This French video introduces teachers to two of the most important and irregular verbs in French: être (to be) and avoir (to have). Pupils will already have encountered them in previous contexts, but this lesson places them centre stage, with a strong emphasis on correct pronunciation and confidence in using them. The warm-up activity encourages children to practise their “French voice,” paying attention to tricky phonics and avoiding the common pitfall of reading cognates as if they were English.

This video is part of Kapow Primary’s French scheme of work – grammar. It shows how, once pronunciation and basic structures are secure, pupils can take on the role of dynamic language teachers themselves. By working in pairs or groups, they practise and model different forms of être and avoir, strengthening memory through repetition and peer teaching. The approach not only deepens understanding of these irregular verbs but also develops independence, listening, and speaking skills, ensuring children feel confident applying them in their own French sentences.

French, Upper key stage 2, Year 5, Unit 5: Verbs in a French week, Lesson 4: French irregulars – to have and to be