Influence of standards implementation on students motivation in the

French classroom

Innsbruck, Sept. 17th, 2011

Dr. Mareschal Michel, BG/BRG Purkersdorfmichel.mareschal@gympurkersdorf.ac.at

FRENCH TEACHING IN AUSTRIAN SECONDARY

SCHOOLS BEFORE STANDARDS

IMPLEMENTATION

MAJOR SKILL: WRITING

first priority:avoiding language mistakes

grammar correction

spelling correction

ERROR FREE WRITING

step 1: choosing (complex) subjects

step 2: reading original texts (C2)

step 3: writing using content and language of original texts

IMPACT ON STUDENTS

excessive demand

no autonomous writing

discouragement + disappointment

content oriented – learning by heart

A-LEVEL (REIFEPRÜFUNG)“writing part“

no listening comprehension

no reading comprehension

writing only/ dictionary allowed= 100%

A-LEVEL (REIFEPRÜFUNG)“writing part“ / new “version”

listening comprehension for students learning French 6 years

no reading comprehension

writing / dictionary allowed100% [or 80% + 20% listening]

WRITINGWRITINGWRITINGWRITING

GRAMMARGRAMMARGRAMMARGRAMMAR

LISTENINGLISTENINGLISTENINGLISTENING SPEAKINGSPEAKINGSPEAKINGSPEAKING

READINGREADING

WRITINGWRITING

WRITINGWRITINGWRITINGWRITING

UNEQUAL SKILLS

UNEQUAL SKILLS

FRENCH TEACHING IN AUSTRIAN SECONDARY

SCHOOLS SINCE STANDARDS

IMPLEMENTATION

[to be finalised 2013/14]

« Je revendique toujours une part de subjectivité dans la note attribuée à un candidat. Si l’on essaye à tout prix de la supprimer, on risque de rendre les enseignants très mal à l’aise. Les examinateurs et les enseignants sont des professionnels formés. D’un autre côté, il ne s’agit pas non plus de laisser libre cours à la subjectivité, qui doit être réduite autant qu’on le peut et c’est là le rôle des barèmes. »

Christine Tagliante, L’évaluation et le Cadre européen commun, Clé International, 2007

LISTENING LISTENING COMPREHENSIONCOMPREHENSION

LISTENING LISTENING COMPREHENSIONCOMPREHENSION

WRITINGWRITINGWRITINGWRITING LANGUAGELANGUAGEin USEin USE

LANGUAGELANGUAGEin USEin USE

READINGREADINGCOMPREHENSIONCOMPREHENSION

READINGREADINGCOMPREHENSIONCOMPREHENSION

SPEAKINGSPEAKINGSPEAKINGSPEAKING

EQUAL SKILLS

EQUAL SKILLS

A-LEVEL (REIFEPRÜFUNG)“writing part“ [not yet completely finalised]

listening comprehension

reading comprehension

[language in use]

[writing/ no dictionary allowed]

IMPACT ON STUDENTS

well-balanced demand

fair

encouragement + satisfaction

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• students motivation

increase

• increasing motivation

result from standards implementation: skills are equally taught and tested

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS

• students performances

change for the better

• number of students choosing French

increase

Thank you very much for your attention!