French for Communication 1979-1990

French for Communication 1979-1990 sets out the background to the communicative language teaching project pioneered in Leicestershire, bringing together LEAs, examination boards, advisers, teachers and researchers at the University of Leicester School of Education. The project developed three Levels of graded objectives across the whole ability range for Years 7, 8 and 9 and a MEG Mode 3 GCSE examination in French. From its inception the project adopted an integrated approach to language study and introduced novel assessment techniques. The project promoted communicative activities in the classroom for pupils of all abilities; encouraged teachers to use French for both teaching and assessment purposes; accorded an important role to the teaching and assessment of writing; and established a forum for continuous reflective discussion by the teachers on issues of teaching and assessment. The author contrasts the integrated language approach of the project with the discrete skills basis of the National Criteria and the GCSE. He shows how the whole-language approach of the project was compromised by the need to produce a GCSE examination in conformity with the National Criteria. He welcomes those aspects of the National Curriculum which promote integrated language activities and creative language use, and sees in them confirmation of the principles on which the French for communication project was founded. He argues that the National Curriculum will only remedy under-achievement in language learning if it is supported by extensive in-service education programmes.