1 of 30

French Phonics Collection�

SSC [ç/soft c]

Artwork by: Chloé Motard

Date updated: 19/02/21

2 of 30

SSC [ç/ soft c]

phonétique

Introduction

3 of 30

ç/c

ici

Timing: 1 minute

Aim: To introduce/consolidate SSC [ç/c]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the [ç/c] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”ici” 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 point to the spot on which one is standing / indicate the room in which the lesson is taking place with a sweeping motion of one’s index finger.�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 [ç/c] sound, pronouncing ”ici” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

ici [167].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

4 of 30

ç/c

ici

5 of 30

ç/c

ici

6 of 30

ç/c

ici

français

cinéma

décider

[to decide]

garçon

cinq

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: To introduce/consolidate SSC [ç/c]

Procedure:

1. Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC [ç/c] and then the source word again ‘ici’ (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): �français [251]; garçon [1599]; cinéma [1623]; décider [165]; cinq [288]; ici [167].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

7 of 30

ç/c

ici

français

cinéma

décider

garçon

cinq

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

8 of 30

ç/c

ici

français

cinéma

décider

garçon

cinq

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

9 of 30

Phonétique

secondes

45

0

DÉBUT

façon

déçevoir

cependant

insouciant

ancien

ici

commerçant

spécial

parler

ceci

cinq

Timing: 5 minutes for three slides.

Aim: automatisation of oral production of SSCs soft [c] and [ç] at word level.

Procedure:

Tell students that they are going to take turns to say all the words within a given time, building up speed. They call in any order they like but are not allowed to repeat the one they said in their last turn.
Click on début to start the timer on the screen.
The listening students checks that the speaking student does not produce a hard [c]. If they do, they must repeat the words correctly three times.
Students swap roles. Restart the timer.
Click to check pronunciation of the words. [audio missing – recording in progress]

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

ici [167], décevoir [1302], ceci [732], cinq [288], cependant [352], façon [248], ancien [392], commerçant [4167], spécial [726], insouciant [>5000]�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

Ask students what they notice about the vowels which follow soft [c] (always ‘i’ or ‘e’). This primes for the explanation on slide 36.

10 of 30

Phonétique

secondes

30

0

DÉBUT

parler

Phonétique

façon

déçevoir

cependant

insouciant

ancien

ici

commerçant

spécial

ceci

cinq

11 of 30

Phonétique

secondes

15

0

DÉBUT

parler

Phonétique

façon

déçevoir

cependant

insouciant

ancien

ici

commerçant

spécial

ceci

cinq

12 of 30

Soft or hard [c/ç]?

In French, the letter c is soft (sounds like s) before e or i:

le cinéma c’est

The letter c is hard (sounds like k) before a, o or u:

calme content cuisine

We sometimes soften the c before a, o or u with a cedilla (ç):

le français le garçon le reçu (receipt)

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

13 of 30

Soft or hard [c/ç]?

		[ç/c]	[hard c]
	glaçon
	compter [to count]
	concombre
j	cible [aim]
	Franco- [French-]
	tronçon [section]
h	cabane
	merci

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

Complète et dis les mots !

lire / écouter / parler

Sometimes, you will see the prefix Franco- used instead of français, e.g.:

Il est franco-italien

He is half-French, half-Italien.

14 of 30

SSC [ç/ soft c]

phonétique

Consolidation [1]

15 of 30

ç/c

ici

Timing: 1 minute

Aim: To consolidate SSC [ç/c]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the [ç/c] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”ici” 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 point to the spot on which one is standing / indicate the room in which the lesson is taking place with a sweeping motion of one’s index finger.�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 [ç/c] sound, pronouncing ”ici” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

ici [167].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

16 of 30

ç/c

ici

17 of 30

ç/c

ici

18 of 30

ç/c

ici

français

cinéma

décider

[to decide]

garçon

cinq

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Timing: 2 minutes

Aim: To consolidate SSC [ç/c]

Procedure:

1. Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC [ç/c] and then the source word again ‘ici’ (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): �français [251]; garçon [1599]; cinéma [1623]; décider [165]; cinq [288]; ici [167].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

19 of 30

ç/c

ici

français

cinéma

décider

garçon

cinq

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

20 of 30

ç/c

ici

français

cinéma

décider

garçon

cinq

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

21 of 30

Hard and soft [c]

Remember!

