des E a r l14. y As-tu Sta r frères t F rete des n csoeurs? h Pack 1
14. As-tu des frères et des soeurs? Brothers and sisters
This section introduces pupils to talking about their immediate families. The focus is on brothers and sisters, because that is the natural emphasis in children’s conversation. The vocabulary for parents and other close relatives can also be introduced. Many activities revolve around “imaginary families” so pupils do not only talk about their own circumstances. Teachers should be sensitive to individual children's circumstances. Pupils will use the plural form of nouns which you might have already introduced with pets. This will only be apparent if they are reading or writing, as in French the singular of brother/sister sounds exactly the same as the plural.
Films to see
14a I've got a brother and a sister EX TRA: use the titl e 14b - Do you have any brothers song, “Salut! Ça va?”, on karaoke or sisters? e-flashcards 14c - Reading and Writing
NEW WORDS AND PHRASES
un frère une soeur deux frères deux soeurs -
a/one brother a/one sister two brothers two sisters
As-tu des frères et des soeurs? Have you got brothers and sisters?
DVD: Film 14
Je n'ai pas de frère I haven't got any brothers
Film 14 shows animations of different combinations of brothers and sisters, then French children talking about how many brothers and sisters they have. It starts with two children saying: Girl: “J'ai un frère...” Boy: “...et moi, j'ai une soeur.”
Je n'ai pas de soeur I haven't got any sisters Je n'ai ni frères, ni soeurs I have neither brothers nor sisters
(Note: “et moi” literally means, “and me”; this phrase is commonly used by French speakers to add extra emphasis, like saying: “I've got a brother..” “..and I've got a sister”)
Flashcards CD 14
Animated cartoons: un frère une soeur Children: “J'ai une soeur.” “J'ai une soeur.” “J'ai un frère.” “J'ai une soeur.” “J'ai une soeur.” “J'ai une soeur.” “J'ai un frère.” Animated cartoons: “J'ai un frère.” (The giant Phinaert) “J'ai deux frères.” “J'ai deux soeurs.” “J'ai un frère et deux soeurs.” “J'ai trois soeurs et deux frères.”
110
Children drawing their brothers and sisters and saying their names: “J'ai deux soeurs et deux frères, Olivia, Valéria, Mario et Mateo.” “J'ai deux soeurs, Sarah et Mathilde.” Animated cartoons: “Je n'ai pas de frère.” “Je n'ai pas de soeur.” “Je n'ai ni frères ni soeurs.” Question and answer: Children respond to the question, “As-tu des frères et des soeurs?” The sequence finishes with a child asking, “Et toi, as-tu des frères et des soeurs?
1 . 1 4 A s -14. t uAs-tu d e sdesf frères r è r e et s des o u soeurs? des soeurs? jump up. Now say “J'ai deux frères” and pupils who have two brothers jump up. Repeat this with three, four, brothers etc. in sequence. Then do the same with sisters. ❑ Play “brothers or sisters?” Say “Je n'ai pas de frère”. Pupils who do not have any brothers jump up. Now say “Je n'ai pas de soeur”. Pupils who do not have any sisters jump up. Now say “Je n'ai ni frères ni soeurs”. Pupils who do not have any brothers or any sisters jump up. Repeat the phrases several times varying the order in which you say them.
“J'ai une soeur.” - from film 14.
Planning your lessons
Keep it simple! Plan activities from those suggested to give children lots of practice at listening and talking, first about each other’s families, then imaginary ones and other variations.
❑ Play “how many brothers and sisters? 2 You can now move on to include different combinations of brothers and sisters as well as the phrases “Je n'ai pas de frère”, “Je n'ai pas de soeur” and “Je n'ai ni frères ni soeurs”. Pupils will have to listen very carefully to hear the statement that fits with their own families.
Activities
1. Warm up
❑ Before watching film 14, it is a good idea to have a brief “warm up” session to remind pupils of all they can now say in French about themselves: for example, ask several pupils their names, ages, birthdays and whether they have any pets. If you have time, play a quick game to reinforce this vocabulary.
2. Watch film 14
❑ Watch film 14:“As-tu des frères et des soeurs?” Stop before the written words are shown on the screen. Cut up copies of the activity sheet for 15 cards representing different numbers of brothers and sisters.
3. Get used to the sounds
❑ Draw a stick figure of a boy on the board or use the cut out figures from the activity sheet on the OHP. Say“J'ai un frère” and ask pupils to echo the phrase. Now draw a representation of a girl and say “J'ai une soeur”. Pupils echo the phrase. Then add another boy figure and say “J'ai deux frères”. Pupils echo the phrase. Repeat this with two girls, three boys, etc.
❑ Play “how many brothers and sisters?” 3 Make several copies of the activity sheet and cut out the 15 cards. Mount them on stiff card if they are going to be handled regularly. Give everyone one of the pictures. When you call out, for example, “J'ai deux frères et trois soeurs”, the pupils with cards showing two brothers and three sisters, hold up their pictures. You could divide the class into two for this activity and make it into a game to see who can be first to hold up their picture.
4. Respond with understanding
❑ Play “how many brothers and sisters? 1 Say “J'ai un frère”. Pupils who have one brother
111
des E a r l14. y As-tu Sta r frères t F rete des n csoeurs? h Pack 1 ❑ Now move round the room asking different pupils, “As-tu des frères et des soeurs?”. Pupils reply according to the picture they hold. e.g. “J'ai un frère et deux soeurs”. On another occasion you can ask pupils to respond according to their real circumstances. ❑ Working in pairs: play “snap” Give each pupil a copy of the activity sheet and ask them to cut out the groups of brothers and sisters. In pairs, pupils use a minimum of two sets to play ”snap”. When two identical cards appear one after the other, the first child to correctly call out what is on the card, collects the pile.
different numbers of brothers and sisters. The survey can be conducted in French and the results presented in a graph.
