ExamLearn.ie. The Document

Transcription

1 ExamLearn.ie The Document

2 The Document This section of the French oral exam is optional, so it is up to the student whether or not to do it. We would advise all students to do it. The document is basically something (a photo, newspaper article, French text, a poem, an advertisement, a cartoon etc.) that you bring into the oral exam and speak about. The examiner will ask you questions based on this document and you should prepare answers and vocabulary related to it. It can be very helpful with your oral grade as you can prepare for it and know for certain that you will be talking about it. Just remember that you must tell the examiner at the start of your oral that you have prepared a document to discuss. Ideas for Document: Holiday photo Team photo Photo of your animal Photo of your role model Photo of your favorite place Article on fashion/ environment/ sport/ music etc. A review of a French film you saw or French book you read A French poem Cover of a French book you read A cartoon A photo that depicts a topic you are very interested in A montage of photos We will get into further detail on these ideas and discuss how you can stand out with your own document. Examiners inevitably will get bored of seeing similar documents again and again. The key to this is to find the balance of bringing an interesting, unique document, but not to overdo the complexity of the vocabulary needed to discuss that topic.

3 Potential Document Questions Here are some questions you may be asked by the examiner on your document : Pourquoi l'avez-vous choisie? (Why did you choose it?) De quoi s'agit-il? (What is it about?) Qu'est-ce qui se passe dans la photo? (What is happening in the picture?) Où et quand a elle été prise? Par qui? (Where and when was it taken? By who?) Qui peut-on voir sur la photo? (Who can we see in the photo?) Pourquoi êtes-vous intéressé par ce sujet? (Why are you interested in this subject?) Décris-moi ce document (Describe to me this document) You must prepare answers to questions like these, along with many more prepared sentences and vocabulary related to your document. Document Example Here is an example of a document chosen by a student for their French oral. It is an image of a class on holidays in Berlin. Following the photo are sentences that were learned by the student to talk about in their oral.

4 J'ai choisi ce document parce que j'ai de bons souvenirs (memories) de mon séjour en Allemande (Germany). Je suis allé à Berlin avec ma classe en l'année de transition ainsi que cinq professeurs. La photo a été prise au mur du Berlin (Berlin Wall). C'est un monument fascinant. Nous avons regardé ce mur historique pendant un moment, alors que nous nous souvenions (as we remembered) de la division entre Berlin-Est (East Berlin) et Berlin- Ouest (West Berlin). Il y a deux couches (two layers) sur la photo. Simplement, nous voyons ma classe à côté des restes de ce mur (the remains of this wall). Cependant, la photo souligne (highlights) le passé troublé (the troubled past) de cette merveilleuse ville. Pendant notre séjour, nous sommes allés à beaucoup des monuments incroyables à Berlin. Nous avons vu (we saw) le stade Olympique, point de contrôle Charlie (Checkpoint Charlie), la bâtiment Reichstag et Alexanderplatz. La ville de Berlin a une belle architecture - j'ai été stupéfait (stunned)! Nous sommes restés pendant cinq jours au mois novembre - il faisait très froid. Nous sommes restés dans un hôtel trois étoiles (three-star hotel) dans le centre de Berlin et je partageais (I shared) une chambre avec cinq autres garçons. Pendant cinq jours, nous n'avons pas arrêté de marcher! Nous avons regardé un match de foot au stade Olympique - Hertha Berlin et Werder Bremen taient en jouant. Werder Bremen a gagné 3-0. L'ambiance (the atmosphere) était mémorable. On peut voir ma classe et mes professeurs dans la photo. Globalement (overall), je n'oublierai jamais ce voyage scolaire. Sans aucun doute, je retournerai à Berlin à l'avenir! Key Note : A document like the one above is strong and if you can develop more points and show some passion when you speak then you will score highly. However, many examiners will see documents on transition year school holidays time and time again. Therefore, you must ask yourself what do you love to talk about. Once you find out whatever that is then find a document related to this and you will find it so much easier to speak about. As we said before, authenticity and spontaneity are so important in the French oral exam. If you are speaking about something you actually love then this authenticy will shine through and examiners will reward you. If you love your dog then a photo of him/her will be much easier to speak about during the exam rather than a random school trip you went on.

5 ***Always remember that if you really prepare for the Leaving Cert French oral then you can truly surpass your own expectations. As long as you stay calm and relaxed, you will do good. Keep a sense of realness to everything you say and show off everything you have tirelessly studied. - Once you put the hard work in, it will pay off.