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French Phonics Collection�

SSC [open eu/œu]

Artwork by: Chloé Motard

Date updated: 30/08/2022

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SSC [open eu/œu]

phonétique

Introduction

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open eu/œu

cœur

Timing: 1 minute

Aim: To introduce SSC open [eu]/[œu]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the open [eu]/[œu] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”cœur” 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 put your hand on your chest over your heart.�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 open [eu]/[œu] sound, pronouncing ”cœur” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

cœur [568]

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

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open eu/œu

cœur

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open eu/œu

cœur

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open eu/œu

9

cœur

acteur

jeune

erreur

neuf

sœur

[mistake]

[young]

[sister]

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: To introduce SSC open [eu]/[œu]

Procedure:

Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC open [eu]/[œu] and then the source word again ‘œil’ (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): �acteur [1552]; cœur [568]; jeune [152]; erreur [612]; neuf [787]; sœur [1558].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

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open eu/œu

jeune

erreur

neuf

sœur

cœur

acteur

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open eu/œu

jeune

erreur

neuf

sœur

cœur

acteur

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Closed and open [eu/œu]

You have already met an [eu] sound in Year 7:

écouter

peu

[few]

peur

[fear]

This is a closed vowel.

When you say this sound, your tongue is near the top of your mouth.

This is an open vowel.

When you say this sound, your tongue is near the bottom of your mouth.

The long vowel sounds like the ‘ur’ in the English ‘hurt.’

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Closed or open [eu/œu]?

	open	closed
bleu [blue]
deux
bœuf
ordinateur

écouter / écrire

1

2

	open	closed
vœux [wishes]
rumeur [rumour]
adieu [farewell]
meuble [furniture]

5

3

7

8

What do you notice about the spelling of the words containing open [eu/œu] compared to those containing closed [eu/œu]?

If the vowel is followed by a pronounced consonant (not an SFC), it is open.

4

6

Timing: 6 minutes

Aim: aural recognition of open and closed [eu/œu]. Raising awareness of spelling rules governing the pronoun.

Procedure:

1. Click on numbers to hear words. Student decide if [eu/œu] is open or closed.

2. Click to reveal answers.

3. Click again to reveal the question about spelling. Students consider in pairs. They might say things like ‘the words are longer’ or ‘the sound is in the middle of the word’. Encourage students to look at the letters they see after the SSC.

4. Click to reveal the answers and again to reveal the rule.

5. Students try to say the words.

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French): �bleu [1216], deux [41], bœuf [3914], ordinateur [2201], déjeuner [2724], vœu [2103], rumeur [2164], peuple [378], adieu [3968], meuble [3876], feu [786],

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

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SSC [open eu/œu]

phonétique

Consolidation [1]

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open eu/œu

cœur

Timing: 1 minute

Aim: To consolidate SSC open [eu]/[œu]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the open [eu]/[œu] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”cœur” 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 put your hand on your chest over your heart.�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 open [eu]/[œu] sound, pronouncing ”cœur” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

cœur [568]

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

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open eu/œu

9

cœur

acteur

jeune

erreur

neuf

sœur

[mistake]

[young]

[sister]

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: To consolidate SSC open [eu]/[œu]

Procedure:

Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC open [eu]/[œu] and then the source word again ‘œil’ (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): �acteur [1552]; cœur [568]; jeune [152]; erreur [612]; neuf [787]; sœur [1558].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

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Phonétique

écouter

en français	en anglais	open [eu/œu]	[eu]
la peur	fear
adieu	goodbye
l’œuvre	work of art
le pneu	tyre
l’œuf	egg
les yeux	eyes
creux	hollow
la fleur	flower

__

___

__

Écoute les mots et choisis la bonne SSC.

6

5

4

3

2

1

7

8

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

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Phonétique

parler

	open [eu/œu]	[eu]
Léa dit adieu à son vieux grand-père à deux heures.	1	3
Antoine choisit une seule fleur bleue à neuf heures.	4	1
Le chef travailleur donne un copieux déjeuner à la neuvième personne dans la queue.	2	3
Le jeune pêcheur va au fleuve parce qu’il veut prendre plusieurs poissons.	4	1

Partners say alternate sentences while the other counts the SSCs they hear.

A

B

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: Oral production of sentences containing SSCs open [eu]/[œu] and [eu].

