How to prepare for your French oral exam

GCSE French oral exams can be a daunting experience for students, as they are required to speak in front of an examiner and demonstrate their proficiency in the language. The pressure of public speaking, the challenge of understanding the questions, and the difficulty of expressing thoughts and ideas fluently can all contribute to making this exam a challenging experience. Additionally, students may struggle to recall vocabulary and grammar structures, and may be taken aback by unexpected questions. Despite these difficulties, proper preparation and practice can help students overcome these obstacles and perform to the best of their ability. In this blog post, we will explore the common difficulties faced by students in GCSE French oral exams and offer tips and resources to help them succeed.

Revising for a GCSE French oral exam can be challenging, but with the right preparation, you can ace it! Here are some tips to help you get the best result possible:

1. Brush up on your vocabulary: Make sure you have a good grasp of the key vocabulary and phrases needed for the exam. This will help you to express yourself confidently and accurately.

2. Listen to native speakers: Immerse yourself in the French language by listening to native speakers online or on TV. This will help you get a feel for the rhythm and pronunciation of the language.

3. Use past papers: Practise answering questions and speaking out loud using past papers and sample questions. This will help you get used to the format and structure of the exam, and identify any areas where you need to improve.

4. Record yourself: Recording yourself speaking French will allow you to hear yourself and identify any weaknesses in your pronunciation or fluency.

5. Practice with a partner: Practising with a partner can help you to improve your speaking and listening skills, as well as help you get used to communicating in French.

6. Rehearse your presentation: Make sure you have a clear structure for your oral presentation and practice it several times. This will help you to feel more confident and in control during the exam.

7. Stay relaxed: On the day of the exam, make sure you get a good night's sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast. During the exam, take deep breaths, speak clearly and remember to make eye contact with the examiner.

Here are some useful phrases that can help GCSE French students during their oral exam:

1. Introduction:

• Bonjour, comment ça va ? (Hello, how are you?)

• Je m'appelle [Name]. (My name is [Name].)

1. Talking about yourself:

• J'aime [activity]. (I like [activity].)

• Je n'aime pas [activity]. (I don't like [activity].)

• Je suis [adjective]. (I am [adjective].)

1. Talking about daily routines:

• Je me lève à [time]. (I wake up at [time].)

• Je prends le petit déjeuner à [time]. (I have breakfast at [time].)

1. Talking about school:

• J'étudie [subject]. (I study [subject].)

• Mon professeur préféré est [teacher's name]. (My favorite teacher is [teacher's name].)

1. Expressing opinions:

• Je pense que [opinion]. (I think that [opinion].)

• Je trouve que [opinion]. (I find that [opinion].)

• Je crois que [opinion]. (I believe that [opinion].)

1. Making suggestions:

• On pourrait [suggestion]. (We could [suggestion].)

• Je suggère que [suggestion]. (I suggest [suggestion].)

1. Expressing likes and dislikes:

• J'aime bien [noun/activity]. (I like [noun/activity].)

• Je n'aime pas [noun/activity]. (I don't like [noun/activity].)

1. Concluding:

• C'était agréable de parler avec vous. (It was nice talking with you.)

• Au revoir. (Goodbye.)

Your examiner may ask you the following questions:

• Comment t'appelles-tu ? (What's your name?)

• De quoi parles-tu ? (What are you talking about?)

• Quand te lèves-tu ? (When do you wake up?)

• Qu'est-ce que tu fais le matin ? (What do you do in the morning?)

• Qu'est-ce que tu étudies ? (What do you study?)

• Qui est ton professeur préféré ? (Who is your favorite teacher?)

• Qu'est-ce que tu penses ? (What do you think?)

• Tu trouves quoi ? (What do you find?)

• Tu crois quoi ? (What do you believe?)

• Qu'est-ce que tu suggères ? (What do you suggest?)

• Qu'est-ce que vous pourriez faire ? (What could you do?)

• Qu'est-ce que tu aimes ? (What do you like?)

• Qu'est-ce que tu n'aimes pas ? (What don't you like?)

• Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? (Can you repeat, please?)

• Je ne comprends pas. (I don't understand.)

It's also a good idea to practice speaking in complete sentences and using proper grammar and pronunciation.

Here are some useful vocabulary words for the topics listed above:

• Family and friends: famille, ami(e)s, mère, père, frère, sœur, grand-parent(s), cousin(e)s, mari, femme, enfant(s)

• Hobbies and interests: passe-temps, loisirs, sport, musique, dessin, lecture, cinéma, voyages, nature, cuisine

• School and education: école, université, études, professeur, matière, devoir, examen, diplôme, bibliothèque

• Daily routine: quotidien, réveil, petit déjeuner, travail, déjeuner, dîner, coucher, week-end

• Travel and holidays: voyage, vacances, destination, hôtel, avion, train, voiture, plage, montagne, musée

• Food and drink: nourriture, boisson, petit déjeuner, déjeuner, dîner, collation, fruits, légumes, viande, poisson

• Weather: temps, chaud, froid, pluie, neige, vent, nuage, soleil, orage, humidité

• Fashion and clothing: mode, vêtements, habillement, chaussures, chemise, pantalon, robe, manteau, lunettes de soleil, bijoux

• Technology and media: technologie, média, téléphone portable, ordinateur, internet, réseaux sociaux, télévision, radio, jeux vidéo, streaming

• Sports and exercise: sport, exercice, gymnase, piscine, vélo, course, yoga, musculation, football, basket-ball.

Learning Resources

You can find role-play examples for your GCSE French oral exam on these websites:

1. BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z4c6tfr

2. French Games: http://french.languagesonline.org.uk/

3. Memrise: https://www.memrise.com/courses/english/french/gcse-french/

4. The French Experiment: https://thefrenchexperiment.com/role-plays/

5. Talk in French: https://www.talkinfrench.com/role-plays/

6. Learn French Easily: https://learnfrencheasily.com/french-role-plays/

These websites provide different types of role plays, ranging from everyday conversation to more formal situations, and they will give you a good idea of what to expect during the exam. You can also use these resources to practice your French conversation skills and build confidence in speaking the language.

Here are some other learning resources you can use to help you revise for your GCSE French oral exam:

1. French language textbooks: These are a great starting point for learning the basics of the language, as well as for reviewing key grammar points.

2. Language learning apps: Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, or Rosetta Stone offer interactive lessons and activities to help you improve your French language skills.

3. French TV shows and movies: Watching French TV shows and movies is a fun way to improve your listening skills and get used to the rhythm and pronunciation of the language. For example, "Les Nouvelles Aventures d'Aladin", "H", "Les Mystères de l'Amour."

4. French radio stations: Listening to French radio stations online will give you a chance to hear the language in a natural setting and improve your listening skills. For example, NRJ France, Skyrock, France Inter.

5. French language learning websites: Websites like FrenchPod101, Loecsen, or French Together offer audio lessons and resources to help you improve your French language skills.

6. French tutors: Hiring a tutor to help you revise for your GCSE French oral exam can be a great investment. A tutor can provide personalized feedback and help you identify and overcome any weaknesses you may have.

These are just a few resources you can use to help you revise for your GCSE French oral exam. By using a combination of these resources, you can improve your French language skills and increase your chances of success in the exam.

The shows and stations mentioned above in 3 and 4 are aimed at a teenage audience and feature French music, culture and conversations suitable for students at this age level. Listening to French radio and watching French TV shows can be a fun way for students to improve their listening skills and get used to the rhythm and pronunciation of the language.

Bonne chance!