Alberta · Grade 8
French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program)
Alberta’s Grade 8 French course, from La boîte à outils — Grade 8 Expansion to Une langue vivante.
- Units
- 6
- Lessons
- 10
- Skills
- 20
- Provincial exam
- None
- Official curriculum
- Alberta Education
Unit by unit
Every skill in the course, numbered by unit.
Unit 1 · 8 skills
La boîte à outils — Grade 8 Expansion
Les trois familles de verbes + l'impératif
Present tense of –er, –ir and –re verbs
I can use the present tense of –er, –ir and –re verbs (regular and irregular) in affirmative and negative sentences.
Skill 1.1
The imperative
I can give commands and advice with the imperative, affirmative and negative.
Skill 1.2
Les adjectifs qui montrent
Demonstrative and exclamatory adjectives
I can point with ce/cet/cette/ces and exclaim with Quel/Quelle.
Skill 1.3
Plural possessives: notre, votre, leur
I can use the plural-owner possessives notre/nos, votre/vos, leur/leurs.
Skill 1.4
Le partitif et les quantités
The partitive: du, de la, des
I can use the partitive articles du, de la, de l', des to talk about "some" of something.
Skill 1.5
Quantities and avoir expressions
I can use quantity expressions (une boîte de, un kilo de) and avoir expressions of need and feeling.
Skill 1.6
Les adverbes et la négation avancée
The four adverb families
I can use adverbs of manner, time, quantity/intensity and place.
Skill 1.7
Stronger ways to say no
I can use stronger negatives — ne… jamais, ne… plus, ne… rien — and start explanations with parce que.
Skill 1.8
The official wording · 8 outcomes
- 1.1
- irregular verb conjugation patterns in the present tense
- 1.2
- the imperative in the affirmative and in the negative with regular and irregular –er, –ir, –re verbs
- 1.3
- demonstrative adjectives— ce, cet, cette, ces
- 1.4
- possessive adjectives— notre, nos; votre, vos; leur, leurs
- 1.5
- the partitive articles— du, de la, de l', des
- 1.6
- expressions of quantity (e.g., une boîte de, un kilo de)
- 1.7
- adverbs of manner (e.g., bien, fort, lentement), of time (e.g., demain, bientôt, parfois, souvent, tard), of quantity and intensity (e.g., assez, beaucoup, très, trop) and of place (e.g., à droite, autour, ici, là-bas, loin)
- 1.8
- adverbs and adverbial expressions of negation (e.g., rien, jamais, ne… jamais, ne… plus, ne… rien)
Key ideas
Three ending sets: –er (parle), –ir (finit — je finis, nous finissons), –re (attend — j'attends, il attend, no ending).
Pointing kit: ce chien (m.), cette chemise (f.), ces chaussures (pl.), and cet before a masculine vowel (cet animal).
Partitive = an unspecified amount: du pain (some bread, m.), de la soupe (f.), de l'eau (vowel), des frites (pl.).
Four families: manner (bien, lentement), time (demain, souvent, tard), quantity/intensity (assez, beaucoup, très, trop), place (ici, là-bas, à droite, loin).
Irregulars ride alongside: many –ir/–re verbs bend the pattern (sortir, prendre) — learn the high-frequency ones as tunes.
Watch out for
- Giving –ir/–re verbs –er endings ("il finie"/"il attende" ✗ — il finit, il attend).
- Using ce before a masculine vowel ("ce animal" ✗ — cet animal).
- Using le/la (the whole thing) when you mean some (Je mange le pain = the specific loaf; du pain = some bread).
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 2 · 2 skills
Les animaux
Nos amis les animaux
Understanding French about animals
I can understand the main idea and details in spoken French about animals.
Skill 2.1
Directions at the zoo
I can give directions to a place at the zoo in structured spoken French.
Skill 2.2
The official wording · 2 outcomes
- 2.1
- understand, in guided situations, by identifying key words or expressions previously taught, the main idea
- 2.2
- give someone directions to a specific area of the zoo
Key ideas
Animal kit: un chien, un chat, un oiseau, un poisson, un cheval; wild ones: un lion, un éléphant, une girafe.
Pet-care verbs recur: nourrir (feed), promener (walk), soigner (care for) — hunt them as anchors.
Directions kit (imperative + place): Va tout droit, tourne à gauche, c'est à côté des lions.
Zoo places anchor it: l'entrée, les singes, le café, les toilettes.
Watch out for
- Missing gender clues (un/une) that later drive ce/cette agreement.
- Freezing on an unknown wild-animal name instead of using the surrounding care/place words.
- Using the infinitive for spoken commands ("Aller tout droit" — the person-form is Va tout droit).
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 3 · 2 skills
Les vêtements
Dans ma garde-robe
Reading French about clothing
I can understand written French about clothing — descriptions, labels and care.
Skill 3.1
Describing your wardrobe
I can describe my wardrobe orally with detail, using demonstratives and colours.
Skill 3.2
The official wording · 2 outcomes
- 3.1
- understand, in guided situations, by identifying key words or expressions previously taught, the main idea
- 3.2
- itemize and describe one's wardrobe
Key ideas
Clothing kit: une chemise, un pantalon, une robe, des chaussures, un manteau; care words: laver, sécher.
Colour adjectives agree and follow: une chemise bleue, des chaussures noires.
The description stack: J'ai + item + colour; J'aime cette + item because…
Demonstratives make it a fashion show: ce manteau, cette robe, ces bottes.
Watch out for
- Colour before the noun ("bleue chemise" ✗ — chemise bleue).
- Missing agreement on colour (des chaussures noir ✗ — noires).
