1 of 25

French Phonics Collection�

SSC [-s-]

Artwork by: Chloé Motard

Date updated: 30/08/2022

2 of 25

SSC [-s-]

phonétique

Introduction

3 of 25

-s-

maison

Timing: 1 minute

Aim: To introduce SSC [-s-]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the [-s-] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”maison” on its own, say it, students repeat it, so that they have the opportunity to focus all of their attention on the connection between the written word and its sound.

3. A possible gesture for this would be to trace the outline of a house in the air with two fingers.�4. Roll back the animations and work through 1-3 again, but this time, dropping your voice completely to listen carefully to the students saying the [-s- between vowels] sound, pronouncing ”maison” and, if using, doing the gesture.

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French):

maison [325]

Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

4 of 25

-s-

maison

5 of 25

-s-

maison

6 of 25

-s-

maison

magasin

désolé

chose

église

cuisine

[sorry]

[thing]

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: To introduce SSC [-s-]

Procedure:

Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC [-s-] and then the source word again ‘maison’ (with gesture, if using).�Then present and elicit the pronunciation of the five cluster words.�The cluster words have been chosen for their high-frequency, from a range of word classes, with the SSC (where possible) positioned within a variety of syllables within the words (e.g. initial, 2^nd, final etc.). Additionally, we have tried to use words that build cumulatively on previously taught SSCs (see the Phonics Teaching Sequence document) and do not include new SSCs. Where new SSCs are used, they are often consonants which have a similar symbol-sound correspondence in English.�

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French): �maison [325]; chose [125]; magasin [1736]; église [1782]; désolé [2081]; cuisine [2618].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

7 of 25

-s-

magasin

désolé

chose

église

cuisine

maison

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

8 of 25

-s-

maison

magasin

désolé

chose

église

cuisine

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

9 of 25

Hard or soft [-s-]?

	hard (chose)	soft (suis)
soupe
fils
ils ont
poisson
visage

1

2

	hard (chose)	soft (suis)
monsieur
quasi
passer
personne
usine

3

What do you notice about the spelling of the words containing hard [s] compared to those containing soft [s]?

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

écouter

Timing: 5 minutes

Aim: aural recognition between hard and soft [s]. Awareness of spelling rules governing the pronunciation of these SSCs.

Procedure:

1. Click on numbers to hear words. Student decide if [s] is hard or soft.

2. Click to reveal answers.

3. Students try to say the words.

4. Click again to reveal the question about spelling. Students consider in pairs. They might say things like ‘the sound occurs at the beginning’ or ‘when there is a double s’ or ‘between two vowels’. You could guide the students by explaining that there are three rules in total to spot.

4. Rules are summarized on the following slide.

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French): �soupe [4563], fils [735], ils ont [13/8], poisson [1616], visage [1292], monsieur [79], quasi [2778], passer [90], personne [84], usine [1482]

Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

10 of 25

Closed or open [o] ?

The French s can be hard or soft.

[-s-] is hard when it:

is between two vowels, including in a liaison (oser, les amis)

[-s-] is soft when:

it is at the beginning of a word or syllable (soupe)
it is before or after a consonant (insister)
there is a double [s] (poisson)
it is at the end of a word (fils)

This is rare as word final consonants are usually SFCs

Hard or soft [-s-]?

phonétique

Hard [s] sounds like ‘z’ as in English ‘cousin’

Soft [s] sounds like ‘s’ as in English ‘sister’

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

11 of 25

Closed or open [o] ?

The French s can be hard or soft. What are the rules?

[-s-] is hard when it:

is between two vowels, including in a liaison (oser, les amis)

[-s-] is soft when:

it is at the beginning of a word or syllable (soupe)
it is before or after a consonant (insister)
there is a double [s] (poisson)
it is at the end of a word (fils)

This is rare as word final consonants are usually SFCs

Hard or soft [-s-]?

phonétique

Hard [s] sounds like ‘z’ as in English ‘cousin’

Soft [s] sounds like ‘s’ as in English ‘sister’

Rule 1

Rule 2

Rule 3

Rule 4

Rule 5

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

12 of 25

Phonétique

hausse (an increase)

parler

hard [s]	soft [s]

sale (dirty)

épisode

baisse (drop)

esclave (slave)

vision

besoin (need)

préciser (to specify)

ouest

excuse

Timing: 5 minutes

Aim: written recognition and oral production of hard and soft [s]

Procedure:

1. Students sketch the grid and assign words to each based on their spelling. It might be helpful to tell students that their knowledge of English pronunciation won’t help them here!

