LEAVING CERT FRENCH: Tricky tapes can be a big stumbling block in the language exams and yesterday's French aurals scuppered many students in both the higher and ordinary Leaving Cert exams.
"A lot of students found the Leaving Cert tapes quite confusing in parts and they were very, very fast," Ms Vickie Stokes, teaching in Castleknock Community College, said.
Ms Maria O'Meara, skoool.ie French expert, said her students in Ballinteer Community College were also disappointed with the Leaving Cert aural.
"Many students felt this was a very difficult tape - especially Sections 4 and 5. In Section 4 Question 1 it didn't specify how many points they were looking for. Many students found it difficult to understand the speakers in this section and Section 5 question 2 was particularly fast and difficult," she said.
The aurals left a bitter taste after what were reasonably well-pitched written papers at both levels.
"Overall reaction to the higher-level papers was very positive; most students considered it a very fair and even paper," Ms O'Meara said.
The reading section was manageable, she said but a particularly good understanding of the text was needed to answer Question 6 of the first comprehension.
"Reading comprehension was more testing again, particularly a number of the multiple choice questions," Ms O'Meara said.
She praised the number of topical questions in the written section particularly the pieces on Leaving Cert holiday celebrations and the recent general election.
Ms Margaret Le Lu, teaching in Old Bawn Community School, Tallaght, was very impressed with the format of the questions on the higher-level paper.
"There are very close ties between the work done for their oral and the written expression used in the paper, which used not to be the case," she said.
The questions did need to be read very carefully, however. "You really had to be careful with the literary comprehension. You shouldn't be left with a lot of time in a French exam," Ms Le Lu said.
The ordinary-level paper was well received in Old Bawn and Ballinteer.
"It held no unpleasant surprises," Ms O'Meara said.
Students were particularly happy with the reading section which dealt with everyday topics. "It was very good, clearly laid out with a nice choice and balance."
