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French Phonics Collection�

SSC [ien]

Artwork by: Chloé Motard

Date updated: 31/08/22

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SSC [ien]

phonétique

Introduction

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ien

bien

Timing: 1 minute

Aim: To introduce/consolidate SSC [ien]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the [ien] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”bien” 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 give a thumbs up sign.�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 [ien] sound, pronouncing ”bien” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

bien [47]

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

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ien

bien

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ien

bien

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ien

bien

chien

rien

bientôt

ancien

combien ?

[nothing]

[soon]

€ ?

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: To introduce/consolidate SSC [ien]

Procedure:

1. Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC [ien] and then the source word again ‘bien’ (with gesture, if using).�2. 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): �chien [1744]; rien [168] bientôt [1208]; ancien [392]; combien? [800]; bien [47].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

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ien

bien

chien

rien

bientôt

ancien

combien ?

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

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ien

bien

chien

rien

bientôt

ancien

combien ?

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

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Phonétique

	[ien]	[ain/in]
quotidien
écrivain
historien
soudain

écouter

	[ien]	[ain/in]
bain
lien
soutien
voisin

1

2

3

4

[bath]

[link]

[support]

[neighbour]

7

8

5

6

[historian]

[sudden]

[daily]

[writer]

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Phonétique

lire / parler

chrétien

30

secondes

0

DÉBUT

maintien

bienvenu

technicien

parisien

égyptien

politicien

comédien

gardien

comédien

musicien

entretien

chirurgien

[maintenance]

[welcome]

[interview]

[guardian]

[surgeon]

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SSC [ien]

phonétique

Consolidation [1]

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ien

bien

Timing: 1 minute

Aim: To introduce/consolidate SSC [ien]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the [ien] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”bien” 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 give a thumbs up sign.�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 [ien] sound, pronouncing ”bien” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

bien [47]

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

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ien

bien

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ien

bien

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ien

bien

chien

rien

bientôt

ancien

combien ?

[nothing]

[soon]

€ ?

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: To introduce/consolidate SSC [ien]

Procedure:

1. Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC [ien] and then the source word again ‘bien’ (with gesture, if using).�2. 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): �chien [1744]; rien [168] bientôt [1208]; ancien [392]; combien? [800]; bien [47].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

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ien

bien

chien

rien

bientôt

ancien

combien ?

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

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ien

bien

chien

rien

bientôt

ancien

combien ?

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

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-ien ou –(a)in ?

		-ien	-(a)in
end	fin
link	lien
path	chemin
support	soutien
daily	quotidien
interview	entretien
drawing	dessin
bread	pain

écouter

Écoute les mots.

C’est quelle SSC ?

Coche.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

____

@ www.

Timing: 5 minutes

Aim: Practice in observing the similarities and differences between [-ien] and [-(a)in]. Both SSCs contain the same nasal sound, preceded by /j/ in the former. Unknown vocabulary is used so that students are required to draw on their SSC knowledge rather than their vocabulary knowledge.

Procedure:

1. Students write 1-8 and copy the columns with headings –ien/-(a)in into their books. The partial French word is provided with the SSC missing to focus attention on this part, but students are not expected to transcribe (it is not possible to do this accurately when an SSC has multiple spellings).

2. Audio plays on number clicks.

3. Answers, full transcriptions and English definitions (for information only) appear on successive clicks.

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

fin [111]
lien [880]
chemin [859]
soutien [1198]
quotidien [1318]
entretien [1433]
dessin [2624]
pain [2802]

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

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L’équipe d’Amir

Adrien

Benjamin

Julien

Corentin

Aurélien

Martin

Sébastien

Lucien

Valentin

Fabien

Amir

parler

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SSC [ien]

phonétique

Consolidation [2]

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ien

bien

Timing: 1 minute

Aim: To introduce/consolidate SSC [ien]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the [ien] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”bien” 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 give a thumbs up sign.�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 [ien] sound, pronouncing ”bien” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

bien [47]

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

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ien

bien

chien

rien

bientôt

ancien

combien ?

[nothing]

[soon]

€ ?

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: To introduce/consolidate SSC [ien]

Procedure:

1. Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC [ien] and then the source word again ‘bien’ (with gesture, if using).�2. 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): �chien [1744]; rien [168] bientôt [1208]; ancien [392]; combien? [800]; bien [47].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

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Phonétique

en français	en anglais	[-ille]	[-ien]
un musicien	a musician
une lentille	a lentil
un dalmatien	a dalmatian
un martien	a Martian
un gorille	a gorilla
un comédien	a comedian
vanille	vanilla

Les mots finissent-ils par [-ille] ou par [-ien] ? C’est quoi en anglais ?

5

4

3

2

1

6

7

Timing: 5 minutes

Aim: Aural recognition of SSCs [-ille] and [-ien] at the end of words which are near-cognates in written but not spoken form; raising awareness of English equivalent spellings/pronunciation of [-ille] and [-ien].

Procedure:

1. Click on a number to play the audio.

2. Instruct students to play close attention to the end of the word, and decide which SSC they hear.

3. Click to reveal answers.

4. Click to play the words again. Students already know how the word ends, so they should now focus on the beginning. Ask them which English word it sounds like.

5. Click to bring up picture clues if necessary.

6. Click to reveal English translations.

7. Click to reveal French transcriptions.

8. Play the audio again. Students repeat.

Transcript:

1. un musicien

2. une lentille

3. un dalmatien

4. un martien

5. un gorille

6. un comédien

7. vanille

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

lentille [>5000], dalmatien [>5000]; martien [>5000]; gorille [>5000]; comédien [4253], vanille [>5000]

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

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Des virelangues

lire / parler

Le comédien canadien pose une question à la famille de gorilles.

The Canadian comedian asks the family of gorillas a question.

1

2

3

Timing: 4 minutes. This is slide 1/4.

Aim: Oral production of sentences with words containing a mix of SSCs containing [i] ([-ill-]/[-ille], [-ien], [-tion]).

Procedure:

1. Remind students which words containing [-ill-] are exceptions (mille, ville).

2. Students takes turns to say the tongue twisters, focussing on the SSCs in bold.

3. Click on the slowest speed (1) to check pronunciation.

4. Students repeat.

5. Repeat steps 203 at speeds (2) and (3) to improve fluency.

Transcript:

Le comédien canadien pose une question à la famille de gorilles.

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

comédien [4253], poser [218], gorille [>5000]

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

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Des virelangues

lire / parler

1

2

3

Un grillon canadien vit avec une famille de chenilles dans une cabine.

A Canadian cricket lives with a family of caterpillars in a cabin.

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Des virelangues

lire / parler

1

2

3

Un dalmatien italien joue avec trois mille billes dans la ville.

An Italian dalmatian plays with three thousand marbles in the town.

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Des virelangues

lire / parler

1

2

3

Sa copine tient un grillon canadien et un lapin italien.

Her friend is holding a Canadian cricket and an Italian rabbit.

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SSC [ien]

phonétique

Consolidation [3]

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ien

bien

Timing: 1 minute

Aim: To introduce/consolidate SSC [ien]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the [ien] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”bien” 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 give a thumbs up sign.�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 [ien] sound, pronouncing ”bien” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

bien [47]

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

30 of 30

ien

bien

chien

rien

bientôt

ancien

combien ?

[nothing]

[soon]

€ ?

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: To introduce/consolidate SSC [ien]

Procedure:

1. Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC [ien] and then the source word again ‘bien’ (with gesture, if using).�2. 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): �chien [1744]; rien [168] bientôt [1208]; ancien [392]; combien? [800]; bien [47].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.