Using a Venn Diagram to Improve Recognition of Different Tenses in French (Music Topic).

Understanding and using a range of tenses is a key element of a GCSE in languages. This activity is designed to improve recognition of different tenses and also confidence handling several different tenses at once.

Challenge groups or pairs to race each other to correctly sort the French sentences about music using a Venn diagram.

Ask pupils to make a very large copy of the Venn diagram on slide 2 of the PowerPoint presentation. This would ideally be A3 or bigger. They should cut out the sentences about music and then place them on the right section of the diagram depending on the tenses they can see within each of the short texts. To save learning time, you could prepare a Venn diagram and pack of sentences for each group in advance of the lesson. The teacher could circulate during this activity asking individuals questions about their choices e.g. how do you know that this text has both present and past tense verb forms? Explain why you have placed that text in that part of the Venn diagram.

Pupils could make an individual copy of their group’s solution using the ‘answers’ sheet attached. Use slide 3 of the presentation to discuss/share answers.