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The French e sound
This Kapow pupil video is part of the Kapow French scheme of work. It introduces pupils to the short French e sound, which is very different from the long “ee” sound in English. Pupils learn that when e appears within a word, it is usually pronounced as a short, flat e sound, as in je m’appelle, melon, or regardez. The video helps pupils to distinguish between English and French pronunciation, supporting accurate speaking and listening.
The narrative continues with a mouth mechanics activity, encouraging pupils to practise making the short sound by shaping their mouth as though saying the final sound in “mother.” Pupils then tune in their ears by spotting the e sound in example sentences, reinforcing listening skills. The session finishes by asking them to recall other French words they know that include this sound, helping to consolidate recognition and build confidence in reading and speaking.
French, Lower key stage 2, Year 3, Unit 1: French greetings with puppets, Lesson 1: French greetings