MATSEC SEC French study plan

MATSEC SEC French · Give each week a clear focus.

8 weeks · About 6 hours per week

Week 1

Listening & Speaking

Set up a daily listening routine of 15 minutes using short authentic French audio (news bulletins, weather, announcements) and log what you understood in a listening journal
Transcribe 20 short spoken sentences by ear, then check against the audio script and mark every word you misheard
Record yourself reading a 150-word prepared text aloud and note three pronunciation problems (nasal vowels, liaison, silent endings)
Build a personal vocabulary sheet of 40 high-frequency spoken expressions (fillers, connectors, question forms) and drill them aloud

A listening journal covering 7 days plus one 2-minute self-recording with a written self-assessment of three pronunciation issues

Week 2

Practise two listening task types under timed conditions (multiple-choice on a short dialogue, gap-fill on a monologue) and review errors against transcripts
Prepare and deliver a 3-minute spoken monologue on a familiar topic (family, school, hobbies) without reading from notes
Answer 10 spoken questions about yourself in real time, recording each answer and re-recording the weakest three
Drill numbers, dates, times and prices by ear until you can write them down accurately at first hearing

One 3-minute unscripted monologue recording plus a corrected transcript of two timed listening tasks

Week 3

Read one short authentic French article per day and summarise each in two sentences without a dictionary on first pass
Complete four timed reading comprehension sets (notice, letter, article, advertisement) and classify each error as vocabulary, grammar or task misreading
Extract and learn 50 words from your reading that recur across at least two texts
Match spoken and written registers by reading aloud the transcripts of the audio you listened to in weeks 1-2

A vocabulary log of 50 recurring words with example sentences taken from your own reading

Week 4

Sit a full timed mock covering listening and reading sections in one sitting under exam conditions
Review every wrong answer and write the reason for the error beside it
Re-listen to two difficult audio extracts at slower speed, then again at normal speed, until full comprehension
Scan four texts for specific detail (dates, names, figures) in under three minutes each

A completed mock listening and reading paper with a written error analysis and a score recorded as a baseline

Week 5

Write one 120-150 word informal message or letter per session, using a clear structure of greeting, purpose, detail and close
Write one 120-150 word formal text (letter of complaint, application, request for information) using appropriate register and formulas
Revise written work against a personal checklist covering tenses, agreement, accents and connectors
Read two model-style texts of different registers and list the phrases that signal formality

Four corrected written pieces (two informal, two formal) with a checklist showing the errors you fixed

Week 6

Write two timed essays or structured texts in 30 minutes each and compare them for accuracy and range
Convert two of your written pieces into spoken summaries delivered in 90 seconds each
Role-play four exam-style speaking situations (asking for information, describing a photo or situation, giving an opinion, solving a problem) with a partner or by recording both parts yourself
Build a bank of 15 opinion and argumentation phrases and use at least 10 of them in speech and writing

Two timed written texts plus recordings of four role-play situations with a self-rated fluency and accuracy note

Week 7

Sit a complete timed mock of all four skill areas across two sessions
Identify your two weakest task types and complete three extra practice items for each
Refine your speaking by recording a 4-minute talk and a follow-up question-and-answer session
Proofread three of your earlier written pieces and rewrite the weakest one to a higher standard

Full mock results for all four skills with a prioritised list of the three weaknesses to fix before exam day

Week 8

Do light daily practice in every skill (10 minutes listening, 10 minutes reading, one short written task, one spoken response) to keep all four active
Rehearse exam timing for each section so you know how long to spend on each task type
Consolidate your error lists into a one-page revision sheet of recurring mistakes and key phrases
Simulate speaking conditions once more, including greeting, unprepared questions and a closing exchange

A one-page personal revision sheet plus a final full speaking simulation recording reviewed against your week 4 baseline

Week 2: You can sustain a 3-minute unscripted monologue and catch key details in short authentic audio at first hearing

Week 4: Your timed listening and reading mock is complete and scored, with every error categorised and a baseline recorded

Week 6: You can produce a structured 120-150 word text in both registers within 30 minutes and handle four spoken role-plays

Week 8: All four skills have been mock-tested, your three priority weaknesses are addressed, and your revision sheet is finished