant la cheminée, avec une carotte (pour l'âne), pour y trouver le lendemain orange, chocolat et pain d'épices en Saint Nicolas !
La légende de Saint Nicolas, très populaire en Lorraine, Alsace, Belgique…
Mais quelle est son origine ?
St Nicolas était évêque de Myre en Asie Mineure et, à ce titre, il assiste et souscrit au concile de Nicée en 325. Il était réputé pour être bon envers les pauvres et les enfants"Le bon St Nicolas" est honoré dans de nombreux pays en Orient et Occident.
En Lorraine, un chevalier de Port, près de Nancy, a rapporté , fin XIè siècle, une relique du saint, qui serait à l'origine de miracles. La ville s'appelle depuis Port-Saint Nicolas. Des miracles et de sa bonté , sont nées de nombreuses légendes. En Lorraine, il est le saint patron des enfants, des écoliers. Près de la mer, il est le patron des marins. Il aurait sauvé 3 naufragés implorant son aide.
La légende de St Nicolas, une légende du moyen-âge.
La chanson serait du 16 siècle.
PAROLES: (c'est chanté par Henri Dès)
Ils étaient trois petits enfants
Qui s'en allaient glaner aux champs
Ils sont allés et tant sont venus
Que sur le soir se sont perdus.
Ils sont allés chez le boucher : "Boucher, voudrais-tu nous loger?"
"Entrez, entrez, petits enfants, Y'a de la place assurément."
Ils n'étaient pas sitôt entrés
Que le boucher les a tués,
Les a coupés en p'tits morceaux
Et puis salés dans un tonneau.
Saint Nicolas au bout d'sept ans
Vint à passer dedans ce champ,
Alla frapper chez le boucher : "Boucher, voudrais-tu me loger?"
"Entrez, entrez, Saint Nicolas, Y'a de la place, il n'en manque pas.
" Il n'était pas sitôt entré qu'il a demandé à souper.
On lui apporte du jambon. Il n'en veut pas il n'est pas bon.
On lui apporte du rôti. Il n'en veux pas, il n'est pas cuit.
"Du p'tit salé, je veux avoir
Qu'il y a sept ans qu'est au saloir."
Quand le boucher entendit ça, Bien vivement, il se sauva.
"Petits enfants, qui dormez là, Je suis le grand Saint Nicolas."
Le Grand Saint étendit trois doigts, Les trois enfants «ressuscita».
Le premier dit : "J'ai bien dormi."
Le second dit : "Et moi aussi."
A ajouté le plus petit: "Je croyais être au Paradis."
Ils étaient trois petits enfants Qui s'en allaient glaner aux champs.
Thème 3 - La nourriture de noël
Don't forget to work on your document for presentation either next week or in thr final week.
mardi, 25 novembre
Correspondants à Caen - voir ci-dessus...
This college is already advertising and enrolling for the Spring term course detailed here.
This class will run again in January at 6 pm on Tuesdays. The classes are due to run on:
Tuesday: 13th, 20th & 27th January, 3rd, 10th, 24th February, 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th March.
(provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
The improvers' class runs from 7:30 to 9 pm on the same day.
You can register your interest in classes in January by emailing Jennifer Parr, the Adult Ed courses administrator. Alternatively, you can use the links above to register via the college website.
(provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
Thème 1
Aujourd'hui, nous allons parler du temps et les vacances en français.
We can also look at the weather and going on holiday in French Fichiers
Quel temps fait-il?
Thème 2
Clothing you may wish to put in your suitcase
Paroles dans ma valise - beaucoup de vêtements. Voir ci-dessus
Don't forget to work on your document for presentation either next week or in thr final week.
Qu'est ce que vous aimez porter chez toi ?
Est-ce qu'il vous faut porter un uniforme au travail ?
mardi, 18 novembre
Correspondants à Caen - voir ci-dessus...
This class will run again in January at 6 pm on Tuesdays. The classes are due to run on:
Tuesday: 13th, 20th & 27th January, 3rd, 10th, 24th February, 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th March.
(provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
The improvers' class runs from 7:30 to 9 pm on the same day.
You can register your interest in classes in January by emailing Jennifer Parr, the Adult Ed courses administrator. Alternatively, you can use the links above to register via the college website.
(provided the minimum number of attendees is reached - usually 6).
Aujourd'hui, on va reviser un peu de tout ce qu'on a déjà étudié pour essayer de refaire ce document ci-dessous comme compte-rendu de votre cours de débutants.
Thème 1 - Grammaire (Someone did ask, so we can look at the verbs in the present tense. This is covered in more depth in the Improvers course, along with all the other tenses that are important to being able to manipulate French successfully...). ajstarr.short.gy/frverb
Once you have mastered this, you should be able to conjugate regular -er, -ir, and -re verbs.
chanter — to sing, danser — to dance, jouer — to play, écouter — to listen, étudier — to study, travailler — to work, dîner — to have dinner, habiter — to live
choisir — to choose, réussir — to succeed, réfléchir — to think, to reflect, grandir — to grow, maigrir — to lose weight, grossir — to gain weight
attendre — to wait, entendre — to hear, répondre — to answer, perdre — to lose, rendre — to return, give back, descendre — to go down
There are many more regular verbs, unfortunately many of the verbs you would want to use were thought of before rules were thought of and so, just like in English, they do not follow the rules... "C'est le français!"
There are many resources out there on the net, some good, some not so good... my verb blog will help you and it also links some other sources. In the improvers course we go over all the main tense constructions.
