In addition to preparing its pupils for the Matriculation Examination set by the local Department of Education, the teachers of the French Department at Bishops aim to foster a love for all things French in those lads who decide to take the language as one of their subjects at the College. Boys are continually reminded of the advantage of leaving the College with an additional modern language tucked in their back pockets, particularly seeing how widely French is spoken in Africa and in the rest of the world. Lessons focus on the communicative approach to the language, with pupils being encouraged to engage in French with the teacher and with others in the class. Modern text-books and cassettes are used to reinforce what has been taught to the boys and to extend vocabularies.

Further exposure to the language comes in the form of songs, poems and the reading of ‘documents authentiques’, drawn from a wide variety of newspapers, magazines and websites, while pupils are also invited to attend the meetings of the French Club which are held once or twice a term.

French is certainly alive and well at Bishops.