This entertaining initiative is based on the student’s love of music and uses the confrontational dialogues in rap music to encourage students to learn French. Teaching topics are adapted by students themselves into “rap music” arguments between two voices with opposites views on an issue. Students write their script and type into Kartouche cartoon-making software. They record their song using Audacity software, which allows them to listen to the track repeatedly and correct each other’s pronunciation. The lyrics are then combined either with music from the internet or their music lessons and put together with the images.

The scripts are either recorded individually or in pairs and allow the students to flex their creative muscles while speaking in the target language for long periods of time. The project has been very effective in encouraging reluctant pupils to practise speaking in French.

Language(s): French – Can be used for any other foreign language

St Aidan’s Catholic School, LanguageCollege and 6th Form Centre is a popular boys school in Sunderland. It has and intake of 1000 students in KS3/KS4 and another 200 in KS5.