Thème 2 - La Francophonie
* We will look at where French is spoken in the world.
La Francophonie
Un voyage au Québec from Entre Nous 1. We will look at how to talk about where you are going and the use of the pronoun «on» in French. EN1 Section Piste 31 Piste 32
This is from French TV and is about the city of Quebec. You'll not follow it all, but we can "mine" it for useful vocabulary and phrases to use when talking about cities in French (even if they are speaking with a Quebecois accent!!) Town
Chanson
Quels sont les mots manquants?
mardi, 11 novembre
Correspondants à Caen - voir ci-dessus...
Aujourd'hui - c'est un jour férié en France - lequel?
[Family, descriptions and jobs]
Tonight, we will look once more at how to talk in simple terms about the family in FRENCH.
We can also look at talking/writing about jobs in basic detail. We will look at some French-speaking people and their jobs from Entre Nous. Piste 21
See the video below about 'Ma famille' for some more information.
You should be able to speak and write about your family.
Perhaps you can prepare a mini presentation about your family.
This document can serve as a model for you to choose things from to keep and adapt for your own versions
Tonight, based on ideas from Entre Nous (P39-46) we may look at revising how to turn a sentence negative, revise possessive adjectives
Possible Homework:
You may wish to complete a brief page based on the model document.
On this link are beginners' videos from the 1990s BBC—Quinze Minutes Plus First 4—covering much of what we have and will cover in this 10-week course.
mardi, 4 novembre
Correspondants à Caen - voir ci-dessus...
Vérène en vair va vers le ver vert et le verre vert à l'envers
Le jour de l'armistice
Tonight, with Remembrance Day coming up this weekend, we will look a little at what the French and French Canadians do to mark the Armistice of 1918.
Demain sera le 5 novembre ... (Ce soir à Southsea Common). - La nuit des feux de joie/la nuit des feux d'artifices au Royaume Uni... Kinder Exchange PPT
We will revise the theme of family and descriptions in French first of all.
This document can serve as a model for you to choose things from to keep and adapt for your own versions
Then a bit more about where we live such as rooms and furniture.
Le jour du souvenir
mardi, 21 octobre
We will look into the theme of the upcoming holiday in France. Halloween is not very French, but la Toussaint is.
We will look at family in French first of all. Then a bit more about where we live such as rooms and furniture. I imagine that we will not get much further today...
Vocabulaire d'Halloween
La Toussaint
Halloween
Extra:
Personality: This link lists the most commonly used positive and negative personality trait adjectives and the noun associated with the adjective (often in English, this is ~ness).
Following today's class, you should be able to understand much of what is contained in these rather old videos, from BBC Schools and Colleges Collection.
mardi, 14 octobre
Today, Avez-vous un numéro fétiche?
Building on the last couple of weeks' introduction to the city of Caen and what there is to see in a town (housing and locations), we will look at what the course book Entre Nous wants to introduce us to this week.
They are using the city of Nantes in the West of France, south of Brittany, which was once in Brittany before France annexed it.
You can see the course book here online.
We will then examine why people are learning French, some personal details and how to form the present tense of regular '-er' verbs... (the joy, the bliss!) and mention the reflexives (more joy!!).
Lille is also used in the course book.
Pour rire
mardi, 7 octobre
GSR - Saturday, 18th and Sunday 19th October
For this lesson you might like to be ready to introduce yourself in French, giving your name, saying where you're from and when your birthday is...
Quelle est la date de ton anniversaire?
Revisions l'alphabet et épeler vos noms, les noms de vos villes et lieux de naissance.
Revisons les chiffres entre 1 et 20.
Travel to France - Portsmouth is twinned with Caen, so we will look at what can be seen in Caen (basic vocabulary initially based on the course book Voilà).
The course book uses Nantes as an example, but Caen is linked by ferry to Portsmouth, and it is our twin city, for which I am the committee chair...
La Gastronomie de Caen
Revision
This very young French Teacher made these vlogs for his French beginners during the Coronavirus lockdown. However, he covers many of the things we covered in class today and last week, which can serve as a reminder!
In teacher training, they say if you do something at least 6 times, you might remember them!
He certainly seems to use that method... Here is his video for the places you might find in a town - if you need it...
Un peu d'humour français... Une réponse à la question brûlante...
mardi, 30 septembre
Today, we will begin learning to speak, read and write in French and listen to French being spoken.
In the first class, we will introduce ourselves and find our reasons for learning French, as we do not all know each other yet.
- Comment vous appelez vous?
- Quel âge avez vous?
- Où habitez vous? / Vous êtes d'où?
Je m'appelle... (Je suis...)
J'ai ... ans
J'habite à .... en Angleterre/ en Grande Bretagne/ au Royaume Uni
Je suis de...
Tonight, we will answer the French questions for:
Who are you? Why are you learning French? What does France mean for you?
Qui êtes vous? Pourquoi apprenez-vous le français? Que signifie la France pour vous?
By the end of this session, you should be able to:
Introduce yourselves and spell your name (possibly the name of your street, city, or place of birth).
Can you give me your age? Your nationality? What about your occupation (i.e. student)?
What else?
What can you tell someone a little about French Grammar?
Gender, adjectives...?
Feuilles à télécharger
An earworm which will teach you the alphabet.
Another earworm for the months of the year... Quelle est la date de ton anniversaire?
This guy does a lot of beginner's videos... Now there's enthusiasm, and then there's ~Thomas!
He can, at least, serve as a reminder of the correct pronunciation, should you need one...
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