Is it hard to get a H1 in French?

Is it hard to get a H1 in French?

Is it hard to get a H1 in French? Yes, it is and that applies to all subjects. However, it is not impossible, as so many of my past students will attest to.

A lot of students feel that they are either ‘into’ languages or they are not. The truth of it is that French as an exam subject, is not that difficult. Attaining a H1 in French is possible with the right approach.

Here are my top tips for achieving a maximum grade:

Get organized! Having a French Notes Copybook is the first step to success. Divide your copybook into the following divisions:

• Common words
• Thematic words
• Joining words
• Verbs
• Verbal Expressions
• Vocabulary from Listening
• Vocabulary from Reading
• Question words
• Proverbs
• Adjectives/Adverbs
• Grammar Rules
• Use a different copybook for the oral component of the exam.

French is unusual in that the four linguistic skills carry similar weight:

• Listening 20%
• Reading 30%
• Writing 25%
• Speaking 25%
• Bearing this in mind, you should allot your time equally between the four skills.

Topic-based learning:

There are roughly 20 Different Themes that you have to cover in the Leaving Cert French Exam. (Please visit French Notes’ homepage for a list of these).

I suggest that you take a theme such as the environment or equality and that you use the four skills to cover this topic:

• Read an article about the environment.
• Find 20 words about the environment.
• Listen to an audio file about the environment.
• Write 3 sample questions and answers on the environment.
• Write an opinion question or a diary/narrative about the environment.
• You should do this for every topic you come across. I do this consistently with my students in my online classes and they really get a better understanding of French and how the language works. You would be surprised at how this simple strategy has helped so many students get a H1 in French.

Immerse yourself in French:

• Listen to French music/podcasts/Netflix shows etc.
• Read a short article every day. The internet is full of fantastic French articles.
• Listen to the news in French.
• Follow social media pages that teach French.

Exam Papers:

If you have not yet started with Exam papers, get a set and start ASAP! Practice them and download the marking schemes that accompany the papers. Exam Papers are a great way of working on your timing and understanding the layout of the exam.

Practice makes perfect:

You will just have to keep practicing your

• Writing
• Reading
• Listening
• Speaking skills

If you want to get a H1 in French. Aim to work on these four skills, giving each equal time. Another tip that works really well is to pick 10 words a day from your French Notes copybook and write a sentence using those words.

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