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I have a confession to make - I struggled academically during high school. And not because I didn’t care. I wasn’t rebellious or disengaged, if anything, I was a bit of a nerd. I worked hard, spent hours studying (sometimes well into the night), and genuinely tried. Yet my results didn’t always reflect the effort I was putting in. At the same time, one of my closest friends had a strict rule: no studying after dinner. Evenings were for relaxing. I couldn’t understand how that

What is the VCE French oral exam? The VCE French oral exam  is the final speaking assessment for VCE French. It tests your ability to speak naturally and confidently in French. The exam lasts about 15 minutes  and is divided into two parts: General conversation  (≈ 7 minutes): about you, your life, and interests. Discussion  (≈ 8 minutes): based on your detailed study topic. This guide focuses on the second part: the discussion , where examiners ask you questions about a topi

As a language assistant, I spend most of my time helping students with two skills they often fear a lot: listening and speaking . And although ultimately the only  thing that you can do to improve these two skills is to actually practice them, I have realized that sharing with my students the reasons behind why  listening can feel so hard can ease a lot of frustration and help learners notice key patterns much earlier. Students often feel confident with written  words quite q

Learning how to write confidently in different VCE French text types  is one of the most important skills for the written exam. Each text type has its own purpose, tone and language features, and understanding these conventions will help you express yourself clearly and score higher. This guide gives you a clear overview of the four main VCE French written text types : personal, evaluative, informative,  and persuasive (I won't get into imaginative in this post). You can al

If you’re a VCE or HSC French student , I strongly encourage you to find a French podcast you genuinely enjoy listening to. It’s one of the easiest ways to add French to your everyday life, while doing something you actually like. Podcasts are a powerful tool to improve your listening skills. It’s something I love sharing with my students because podcasts had such a huge impact on my own language learning journey. 🎙️ Why French Podcasts Are the Best Way to Boost Your Listeni

What is the VCE French oral exam? The VCE French oral exam  is the final speaking assessment for VCE French. It tests your ability to speak naturally and confidently in French. The exam lasts about 15 minutes  and is divided into two parts: General conversation  (≈ 7 minutes): about you, your life, and interests. Discussion  (≈ 8 minutes): based on your detailed study topic. This guide focuses on the first part: the general conversation , where examiners ask you questions abo

A Teacher's Review of AI Apps For French VCE Speaking Practice AI tools seem to be everywhere at the moment, from helping us write emails to planning our weekly shop. With all the buzz, it’s hard not to wonder how far this technology might go and what it could mean for our jobs. As my maternity leave slowly comes to an end (with plenty of late-night thinking squeezed between feeds and nappies), I found myself asking the same question about my own role as a language assistant.

If you’re starting to think about your VCE electives, French might be on your radar. But the question remains: is French VCE really for you? Learning any language is challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. French is no exception. In this post, I’ll break down what makes French VCE difficult, what makes it easier for English speakers, and what you can realistically expect. The Scope of VCE French French VCE isn’t just about memorizing vocab lists, it’s a well-rounded subje

How to Stand Out and Master Your VCE French Oral in Just 10 Lessons  Preparing for the VCE French oral exam can feel overwhelming. But with the right preparation and mindset, you can walk into that room feeling confident and ready. After helping hundreds of students prepare, here are the 10 tips that I share year after year.  First, What Questions Can You Expect During The VCE French Oral Exam? Before we dive into the tips, here’s a quick reminder of the structure of the oral