Procedure:

1. Student B turns away from the board.

2. Click to reveal partner A’s first sentence.

3. Partner A reads the sentence aloud while student B counts the total number of open [eu]/[œu] and [eu] they hear.

4. Click to reveal answer.

5. Student A then turns away from the board.

6. Repeat steps 2-4.

7. Repeat for the second pair of sentences.

8. The next slide contains English translations of the sentences with the SSC highlighted in different colours.

Word frequency of unknown words used (1 is the most frequent word in French): �adieu [3968]; fleur [2305]; neuvième [>5000]; queue [3255]; pêcheur [2759]; fleuve [2893]; poisson [1616]

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

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Phonétique

parler

	open [eu/œu]	[eu]
Léa dit adieu à son vieux grand-père à deux heures. (Léa says goodbye to her old grandad at two o’clock.)	1	3
Antoine choisit une seule fleur bleue à neuf heures. (Antoine choses a single blue flower at nine o’clock.)	4	1
Le chef travailleur donne un copieux déjeuner à la neuvième personne dans la queue. (The hard-working chef gives a generous lunch to the ninth person in the queue.)	2	3
Le jeune pêcheur va au fleuve parce qu’il veut prendre plusieurs poissons. (The young fisherman goes to the river because he wants to take several fish.)	4	1

A

B

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

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SSC [open eu/œu]

phonétique

Consolidation [2]

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

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open eu/œu

cœur

Timing: 1 minute [2 slides]

Aim: To consolidate SSC open [eu]/[œu]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the open [eu]/[œu] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”cœur” 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 put your hand on your chest over your heart.�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 open [eu]/[œu] sound, pronouncing ”cœur” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

cœur [568]

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

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Mots qui finissent par -eur

écouter / écrire

The SSC [eu] is always open before an -r in French.

Compare these two words:

peu (bit)

peur (fear)

How are these words pronounced? Is the SSC [eu] open or closed?

The SSC [eu] is closed.

The SSC [eu] is open.

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open eu/œu

9

cœur

acteur

jeune

erreur

neuf

sœur

[mistake]

[young]

[sister]

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

1 minute [2 slides]

Aim: To consolidate SSC open [eu]/[œu]

Procedure:

Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC open [eu]/[œu] and then the source word again ‘œil’ (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): �acteur [1552]; cœur [568]; jeune [152]; erreur [612]; neuf [787]; sœur [1558].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

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SSC [open eu/œu]

phonétique

Consolidation [3]

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

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Closed and open [eu/œu]

Remember [eu/œu] can sound different in different word positions!

écouter

un peu

[a little]

peur

[fear]

This is a closed vowel.

When you say this sound, your tongue is near the top of your mouth.

This is an open vowel.

When you say this sound, your tongue is near the bottom of your mouth.

The long vowel sounds like the ‘ur’ in the English ‘hurt.’

If the vowel is followed by a pronounced consonant (not an SFC)at the end of a word, it is open.

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open eu/œu

cœur

Timing: 1 minute

Aim: To consolidate SSC open [eu]/[œu]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the open [eu]/[œu] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”cœur” 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 put your hand on your chest over your heart.�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 open [eu]/[œu] sound, pronouncing ”cœur” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

cœur [568]

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

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open eu/œu

9

cœur

acteur

jeune

erreur

neuf

sœur

[mistake]

[young]

[sister]

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: To consolidate SSC open [eu]/[œu]

Procedure:

Consolidate and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC open [eu]/[œu] and then the source word again ‘œil’ (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): �acteur [1552]; cœur [568]; jeune [152]; erreur [612]; neuf [787]; sœur [1558].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

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Les équipes de mots

écouter / écrire

Organise les mots en équipes : open eu/œu vs closed eu/œu.

open eu/oeu

closed eu/oeu

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

1. mieux

2. peuple (people)

3. heure

4. nombreux (plentiful)

5. deuxième

6. dangereux

7. sérieux (serious)

8. euro

9. veuf (widower)

10. beurre (butter)

9

10

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Virelangues 1/3

lire / parler

Il y a de nombreux docteurs dangereux au milieu du lac.

(There are many dangerous doctors in the middle of the lake.)

a

b

c

Timing: 3 minutes for 3 slides

Aim: To practise pronunciation of open and closed SSC eu/oeu.

Procedure:

1. Students to say tongue twisters as quickly as possible with accurate pronunciation of SSCs.

2. Click buttons to hear slow, medium and fast pronunciation by native speaker.

Transcript:

1. Il y a de nombreux docteurs dangereux au milieu du lac.

2. Je ne veux pas pleurer, il est mieux d'être heureux que d'être sérieux.

3. L’entrepreneur est courageux, il fais la preuve de sa valeur chaque heure.

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French): �nombreux [366], docteur [2176], milieu [479], pleurer [2253], sérieux [412], entrepreneur [2377], courageux [2198], preuve [653], valeur [453]

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

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Virelangues 2/3

lire / parler

Je ne veux pas pleurer, il est mieux d'être heureux que d'être sérieux.

(I don’t want to cry, it is better to be

happy than to be serious.)

a

b

c

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Virelangues 3/3

lire / parler

L’entrepreneur est courageux,

il fait la preuve de sa valeur chaque heure.

(The entrepreneur is brave, he proves his worth every hour.)

a

b

c