- Dropping agreement across item + colour + demonstrative (keep them all matching).
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 4 · 4 skills
La nourriture
Bien manger
Understanding French about food and nutrition
I can understand spoken French about food and nutrition, including reasons.
Skill 4.1
Reading recipes and food texts
I can read French recipes and food texts and pull out the key details.
Skill 4.2
Ma recette
Writing a recipe
I can write a shopping list and steps for a dish, using the imperative and the partitive.
Skill 4.3
Expressing food preferences in writing
I can express food needs, preferences and suggestions in written French with details.
Skill 4.4
The official wording · 4 outcomes
- 4.1
- identify the reason behind eating a healthy breakfast
- 4.2
- the main idea(s) and a few isolated details about a variety of concrete topics contained in authentic or adapted written texts
- 4.3
- write a list of grocery items needed for a Moroccan recipe
- 4.4
- express needs, desires, wishes and preferences, make suggestions, in written form, providing some details
Key ideas
Food kit + partitive: du pain, des fruits, de la viande; meals: le petit déjeuner, le dîner, le souper.
A recipe in writing: ingredients with quantities (200 g de farine, une boîte de tomates), then steps as commands (Ajoutez…, Mélangez…).
Reasons use parce que / car: Le corps a besoin d'énergie le matin.
The Moroccan-recipe task from the POS is a grocery-list-plus-steps: list de items, then imperative steps.
Recipes are imperative + partitive: Ajoutez de la farine. Mélangez les œufs.
Watch out for
- Missing the reason clause (parce que…) that carries the point of a nutrition text.
- Writing steps in the present je-form ("Je ajoute") instead of the recipe imperative (Ajoutez / Ajoute).
- Confusing Canada's souper (dinner) with France's dîner — regional variation.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 5 · 2 skills
Fêtes et célébrations
Les fêtes et leurs saveurs
Reading about celebrations and their foods
I can read French texts about celebrations and their foods, pulling out the key details.
Skill 5.1
Describing a celebration
I can describe a celebration orally with some detail — what happens, what is eaten, what I prefer.
Skill 5.2
The official wording · 2 outcomes
- 5.1
- the main idea(s) and a few isolated details about a variety of concrete topics contained in authentic or adapted written texts
- 5.2
- describe, explain, ask and answer questions
Key ideas
Celebration texts follow origin → traditions → foods — use the pattern to find details fast.
Food-of-celebration vocabulary recurs: un repas de fête, un gâteau, des plats traditionnels.
The describe frame: Pour [la fête], on + verb; on mange…; ma tradition préférée, c'est…
Add detail and opinion: the Grade 8 target is "providing some details", not just naming.
Watch out for
- Skipping the origin sentence that often carries the main idea.
- Missing that many food words are partitive (du, des) in the text.
- Naming without detail (the outcome wants some details and a preference).
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Unit 6 · 2 skills
Une langue vivante
Le français qui évolue
How French evolves
I can recognize how French evolves — borrowed words and anglicisms — and facts of Francophone life.
Skill 6.1
Regional variations and idioms
I can recognize regional variations and compare idioms across cultures.
Skill 6.2
The official wording · 2 outcomes
- 6.1
- recognize and understand how the French language has evolved and is evolving
- 6.2
- recognize regional variations in expressions used by different Francophone groups in a similar context
Key ideas
Living languages borrow: le week-end, le sandwich, un email (un courriel in Canada) — le rôle des emprunts et des anglicismes.
Culture shows in facts: per capita, the French consume the most mineral water in the world — small facts, real windows.
Same meal, different words: petit déjeuner/déjeuner/dîner (France) vs déjeuner/dîner/souper (Canada); slip (France) vs caleçon (Canada).
Idioms wink: être fort comme un taureau (strong as a bull — same as English); avoir un chat dans la gorge (a CAT in the throat = a frog in yours).
Watch out for
- Thinking borrowed words are "wrong French" — they're part of how a living language grows.
- Assuming all French is identical to France's French.
- Thinking one region's word is "correct" and the other wrong — both are standard in their place.
Every skill’s key ideas, worked examples and checks are in MapleMind.Practise this unit
Plan the term
Pick your term and the days you study. Each unit gets its share of the weeks and comes back a week later for a review. The last two weeks go over the whole course.
The official curriculum
This page follows Alberta’s own curriculum for French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program).
Study it in MapleMind
MapleMind teaches French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program) one skill at a time. Each skill gets a short lesson, practice as you go and a check worth up to three stars. It remembers where you stopped.
Course Companion
Your year in one workbook
A fun way to keep French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program) organized, get to know your child better and see early when they need a hand. Fill it in on a screen, or print it.
- Pages
- 34
- Fillable fields
- 1,357
- Price
- $4.99
Questions about French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program)
What is French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program)?
Alberta’s Grade 8 French course: 6 units and 20 skills, from La boîte à outils — Grade 8 Expansion to Une langue vivante.
What units are in French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program)?
1. La boîte à outils — Grade 8 Expansion, 2. Les animaux, 3. Les vêtements, 4. La nourriture, 5. Fêtes et célébrations and 6. Une langue vivante.
Is there a provincial exam for French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program)?
No. Alberta gives no provincial exam for French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program).
What comes after French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program)?
French as a Second Language 9 (Nine-Year Program).
Can MapleMind help with French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program)?
Yes. MapleMind teaches every skill of French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program), step by step, with practice and checks, and its tutor answers questions about any of them. It’s free with daily limits, on iPhone, Android and the web.
Get ready for French as a Second Language 8 (Nine-Year Program)
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