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Year 4 - French

Months of the year

Introductions: singular 'être', 'avoir', and regular adjectives

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils embed vowel and other sounds. They secure numbers 1-12 and essential verbs to be, to have and there are, describing themselves, friends and a monster. Pupils learn that 'avoir' also means 'be' for ages and states, enabling them to say with more precision how they feel.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to understand the months of the year and when people's birthday are.

Key Notes

  • The sound-symbol correspondence [am/em] sounds the same as [an/en], as in the months 'janvier' and 'septembre'.
  • Many French months of the year are cognates but are pronounced differently from English.
  • When followed by a vowel, 'mon' changes from a nasal to an oral sound, e.g. mon anniversaire.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • [am/em], [an/en]: pronounced as in 'chambre' and 'enfant'
  • SSC: sound-symbol correspondence, the relationship between letters and their sounds
  • cognate: words with the same meaning that look and sound similar or the same in French and English
  • mon, ma: possessive adjective meaning 'my' (masculine, feminine)
  • liaison: pronouncing a usually silent final consonant when followed by a vowel, e.g. mon anniversaire

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Months of the year start with capital letters in French, as in English.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.

The sound-symbol correspondence [am/em] sounds the same as [an/en], as in the months 'janvier' and 'septembre'. Many French months of the year are cognates but are pronounced differently from English.

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. '[am/em], [an/en]'

pronounced as in 'chambre' and 'enfant'. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: Months of the year start with capital letters in French, as in English. Correction: Months of the year start with lowercase letters in French, unless at the start of a sentence.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 4 French guide library.