In French, the letter c is naturally soft (sounds like s) before e or i:

le cinéma c’est

However, the letter c is hard (sounds like k) before a, o or u:

calme content cuisine

We sometimes soften the c before a, o or u with a cedilla (ç):

le français le garçon le reçu (receipt)

Hard and soft [c]

phonétique

22 of 30

C ou Ç ?

	hard [c]	ç
cas (case)
contre (against)
reçu (receipt)
commerçant (shopkeeper)
aucun (none)
façon (way)

1

2

3

4

5

6

Hard [c] or [ç] ?

écouter

_

Do you hear a hard or a soft sound?

23 of 30

C ou Ç ?

	soft [c]	ç
cependant (however)
principe (principle)
soupçon (suspicion)
cesser (to stop, stopping)
façade (facade)
société (society)

_

1

2

3

4

5

6

Soft [c] or [ç] ?

_

These words all contain a soft sound. How is it written?

écrire

24 of 30

C ou Ç ?

	hard [c]	soft [c]	ç
cent (hundred)
construire (to construct)
culture (culture)
civil (civilian)
leçon (lesson)
candidat (candidate)

1

2

3

4

5

6

Hard [c], soft [c] or [ç] ?

écouter / écrire

_

Do you hear a hard or a soft sound? If you hear a soft sound, how is it written?

25 of 30

Virelangue: c ou ç ?

Bonjour madame la saucissière,�combien vendez-vous ces six saucisses-là ?�Je les vends six sous,�six sous ci ,�six sous ça,�six sous ces six saucisses-là

Virelangue: c ou ç ?

écouter

Good day madam sausage-seller,�For how much are you selling those six sausages?

I’m selling them for six sous (pennies)�six sous for this one,�six sous for that one,�six sous for those sausages there.

26 of 30

SSC [ç/ soft c]

phonétique

Consolidation [2]

27 of 30

ç/c

ici

Aim: To consolidate SSC [ç/c]

Procedure:�1. Present the letter(s) and say the [ç/c] sound first, on its own. Students repeat it with you.�2. Bring up the word ”ici” 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 point to the spot on which one is standing / indicate the room in which the lesson is taking place with a sweeping motion of one’s index finger.�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 [ç/c] sound, pronouncing ”ici” and, if using, doing the gesture.

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

ici [167].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

28 of 30

ç/c

ici

français

cinéma

décider

[to decide]

garçon

cinq

Material licensed as CC BY-NC-SA 4.0�

Rachel Hawkes

Aim: To consolidate SSC [ç/c]

Procedure:

1. Introduce and elicit the pronunciation of the individual SSC [ç/c] and then the source word again ‘ici’ (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): �français [251]; garçon [1599]; cinéma [1623]; décider [165]; cinq [288]; ici [167].�Source: Londsale, D., & Le Bras, Y. (2009). A Frequency Dictionary of French: Core vocabulary for learners London: Routledge.

29 of 30

Ils cherchent des stages

Stage	[-s-]	[ss]/[ç]/soft [c]
compositeur [composer]
cuisinier [cook]
brasseur [brewer]
romancier [novelist]
menuisier [carpenter]
confiseur [confectioner]
maçon [builder]
caissier [cashier]

Amir et Océane cherchent des stages sur internet. Ils trouvent quels emplois ?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

_

écouter

Timing: 5 minutes

Aim: To distinguish aurally between SSCs [-s-] and [ss]/[ç]/soft [c].

Procedure:

1. Click to hear occupations said aloud.

2. Students must decide whether they hear [ss]/[ç]/soft [c].

3. Elicit answers from students.

4. Answers appear on clicks.

5. Replay audio. Students repeat.

Transcript:

compositeur
cuisinier
brasseur
romancier
menuisier
confiseur
maçon
caissier

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

internet [>5000]

Word frequency (1 is the most frequent word in French): �compositeur [>5000], cuisinier [>5000], brasseur [<5000], romancier [4581], menuisier [>5000], confiseur [>5000], maçon [>5000], caissier [>5000]

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

30 of 30

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: 3 minutes

Aim: Pronunciation of word s 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.