French/language listening

paddzdaman

Just wondering how would you prepare for the french listening? My written and comprensions are really good but just wondering how to prepare for listening and if possibly is there any resources for it?

Lor1963

I'm the same.I got 71% in French in the mocks but only 78/140 for the listening! What I'm doing to try and improve is whenever my teacher does it with us in class I do it as if it's the actual JC and mark myself :pac: I think the only thing you can do other than that is learn your vocab inside out.Maybe if you want to get a feel for listening to the language you could watch a movie that you like in French with subtitles

paddzdaman

Lor1963 wrote: »

I'm the same.I got 71% in French in the mocks but only 78/140 for the listening! What I'm doing to try and improve is whenever my teacher does it with us in class I do it as if it's the actual JC and mark myself :pac: I think the only thing you can do other than that is learn your vocab inside out.Maybe if you want to get a feel for listening to the language you could watch a movie that you like in French with subtitles

Unfortunately were not the same 47% in mock and 44/140 in listening . Went on french revision coarse and really improved my written. We have had 4 french teachers in 3 years. 3 out of 4 have been poor and the other was absolutely brilliant but became principle halfway through first year barely any good french teachers out there at all. Really if I can improve on listening could get high B or possibly A. Girl in my year did class in the listening yet did utterly brutal in written and scrapped a B. Also how do you work from your vocab? I have a load of vocab from former listening but dont know if it will be enough. Revise wise has a bit too much vocab! Have to keep head down till june anyway:D

Lor1963

I'd say just learn as much vocab as you can.Maybe you could try to get used to listening to the language by putting some of the past listening comprehensions on your phone or Ipod and listening to them before you listen to your music :pac:

suitcasepink

You should CDs with your French book and your exam paper you should listen to them and practice them as much as you can. Coz really the only way you'll improve them is to keep doing them, its all very well to know the vocab but you need to get used to hearing people say it
Also you could try listening to French radio stations or find a French film/tv show and watch it, though thats more recommended for LC level(And its fair hard then still :P)
But coming from someone who was appalling at aurals in JC, practice, practice, practice and they become sooooo much easier

Troxck

I know this is a bit off topic but it does have to do with the French paper. I am the complete opposite to you, I got nearly full marks in the comprehensions, 80% in the listening but then 17/80 for my writing. I really want a B for the JC so if you have any tips for the written, and if you need any more tips for the listening, I'm here. Sorry that it's a bit off topic

Bazinga_N

It's probably a bit too late to be buying books at this stage, but for someone in the future or if you really want to improve, I recommend this book;

http://www.schoolbooks.ie/22276-1286-0-Folens+Ecoutez+Bien%21+1+School+Book

Or something like that. There really handy. Other than that I would just say use the CD that came with your exam papers.

KirkCheated09

Lads yas are all saying to learn more vocab and learn loads of random vocab.. utter ****e.

The OP is four weeks from the JC so I assume they're not looking to perfect the language instead just prepare for the exam.

The listening is the same format year in year out and asks the same q's year in year out. So basically just learn the vocab of each section and then it's basically just a reading comprehension.

Troxck

Well, what I do is write words that may come up in the conversation. For the very first listening question in is conversations. Write next to it a word or two that may be mentioned, it could be a key word that triggers others and you can get it. That works for me and I do fairly all right, might not be the best but it's all I can offer.

robman60

I think the best way to improve your listening is to use the CD included in exam papers. It's not all about vocabulary, as I often found I wouldn't get the correct answer simply because I was unable to decipher what I'd heard, not because I didn't know the vocabulary. Personally I wouldn't recommend watching French movies with subtitles as you'll find yourself completely lost without a greater level of fluency.

I was (am!) obsessed with French, and I also found making lists of useful vocabulary (not on any particular topic, just common words that popped into my head) was a HUGE help when it came to the exam. You'd be absolutely amazed how frequently the same words are re-appearing in your papers, so covering as many words as you can is always useful.

It's not too late to make some lists now, you have plenty of time to improve before your exam.

Hannahbanana97

I'm having the aural spoken to me (both irish and french) next thursday, so i can tell you whats in it!(;

xfabgalx

how so? ^

Hannahbanana97

You can just apply for it and they'll send out a fluent speaker to you and then'll be able to speak it to you. Really good, cause I'm a genius at lip reading and i can get a glimpse of the paper they're reading the extract from..(;