❑ Talking about pets and families Many of the activities described above can be used to give pupils practice talking about their pets as well as their brothers and sisters. The plural forms of the pets introduced in section 13: “As-tu un animal?” are included in that chapter’s “extra words and phrases”.
See the Early Start website for
ideas for suitable software www.earlystart.co.uk
❑ Art and design: Pupils can draw pictures of their brothers and sisters. They can then present their pictures to the rest of the class as the children do on the video: “J'ai un frère et une soeur, Andrew et Emily.”
Cultural awareness
When pupils have had the opportunity to practise the words and phrases for talking about their brothers and sisters, you could start discussing aspects of family life with them. See this chapter's “talking point” about family sizes in France.
❑ ICT: Pupils can word-process labels in French for their pictures. ❑ Drama: Pupils can use their puppets to develop conversations which include the new words and phrases they have learnt for talking about their brothers and sisters. This will give them practice in asking questions as well as responding to them.
Watch film 14 again
❑ Watch film 14: “As-tu des frères et des soeurs?” again for reinforcement - show the last part if you want to introduce the written word....
Introduce the written word
❑ Drama: Pupils who enjoy role-playing can develop extended conversations which involve
Watch film 14 again, including the last part where each key word and phrase is heard again, with the words superimposed on the pictures. If you have not already done so, talk to pupils about how the plurals of ‘brother’ and ‘sister’ are said and written in French.
1
HOW FRENCH WORKS 1: Hearing plurals
When you listen to film 14 and the Flashcards CD, you will hear that the words “frère” and “frères” sound exactly the same: “un frère” (a/one brother) “deux frères” (two brothers). The “s” which makes the word plural is silent. The same applies to the words “soeur” and “soeurs”.
CROSS CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
❑ Data handling and ICT: Pupils can do a class survey to find out how many people have
112
1 . 1 4 A s -14. t uAs-tu d e sdesf frères r è r e et s des o u soeurs? des soeurs? FLASHCARDS CD for the teacher The pronunciation of all these words and phrases can be heard on the Flashcards CD.
EXTRA WORDS AND PHRASES
When pupils say how many brothers or sisters they have, they can simply add their names - asthe French children do in film 14:
Pupil: “J'ai deux soeurs, Sarah et Mathilde.” ASKING THE QUESTION
The teacher may want a prompt with which to ask the names of a pupil’s brothers or sisters:
Pupil: “J'ai ... frère(s)/soeur(s).” Teacher:
..et ton frère? Il s'appelle?
..your brother? What’s his name?
..et ta soeur? Elle s'appelle?
..your sister? What’s her name?
..et tes frères? Ils s'appellent?
..your brothers? What are their names?
..et tes soeurs? Elles s'appellent?
..your sisters? What are their names?
..et tes frères et tes soeurs? Ils s'appellent?
..your brothers and sisters? What are their names? N.B. listen to the verbs - they all sound the same!
HOW PUPILS REPLY
The most natural language would be for a pupil to reply with just the names, rather than the stilted-sounding repetition of the question. Flashcards CD 14
talking about and introducing their brothers and sisters and pets. The children could make up names for themselves and pretend to be groups of brothers and sisters meeting in a particular context such as moving into a new house or flat, meeting at the beach club etc.
Introduction) - ready to show to their parents and their next teacher.
Recording and Assessment
Children are ready to record their achievements to date on the third and final sheet of “can-do statements”: PETS to BROTHERS AND SISTERS (find it after Chapter 15). Each child could keep their completed sheet as part of their European Languages Portfolio (see
113
des E a r l14. y As-tu Sta r frères t F rete des n csoeurs? h Pack 1
Talking point
Flashcards CD for the teacher
Everyday life in France: How many brothers and sisters?
EXTRA WORDS AND PHRASES
Today French families are quite small. Most French women do have children (about 90%) but the average mother has only 1.78 children. This means that the typical French child has only one brother or sister, and that many are single children. Large families (3 or more children) are now quite rare in France.
un demi-frère une demi-soeur ma mère mon père ma belle-mère mon beau-père ma grand-mère mon grand-père ma tante mon oncle
- a half-brother - a half-sister - my mother - my father - my step-mother - my step-father - my grandmother - my grandfather - my aunt - my uncle
Flashcards CD 14
We have included just the phrases most likely to be asked for by pupils. You may choose not to teach these at this stage.
Cultural awareness
“J'ai un frère et deux soeurs.” This would be an unusually large family in France today!
■ Exchange information with your French partner school about how many brothers and sisters each pupil has. ■ Pupils could draw all the people in their household, perhaps in a typical family scene. They could add labels in French with the names and ages of their brothers and sisters, and swap the pictures with a class in a Frenchspeaking country. ■ You could talk with the class about being part of a larger family, or being an only child. ❒ - how is it different? ❒ - what are the good and bad points? ❒ - do they like being an older/younger brother/sister?
How family sizes have changed
Back in 1850, the average French family would have had about 5 children. A generation ago, the parents of today’s children were brought up in families of typically 2 - 3 children.
The evolution of family life
In France, many children today live in a household that includes children from other relationships. In most such “mixed” families, a child will refer in casual conversation to the other children they live with as their “brothers” or “sisters”. When discussing brothers or sisters, most pupils would be used to counting all of the children they live with. We include some useful extra vocabulary in case it is required.
For more sources of information about families and social change in France, see: www.earlystart.co.uk
114
Je m'appelle
This page may be photocopied for classroom use. 114
This page may be photocopied for classroom use
© Early Start Languages
© Copyright 2010 Early Start Languages
