Les Planètes Phoniques
Lesson 21 : the ‘un’ sound (also ‘um’)
Links to the KS3 Framework (2009 version) :
1.1
Understanding and responding to the spoken word
Identify gist and some detail in face-to-face exchanges, spoken passages,
stories and songs.
1.5
Presenting and narrating
ii. Speak clearly, audibly and with accurate pronunciation.
4.1
Letters and Sounds
Apply knowledge of common letter strings, sound patterns,
accents and other characters.
5.1
Identifying patterns in the target language
Identify patterns of pronunciation.
5.6
Reading aloud
Read aloud texts with increasing fluency, accuracy and expression,
showing awareness of meaning.
Activity
Teaching sequence
Starter activity
Ask the pupils what all the words they are about to hear have in common.
The words are un croissant, un cheval, un genou, un stylo, un chat, un pain
au chocolat, un nez.
Try to draw out that it is the ‘un’ sound at the beginning of each word. Ask pupils
if they know what it means. Next show the pupils the text of the words, and
again see if they can work out what it means. If appropriate, explain that ‘un’
is the word for ‘a’ in French. Say that there is another word for ‘a’. If they
understand the concept of different genders you can explain what ‘une’ means.
An important skill in French is being able to differentiate between the words ‘un’
and the ‘une’.
Resource: Planète ‘un’ Powerpoint slides 1 and 2
Les Planètes Phoniques
Activity
Teaching sequence
Listen to the correct
pronunciation of
some words with
the ‘un’ sound in
Show slide 3 and explain that today we are going to visit ‘la Planète un’.
Show slide 3 and look at some words with the ‘un’ sound in, and listen to
the correct pronunciation.
Resource: Planète ‘un’ Powerpoint slides 3
Listening activity
Explain that the ‘un’ sound is a nasal sound, and when they say it they should
touch their nose and feel it vibrate.
Ask the pupils to listen to the following rhyme. They should either do a tally
of the number of times they hear the ‘un’ sound.
Un chien, une chienne,
un Monsieur, une dame,
un père, une mère,
un chat, un rat, une tortue, un loup,
un lion, un cochon, une souris, un fruit
Ask the pupils how many times they heard the sound.
Now show the next slide with the written words as well as the sound and
ask the pupils to check if they were correct (the correct answer is 9).
Ask them how many words were masculine words.
Resource: Planète ‘un’ Powerpoint slides 4 and 5
Speaking practice
Pupils listen to Noah counting the animals onto the ark, and then practise the
same spoken text. They could then continue the list if they can think of any
more animals to add. Ask pupils to pay particular attention to the pronunciation
of the word ‘un’.
Un lapin, deux lapins,
un lion, deux lions,
un cochon, deux cochons,
un tigre, deux tigres,
un serpent, deux serpents
Some volunteers can say this in front of the class. This would be a good
opportunity to record pupils speaking or video them.
Resource: Planète ‘un’ Powerpoint slide 6
Plenary
Sight unseen words:
Ask pupils to read out the following words, using their knowledge of how
‘un’ is pronounced:
un stylo, un pain au chocolat
Then show the next slide with the correct pronunciation, so that pupils can
hear if they were correct. If appropriate, ask pupils to repeat the words.
Resource: Planète ‘un’ Powerpoint slides 7 and 8