Reading aloud clearly
Reading a French passage aloud tests whether your pronunciation habits actually work under pressure.
Part of your national curriculum
- Speaking: Use accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Use accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases
Key learning points
- • Nasal sounds
- • The letter 'r'
- • Reading with expression
This lesson at a glance
- 22 minutes
- 17 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 17
Visual introductionPicture this
Reading aloud clearly
Reading a French passage aloud tests whether your pronunciation habits actually work under pressure.
In a nutshell
Use accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 17
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Nasal sounds
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 17
Learn
Nasal sounds
Letters 'in', 'an', 'on' and 'un' produce nasal vowel sounds with no following consonant sound: 'un bon vin blanc' has four nasal sounds in a row. Practising these prevents mispronouncing common words.
Reset break
Part 4 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 17
Learn
The letter 'r'
The French 'r' is made at the back of the throat, unlike the English 'r'. Words like 'rouge' (red) and 'Paris' need this throaty sound to be understood clearly by a French listener.
Quick check
Part 6 of 17
Quick check
Part 7 of 17
Reset break
Part 8 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 17
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Reading with expression
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 17
Learn
Reading with expression
Match your tone to punctuation: a question mark needs rising intonation, an exclamation mark needs energy. Reading 'Quelle bonne idée !' flatly loses its meaning of genuine enthusiasm.
Quick check
Part 11 of 17
Reset break
Part 12 of 17
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 4 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 13 of 17
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 14 of 17
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Match your tone to punctuation: a question mark needs rising ____, an exclamation mark needs energy.
____ 'Quelle bonne idée !' flatly loses its meaning of genuine enthusiasm.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 17
Game · Recall cards
How is '-oi-' pronounced in 'trois'?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 16 of 17
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Reading aloud clearly
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. How is '-oi-' pronounced in 'trois'?
2. Which sound type appears in 'un bon vin blanc'?
3. Where is the French 'r' typically produced?
4. Reading 'Quelle bonne idée !' aloud should sound...
Lesson round-up
Part 17 of 17
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
Not sat
Games
Not played
Points this lesson
0
Best run
0 in a row
Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 17 · Watch & discover
How this is going
- Not looked at yet
Use accurate pronunciation and intonation so that others understand when they are reading aloud or using familiar words and phrases