Course overview
View or print a French language brochure (PDF 10 MB)
Stage 5 (Years 9 & 10)
The Year 9 and Year 10 courses are structured to meet the needs of every student in a blended learning environment. Each student will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of diverse activities and interactive tasks. These self-directed learning practices are aimed at fostering an environment in which students can work at a pace best suited to individual learning needs in developing their language skills. The self-correcting grammar exercises are designed to enhance the acquisition of language structures by providing ample practice and on-going self-evaluation. The exercises in the Canvas online learning platform, allow students to measure success and target areas of weakness. They further assist the teacher in identifying and promptly addressing targeted areas of weakness.
Incorporated into the program is an oral component. Students will have a regular weekly speaking lesson with their teacher to practise their spoken French. This is a valuable opportunity for them to seek further assistance and support from their teacher. The written component in their course work will be submitted for correction upon completion of each unit of work. Each course will comprise ongoing formal assessments. There will be an examination in Term 4.
Note: A face-to-face lesson day is scheduled once a term onsite at New South Wales School of Languages (NSL) in Petersham. Relevant information is distributed to students and their home schools ahead of the lesson day. In Term 4, teachers will endeavour to organise an excursion to the Alliance Française de Sydney or other suitable cultural and linguistic venue.
French 200-hour course (2-year course delivered over Years 9 & 10)
For Year 9 students, all the learning materials are available in the e-learning class in Canvas. It is not necessary to purchase additional resources. The course contains a variety of interactive learning activities which cater for all levels of knowledge. There are 32 modules to complete, ranging in topics such as hobbies and interests, celebrations, food, and school. The course programs provide an excellent environment for the learner to gain proficiency and confidence through a flexible approach and a variety of innovative activities.
For Year 10 students, the learning materials are also in Canvas. The course contains 32 modules. The topics range from holidays, free time, the start of the school year, traditional recipes to talking about films, etcetera. Students should purchase a bilingual French print dictionary. Details below.
French 100-hour course (1 year course for Year 10 students)
The Year 10 French 100 hour course is designed for students who have not previously studied French. Students who complete the 100-hour course, remain eligible for the Stage 6 Beginners course, dependant on meeting other criteria. This course is excellent preparation for the Stage 6 Beginners course.
Students should purchase a bilingual French print dictionary. Details below.
Stage 6 (Years 11 & 12)
French Beginners
The Stage 6 French Beginners course is a new course developed by NSL for students with very little or no prior study of the language. It is delivered online via the Canvas learning platform. Students complement their online written and aural work with a weekly speaking lesson in which they practise French with their teacher through prescribed and adequately scaffolded speaking activities. Students cover a range of syllabus topics and language features via interactive self-correcting activities, whole group digital interactions and discussions, and the production of creative texts.
The online course is complemented by a face-to-face lesson day once every term. Students attend NSL to meet each other and their teachers, to learn together via a range of specially designed learning activities, including games, competitions and French cooking.
Students should purchase a bilingual French print dictionary. Details below.
French Continuers
The Stage 6 French Continuers course is a course produced for learning via distance education by NSL with audio files and online activities embedded in Canvas. On completion of the course modules, there is additional material, which students can study to consolidate their learning and prepare for exams.
From 2025, both the Preliminary and HSC French Continuers courses will be delivered on Canvas.
The Stage 6 French Continuers course is very comprehensive and aims to develop all four skill areas. Additionally, material has been produced in each skill area to be completed simultaneously with each unit of work to consolidate the skills and to develop examination technique. Speaking lessons are organised on a weekly basis with the aim of developing the students' conversational skills.
Students should purchase a bilingual French print dictionary. Details below.
French Extension
Our brand-new French course is designed to explore a selection of 10 prescribed songs. Students will engage in diverse activities, including interactive canvas exercises, class discussions, in-depth writing tasks, and personalised online speaking lessons, all aimed at exploring contemporary issues and preparing students for HSC assessments. Through this course, students will not only deepen their enjoyment of language learning but also gain valuable insights into French-speaking communities.
Students should purchase a bilingual French print dictionary. Details below.
Course materials
The following is a list of learning materials which need to be purchased for the specified course. All prices are approximate. If a course is not listed, the materials are provided by NSL via the Canvas learning platform.
Textbooks
HSC French Extension Prescribed Text 2025-2030
Prescribed texts: a selection of songs by various artists.
Texts for study
There are 10 songs prescribed for study.
- Text 1 - ‘La fille’ by Louane (2022)
- Text 2 - ‘Carmen’ by Stromae (2015)
- Text 3 - ‘Pour la vie’ by Patrick Bruel (1999)
- Text 4 - ‘Santé’ by Stromae (2022)
- Text 5 - ‘Les Restos du Coeur’ by JJ Goldman (1985)
- Text 6 - ‘Le bon côté de la charité’ by Michèle Bernard (1982)
- Text 7 - ‘Lève-toi' by Barbara Pravi (2023)
- Text 8 - ‘Ma France à moi’ by Diam’s (2006)
- Text 9 - ‘Né en 17 à Leidenstadt’ by JJ Goldman (1991)
- Text 10 - ‘J’y suis j’y reste’ by Zebda (2002)
Available online.
Dictionaries
Students should have a comprehensive language dictionary. We recommend the purchase of one of the following dictionaries:
Collins French Dictionary and Grammar
Larousse Concise Dictionary
Concise Oxford-Hachette French Dictionary. Oxford University Press
Foreign Language Dictionaries - Bilingual Dictionaries French
Dictionaries may be purchased from Abbey’s Bookshop in store at 171 York St Sydney or online at abbeys.com.au
In addition, for Smartphone and tablet users, we highly recommend the fast and easy to use Larousse English-French Dictionary App available from:
Apple App Store
Android Google Play
Please note that online dictionaries are not permitted to be used in exams. Only print dictionaries may be used in some assessments.
Stage 6 Syllabuses (from NESA)
Go to the NESA syllabus download page for more information on the syllabus.