2. Click to move each word to the right column.

3. Now, students practise saying the word. First, they read from top to bottom within the columns, so that words with the same sounds are pronounced together.

4. Click to check pronunciation.

5. Now, students read from left to right across columns, alternating between the [-s-] sounds.

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French): �hausse [1572], sale [2906], épisode [3238], baisse [1466], esclave [3468], vision [1505], besoin [183], préciser [745], ouest [1690], excuse [1839]

Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

13 of 25

SSC [-s-]

phonétique

Consolidation [1]

14 of 25

-s-

maison

Timing: 1 minute (2 SSC slides).

Aim: To consolidate SSC [-s-]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the [-s-] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”maison” on its own, say it, students repeat it, so that they have the opportunity to focus all of their attention on the connection between the written word and its sound.

3. A possible gesture for this would be to trace the outline of a house in the air with two fingers.�4. Roll back the animations and work through 1-3 again, but this time, dropping your voice completely to listen carefully to the students saying the [-s- between vowels] sound, pronouncing ”maison” and, if using, doing the gesture.

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French):

maison [325]

Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

15 of 25

-s-

maison

magasin

désolé

chose

église

cuisine

[sorry]

[thing]

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Aim: To consolidate SSC [-s-]

Procedure:

Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC [-s-] and then the source word again ‘maison’ (with gesture, if using).�Then present and elicit the pronunciation of the five cluster words.�The cluster words have been chosen for their high-frequency, from a range of word classes, with the SSC (where possible) positioned within a variety of syllables within the words (e.g. initial, 2^nd, final etc.). Additionally, we have tried to use words that build cumulatively on previously taught SSCs (see the Phonics Teaching Sequence document) and do not include new SSCs. Where new SSCs are used, they are often consonants which have a similar symbol-sound correspondence in English.�

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French): �maison [325]; chose [125]; magasin [1736]; église [1782]; désolé [2081]; cuisine [2618].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

16 of 25

Au magasin de vêtements

des chaussettes	un blouson	un bracelet
un pardessus	des lunettes de natation	une blouse
un tricot	une ceinture	une jupe plissée
un caleçon	des chaussures	une chemisette
des lunettes de protection	une vareuse	un chemisier

Lisez les listes de mots. Attention aux SCCs en orange !

Ne dites pas l’intrus !

lire / parler

Remember:

[-s-] is hard between two vowels.

[c] is hard before a/o/u.

1

2

3

4

5

Timing: 5 minutes

Aim: Pronunciation of words containing SSCs [-s-], [ss], [ç], soft [c], hard [c] and [-tion]. Raising awareness that [ss], [ç], soft [c] and the [t] in [-tion] sound identical.

Procedure:

1. Students read the sets of words, focusing on the SSCs in bold, and mentally eliminating the word containing an SSC which doesn’t match the others.

2. They take it in turns to read aloud the remaining pair of words.

3. Click to reveal the ‘odd one out’. Students say it aloud.

4. Click on the numbers to hear the full line of words said aloud by a native speaker. Students repeat.

Word frequency of cognates used (1 is the most frequent word in French):

protection [953]

Word frequency of unknown words used (1 is the most frequent word in French):

chaussette [>5000], blouson [>5000], jupe [>5000], plissé [>5000], pardessus [>5000], chaussure [3638], tricot [>5000], ceinture [4538], bracelet [>5000], blouse [>5000], caleçon [>5000], chemisette [>5000], lunette [4207], protection [953], vareuse [>5000], chemisier [>5000]

Source: Lonsdale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

17 of 25

SSC [-s-]

phonétique

Consolidation [2]

18 of 25

-s-

maison

Timing: 1 minute [2 slides]

Aim: To consolidate SSC [-s-]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the [-s-] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”maison” on its own, say it, students repeat it, so that they have the opportunity to focus all of their attention on the connection between the written word and its sound.

