Teachers say French exam needs to be modernised

Leaving Certificate FrenchThe Higher level French paper was yesterday described as "pedantic" and "off-putting" by teachers who complained that the syllabus committee has failed to meet in seven years to review and modernise the subject.

Mary Costelloe, a TUI subject representative and teacher in St Patrick's Comprehensive School, Shannon, Co Clare, said she was displeased with the paper as it was both "off-putting" and "inaccessible" to students.

She added that the general thrust of the paper was "pedantic" with comprehensions and written sections failing to appeal to young people and the modern era. "French is such a beautiful language that it is a shame the examiners don't make it more exciting and attractive," said Ms Costelloe, who is a member of the French syllabus committee. She feels the committee should be meeting on an annual basis to review the papers and suggest improvements.

Some 28,449 students took Leaving Cert French yesterday, with 16,206 students completing the Higher paper and 12,243 the Ordinary level.

Written questions based on a problem a friend helped resolve, the elderly and sending an e-mail to France were welcomed as predictable yet challenging options. However, a question referring to the "gutter press" and why people continue to read tabloid newspapers despite frequent disapproval of their content was criticised by Ms Costelloe as being too specific. "Likewise a question on comparing holidays in 1956 to today and explaining how times have changed was too limiting. It would have been better to ask a general question on holidays."

However, Corinne Gavenda, a French teacher in the Institute of Education, Dublin, maintained the paper was well laid out and provided questions which were unambiguous. "The question on the lack of politeness today was very much in line with what schools would have prepared, while the question on the World Cup, on friendship and sport was an obvious topic to come up."

The listening comprehension, however, was described as "quite tough" and proved more difficult than last year's aural.

Maire Ní Chiarba, an ASTI subject representative and teacher in Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, Gleann Maghair, Co Chorcaí, said the comprehensions were good pieces of literature. Accompanying questions were direct and provided for plenty of choice.

She felt that the well-prepared student should have encountered few difficulties with the ordinary level paper. Comprehensions based on talking on the phone while driving and spending a year abroad were welcomed as accessible themes which were of interest to students.