Grade 6 Core French: how to help at home
What your child learns in Grade 6 core french in the Ontario Curriculum, and simple things to try at home.
The Big Ideas this year
- Listening to French and responding to it builds understanding, one step at a time.
- Speaking and interacting in French uses familiar words and sentence patterns.
- Reading a range of French texts builds comprehension and an eye for how texts are put together.
- Writing in French for different purposes and audiences uses the conventions of the language.
- Learning French opens a window on French-speaking communities in Canada and around the world.
Easy ways to practise core french at home
- Practise a few minutes a day: greetings, numbers, then simple sentences about yourself.
- Say your answers out loud in French, even if you are not sure. Speaking is how it sticks.
- Watch French videos with subtitles and spot words that look like English (cognates).
- Look up a Francophone festival or community in Canada and share one thing you learned.
What each unit covers
Letter patterns
Connecting common French letter patterns (oi, ou, eau, ch, gn, qu, ai, on, an) to how they sound.
Question words
Asking and answering questions with qui, où, quand, pourquoi, comment and combien.
Hobbies
Talking about hobbies and interests, including the difference between jouer à (sports) and jouer de (instruments).
Giving reasons
Explaining likes, dislikes and preferences with “parce que”.
Feelings and states
Common emotions and physical states, including the French habit of saying “I have hunger” (j'ai faim) instead of “I am hungry”.
Family and friends
Describing family members and friends, with the possessive words that match what is owned.
Francophone communities
Communities where French is spoken across Canada, including Acadian, Franco-Albertan, Franco-Columbian, Fransaskois, Québécois and Métis communities.
Sources and respect
The ethics of plagiarism and cultural appropriation: naming sources, using your own words and learning about cultures from the people who live them.
What the report card levels look like at home
- Level 1
- Just getting started with this idea. Short, regular practice with lots of support helps most.
- Level 2
- Understands parts of it and is building confidence. Keep practising the tricky parts.
- Level 3
- Has it! Level 3 is the provincial standard. Mixed review now and then keeps it strong.
- Level 4
- Applies it confidently, even in new or harder situations. Try challenge mode and real-life problems.
Your child’s teacher decides the level on the report card. Read the Ontario report card guide.
Common questions
How can I help my Grade 6 child with core french?
Practise a few minutes a day: greetings, numbers, then simple sentences about yourself. Say your answers out loud in French, even if you are not sure. Speaking is how it sticks. Keep sessions short, about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop on a success.
What does my child learn in Grade 6 core french in Ontario?
The Ontario Curriculum Grade 6 core french units include letter patterns, question words, hobbies, giving reasons, feelings and states, family and friends.
Free printable Grade 6 core french practice sheet
Questions from every unit, with an answer key.