3. A possible gesture for this would be to trace the outline of a house in the air with two fingers.�4. Roll back the animations and work through 1-3 again, but this time, dropping your voice completely to listen carefully to the students saying the [-s- between vowels] sound, pronouncing ”maison” and, if using, doing the gesture.

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French):

maison [325]

Source: Lonsdale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

19 of 25

-s-

maison

magasin

désolé

chose

église

cuisine

[sorry]

[thing]

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Aim: To consolidate SSC [-s-]

Procedure:

Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC [-s-] and then the source word again ‘maison’ (with gesture, if using).�Then present and elicit the pronunciation of the five cluster words.�The cluster words have been chosen for their high-frequency, from a range of word classes, with the SSC (where possible) positioned within a variety of syllables within the words (e.g. initial, 2^nd, final etc.). Additionally, we have tried to use words that build cumulatively on previously taught SSCs (see the Phonics Teaching Sequence document) and do not include new SSCs. Where new SSCs are used, they are often consonants which have a similar symbol-sound correspondence in English.�

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French): �maison [325]; chose [125]; magasin [1736]; église [1782]; désolé [2081]; cuisine [2618].�Source: Lonsdale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

20 of 25

Phonétique: Hard or soft [s]?

info

As you know, the French [s] can be hard or soft. To help you say and spell unknown words containing [s] correctly, there are some simple rules:

Hard [s] sounds like ‘z’ as in English ‘cousin’.

Soft [s] sounds like ‘s’ as in English ‘sister’.

If there is a hard sound between two vowels, including in a liaison, it must be spelled [-s-]

If there is a soft sound at the beginning of a word, it must be spelled [s-]

If there is a soft sound between two vowels, it must be spelled [-ss-]

soupe

poisson

les amis

utiliser

21 of 25

Soft [s], soft [ss] or hard [s]?

ciseaux

[scissors]

écouter

sortie

[trip]

dessiner

[to draw]

kermesse

[school fête]

1

2

3

4

?

soft [s-]

soft [-ss-]

hard [-s-]

ci s eaux

[scissors]

?

Écoute. Est-ce que tu entends soft [s], soft [ss] ou hard [s]?

22 of 25

Soft [s], soft [ss] or hard [s]?

excuse

[excuse]

excu s e

[excuse]

écouter

maîtresse

[primary teacher, f]

spectacle

[show]

stylo

[pen]

5

6

7

8

?

soft [-ss-]

soft [s-]

hard [-s-]

Écoute. Est-ce que tu entends soft [s], soft [ss] ou hard [s]?

23 of 25

Soft [s], soft [ss] or hard [s]?

maîtrise

[master’s degree]

chaise

[chair]

écouter

trousse

[pencil case]

chai s e

[chair]

9

10

11

12

?

soft [-ss-]

hard [-s-]

soft [-ss-]

hard [-s-]

classeur

[ring binder]

?

maîtri s e

[master’s degree]

?

Écoute. Est-ce que tu entends soft [s], soft [ss] ou hard [s]?

24 of 25

Phonétique

écouter / écrire

Listen carefully. Do you hear hard [s] or soft [s]?

Nous sommes

Vous êtes

Ils sont

Elles sont

soft [s]

hard [s]

soft [s]

Remember, hard [s] before a vowel is pronounced with a liaison.

1

2

3

4

25 of 25

Phonétique

écouter / écrire

Dis les phrases avec ton/ta partenaire. C’est hard [s] ou soft [s] ?

	hard [s]	soft [s]
Je suis allé
Nous avons mangé
Tu es arrivée
Vous avez réservé
Ils ont travaillé
Elles sont restées
Ils sont tombés
Elles ont commandé
Ils ont appris
Elles sont montées

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Hard [s]?

Soft [s]?