hobbies and interests
4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.
Lesson Overview
Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Learning Objectives
- Explain the key ideas of hobbies and interests
- Apply hobbies and interests to exam-style questions
- Develop independent study skills
- Build cross-topic connections
Prerequisites
- Read the revision notes for hobbies and interests first (GCSE Revise summary)
- Key vocab to pre-teach: key terms from hobbies and interests
- Basic skills: reading the summary notes and answering the practice questions there
Materials & Equipment
- Exercise book, coloured pens
- Ruler
- Printed revision notes (link below)
- Internet for videos (see Resources)
Lesson 1: Introduction: hobbies and interests
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Write down everything you already know about hobbies and interests. Then check against the key terms: key terms from hobbies and interests. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: key terms from hobbies and interests.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: key terms from hobbies and interests.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: hobbies and interests. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of French because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: hobbies and interests. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of French because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look
Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: Write 4 sentences in French about hobbies and interests.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Check Out
Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about hobbies and interests.
Lesson 2: Core Concepts: hobbies and interests
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Review Previous Lesson
Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on hobbies and interests. Check them against the notes below.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Key Fact: This topic covers key vocabulary and structures for hobbies and interests. You need to know the topic vocabulary, be able to use it in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing), and express opinions with reasons.
French Exam Tips — Hobbies and Interests: 1. For Hobbies and Interests, use a range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures to access higher marks 2. Check verb tenses, agreements and word order carefully in your written work 3. In translation tasks, translate meaning rather than word-for-word 4. When writing about Hobbies and Interests, include opinions and justifications, not just descriptions 5. For listening and reading, focus on key words and cognates to extract meaning
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| la lecture | reading | J'adore la lecture — I love reading |
| la bande dessinée (la BD) | comic book | Les BD sont très populaires en France — Comics are very popular in France |
| jouer du piano | to play the piano | Je joue du piano depuis trois ans — I've been playing piano for three years |
| le pass Culture | cultural pass (€300 for 18yr olds) | J'ai utilisé mon pass Culture pour des concerts — I used my pass Culture for concerts |
| une association | club/society | Je fais partie d'une association — I'm part of a club |
| la photographie | photography | Je fais de la photographie — I do photography |
| le Festival d'Angoulême | Angoulême comic festival | Le Festival d'Angoulême est le plus grand festival de BD — The Angoulême Festival is the biggest comic festival |
| le rap français | French rap | Le rap français est très populaire — French rap is very popular |
Practice (10 minutes)
Q: Write 4 sentences in French about hobbies and interests.
Answer: Four sentences using topic vocabulary, with correct adjective agreement, articles and verb conjugation. Include at least two different tenses for Higher tier.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Explain Back
Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.
Lesson 3: Application: hobbies and interests
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Recall the key terms: key terms from hobbies and interests. Define each in one sentence.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.
Q1: Write 4 sentences in French about hobbies and interests.
Answer: Four sentences using topic vocabulary, with correct adjective agreement, articles and verb conjugation. Include at least two different tenses for Higher tier.
Q2: Write a paragraph (40-60 words) giving your opinion on hobbies and interests.
Answer: A structured paragraph with: introduction (à mon avis...), opinion with reason (je pense que... parce que...), a different viewpoint (cependant...), and a conclusion (en conclusion...). Use connecting words and varied vocabulary.
Q3: Translate into French: "I think hobbies and interests is important because..."
Answer: "Je pense que [topic] est important(e) parce que..." — ensure adjective agreement (important vs importante depending on noun gender), correct verb form, and give a specific reason.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Error Review
Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.
Lesson 4: Exam Practice: hobbies and interests
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Command Words
Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).
Main Content (35 minutes)
Extended Answer
Extended question: Full-Mark Response Writing task: Write about leisure activities, reading, music, films; hobbies in different tenses; opinions and reasons. <div class="
A grade 9 answer will: use at least three tenses accurately; include complex structures (subordinate clauses, pronouns, negation); show precise grammar (agreement, conjugation, spelling); express and justify opinions; include cultural knowledge; use a wide range of vocabulary; be well-organised with connecting words (cependant, en revanche, de plus, en conclusion). Mark scheme: Content (relevance and detail) + Quality of language (accuracy and range) = total marks
Exam Tips: Use a range of tenses (present, past, future) to access higher marks | Include opinions with reasons (je pense que... parce que...) | Check adjective agreement (gender and number) before finishing | Use complex structures: negation (ne...pas, ne...jamais), pronouns (le, la, les), conjunctions (cependant, donc, en plus) | Include cultural references to French-speaking countries | For writing: plan your response, check verb conjugations, re-read for errors
Common Errors: Watch Out! Students often forget to use the perfect tense for completed past activities. Wrong: Hier, je joue au foot. Correct: Hier, j'ai joué au foot (perfect tense for completed past actions). Students also mix up à and en with countries. Wrong: Je vais à France. Correct: Je vais en France (en with feminine countries starting with consonant).
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
- Synoptic links: explain how hobbies and interests connects to another French topic you have studied
- Real-world: research one real-world use or example of hobbies and interests
- Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in hobbies and interests?"
Plenary (5 minutes)
Assessment Criteria
- Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
- Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
- Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2
Homework & Consolidation
- Consolidation: Re-answer any Lesson 3 practice questions answered incorrectly (20 mins)
- Retrieval: Write flashcards for the key terms: key terms from hobbies and interests (10 mins)
- Exam practice: One past-paper question on hobbies and interests from the board websites (15 mins)
- Extension: Explain hobbies and interests to someone else in your own words (10 mins)