Cross-curricular and cultural connections across all 3 cycles
French is spoken in over 29 countries across 5 continents, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada (Québec), Senegal, Morocco, Algeria, and many more. These countries are collectively known as 'la Francophonie'.
French first names often differ from English ones. Common French names include Emma, Léa, Manon, Inès, Lucie, Lucas, Théo, Nathan, Antoine, Louis. Many names also appear on the AQA specification list.
Key dates in the French-speaking world include: la Fête Nationale (14 juillet / Bastille Day), Noël (25 décembre), Pâques (Easter), la Toussaint (1er novembre — All Saints' Day), and la Saint-Valentin (14 février).
Famous French-speaking people come from many different countries: Stromae (Belgian singer), Aya Nakamura (French-Malian singer), Kylian Mbappé (French footballer), Celine Dion (Canadian singer), and many athletes, artists, and politicians.
In France, every day of the year is associated with a saint's name. French people traditionally celebrate their 'fête' (name day) as well as their birthday. For example, the fête of Marie is on 15 août (Assumption Day).
Le Petit Nicolas is a beloved French children's book series by René Goscinny and Jean-Jacques Sempé. It follows a young French schoolboy and his friends on funny adventures. It has been adapted into animated films and a live-action movie.
French schools are called 'collèges' (ages 11–15) and 'lycées' (ages 15–18). The school year runs from September to June, with holidays called 'les grandes vacances' in summer. In Senegal, the school system is also based on the French model, with French as the language of instruction.
In French schools, History and Geography are combined into one subject called 'Histoire-géo'. This is different from the UK, where they are typically separate subjects. The curriculum covers both French and world history alongside physical and human geography.
Most French students do NOT wear a school uniform — this is a major difference from the UK! However, schools may have a dress code ('une tenue vestimentaire'). The debate about introducing school uniforms in France is ongoing and politically debated.
School systems vary across francophone countries. In France, schools are typically large and well-equipped. In Senegal, class sizes may be larger and resources more limited. In Belgium, there are French-speaking (Walloon) and Dutch-speaking (Flemish) school systems side by side.