Language competences in lower secondary French-as-a-foreign language classrooms

Code 
Description 
Subject matter content 
speaking exercises 
Pupils engage in oral French exercises, dialogues, 
small-group conversations or prepared monologues. 
written activities 
Pupils write sentences or texts. Pupils writing single 
words (e.g. on the board) does not count as written 
activities. 
reading comprehension Pupils read silently, or the class discusses the content 
of a text. 
reading aloud 
Pupils or teacher read aloud.
listening 
comprehension 
Pupils listen to a sound file/video clip, or the class 
discusses the content they have heard. 
grammar 
Teacher introduces/explains a grammar concept, or 
the class works with grammar exercises. 
vocabulary 
The class works explicitly with vocabulary. 
pronunciation 
Teacher explains/corrects pronunciation. 
culture & society 
The class works explicitly with the culture part of the 
subject (e.g. Francophonie). 
Classroom management 
tutoring
Teacher helps pupils individually or in small groups 
as they work on a task.
transitions 
Class moves from one task to another. 
instructions 
Teacher gives task instructions prior to or during a 
task. 
greetings 
Teacher and pupils greet each other. 
home work 
Teacher introduces new homework or goes through 
homework already done. 
behavioural 
management 
Teacher manages class behaviour (e.g. asks pupils to 
be silent or put away mobile phones). 
group organisation 
Teacher organises pupils in groups or allows pupils to 
do so. 
metatalk 
Teacher and pupils discuss what they have learned, 
what was difficult etc. 
learning objectives 
Teacher introduces/explains learning objectives. 
closure 
Teacher ends class.