THERE WAS a broad welcome for higher and ordinary level French papers that managed to challenge students without throwing them off balance.

Both higher and ordinary level papers were well laid out and a clear effort had been made to appeal to students’ sensibilities, with topics such as social networking, student exchange programmes and television talent shows cropping up throughout.

At higher level, students were “very happy”, according to TUI representative Mary Costello, a teacher in Shannon Comprehensive school.

The first comprehension piece, an article about finding new types of accommodation for French students, was appealing because of its relevance to students’ lives. “Some of the answers to the questions asked required a bit of manipulation,” Ms Costello said. “But overall they were fine and the article itself was interesting and accessible.”

A literary comprehension, always the more challenging of the two, presented a story of intrigue in which a young lawyer is trying to unravel a mystery.

“Students just had to work their way through the text,” said Máire Ní Chiarba, ASTI representative and teacher in Coláiste an Phiarsaigh in Cork. “The questions themselves were very fair.”

The written production section of the paper provided ample material for students to show off what they knew. The compulsory question offered a choice between writing about the adolescent dream of independence and the problem of and solutions to criminality in Ireland.

“The topics were up to date and students would have discussed this sort of thing in class,” Ms Ní Chiarba said.

Elsewhere, students had the option of writing a diary entry about a lottery win, or an e-mail to a Belgian friend advising her about a trip to Ireland. “There was great scope in the diary question,” Ms Costello said. “The other option was fine but probably required more specific vocabulary.

Students would have been well versed in other options which included a discussion on binge drinking, refereeing in sport and social networking.

“A real effort was made at both levels to make the papers interesting to students,” Ms Ní Chiarba said.

After the written exam came the aural which was “okay”, Ms Costello said. “It was nicely paced and the topics were interesting.”

She commended the use of male and female voices in conversations because they allowed students to keep track of who was saying what.

At ordinary level, the paper was also very well received.

“There was a comprehension in which four students from around the world spoke about spending a year in France,” Ms Ní Chiarba said.

“It was a culturally interesting article, I thought.”

Try this at home Leaving Cert French higher level:

Your Belgian friend, Astrid, wants to visit Ireland in October, and has asked your advice.

Write an e-mail in French to her, in which you make the following points:

- You think it’s a great idea as there will be fewer tourists at that time of year;

- Say you have a spare room and invite her to stay with you for a few days;

- Suggest a particular tourist spot she should visit, and say why;

- Ask her if she is interested in going for long walks in the west of Ireland during her stay;

- Tell her that it was very wet in Ireland last autumn, so she should bring a raincoat.