Lesson video

Hello and welcome to today's spelling lesson.

I'm Mr. Moss, I love spelling, and I'm really looking forward to teaching you.

With you today for the spelling lesson you need to bring your looking eyes, your listening ears, and your thinking brains.

As well as that having something to write on and write with would also be excellent and having something or someone to talk to would also be really helpful.

Right, let's not waste any more time then.

Let's get straight into today's spelling lesson.

In this spelling lesson, we're going to be spelling words with French etymology.

The outcome will be I can spell words with French origin spellings, C-H, G-U-E, and Q-U-E.

Here are the key words for today's learning.

My turn, your turn.

Etymology.

Origin.

Let's have a chat about what these words mean then.

Etymology is really fascinating.

It's the study of the origin of words and the ways their meanings have changed over time.

And in our definition of etymology there, we have this word origin.

The origin is the source or beginning of something like a place, time, or history of a word or idea.

So we're thinking today about where some of the words that we use in modern English have come from 'cause we have a really varied word history.

It's really fascinating.

So here's the outline for today's lesson.

We're spelling words with French etymology and we're gonna begin by looking at the French-derived C-H spelling and then the French-derived G-U-E and Q-U-E spellings.

And we're gonna finish out by spelling some curriculum words.

So let's begin by looking at the French-derived C-H spelling.

Let's begin by talking about etymology in a bit more detail.

Etymology is a branch of linguistics, so the study of language, that studies the origins and history of words.

So the source of words, where they've come from, the journey they've also been on.

Modern English is an incredible language that has roots in many other languages.

And this nice visual shows the roots.

The tree and its branches is modern English and if we look down to its roots, we have loads of languages which have helped to make up modern English.

Hindi, Persian, Celtic, Norse, Germanic, Proto-Indo-European, French that we're gonna be concentrating on today, Latin, and also Greek.

So in today's lesson, we're going to be considering some words that are rooted in French.

Here's a very simple breakdown of modern English, the origins of English.

A huge chunk is Latin and then a equally huge chunk is French.

We also then have Germanic, a large chunk, and then Greek.

Some of those other languages that we've spoken about, like Hindi, Persian, Proto-Indo-European.

And then some words are obviously just proper names.

They're not necessarily derived from anything.

So today we are concentrating on this large part of our pie chart here, French.

Etymologists, so the people that study this branch of linguistics, will consider the journey a word has been on to reach the point it is at today.

Some words have been on really amazing journeys.

For instance, the word ligare here from Latin, then into Italian, legare.

Lega, also shortened form.

Then French, ligue.

And then in English league, like a football league.

And this entered into use in the English language during the late Middle English period.

There are many words in the English language that are derived from other languages.

Tsunami is another example, which comes from Japanese.

Algebra comes from Arabic.

Rucksack comes from German.

And jungle comes from Hindi.

Today we are going to focus on words that have French origins, so are rooted in the French language and have entered into use in English.

Listen to these words.

Shop.

Chalet.

Type of building you might stay in up in the mountains.

Chef, someone who cooks.

Bush.

Fish.

Brioche, a type of sweet French bread.

Special.

Parachute.

What do you notice about all of these words? Perhaps say them again.

Do you hear something similar in all of them? Off you go.

Excellent.

So, I've noticed that they all contain the sh sound but it's being represented in a variety of different ways here.

The ways in which I can see it being spelt here are S-H, C-H, C-I.

Let's find out more about some of the words that we've been looking at then.

Here we have three words: shop, machine, and chalet, which all contain that sh.

They are all nouns.

A shop is a building where things are sold and its origin with that sh spelling is in Old English.

Now these two words, machine and chalet.

A machine is a device that does a physical task and its origin is in French.

So that C-H spelling for that sh and chalet too with that C-H spelling for that sh, a wooden house found in the mountains, is also rooted in French.

That's where it finds its origins.

So, the words containing the C-H spelling of the sh sound originate from the French language.

How amazing is that? So I'd like you now to fill in the blanks in the following sentence.

Words that contain the mm sound spelt C-H, often come from mm.

Choose the correct words below, say the sentence.

Off you go.

Excellent job.

So let's see how you've done there.

Words that contain the sh sound spelt C-H often come from French.

Brilliant.

Look at these words.

Two more words here.

Champagne.

Say that for me, champagne.

So that region in France where that very famous drink is made.

And brochure.

Something you might read that advertises a particular area in you're on holiday pack, for instance.

So, champagne and brochure.

Now I noticed that again, they have that sh sound spelt with the C-H.

So champagne's definition, a bubbly wine from France.

Champagne is actually a region.

Again, its origin French and that makes sense, doesn't it? Brochure, an information booklet.

As I said, you might read a brochure about a place you're going on a holiday to.

And again, French origin because it's that C-H spelling for that sh sound.

The origins for both of these words are from France.

We call them French-derived words.

Can you say it for me? French-derived words.

Where something is derived from is where it comes from.

And that's because of course they come from the French language.

So, I'd like you to read these words for me and identify the French-derived spellings.

Off you go.

Brilliant.

So, machine.

Well yeah, it's that C-H for that sh, isn't it? So that one does.

Shop, sh-op, Well it's an S-H.

I think we looked at this word earlier, it comes from Old English.

Champagne.

Oh, that French bubbly wine and it's that sh but with the C-H representation so it's French-derived.

And bush that S-H, perhaps again from Old English but not French-derived.

Sometimes just seeing the word in a sentence can help you to know whether the spelling looks correct or not.

They sailed across the vast ocean on a ship.

Now, let's see.

We know that the C-H can also make that sh sound but there we would normally see that as chip, wouldn't we? So the correct looking one here for me is S-H-I-P, ship.

Not French-derived.

To make life easier, lots of factories use machines.

Now looking here carefully, which one looks correct? Yeah, it's our C-H, French-derived.

The S-H wouldn't look right here.

It's not the correct spelling, it's our French-derived.

So, with that in mind, with some of the words we've looked at and we're thinking about what looks correct, could you choose the correct spelling in each sentence? Read the sentences and choose the correct spellings of the highlighted words.

Off you go, team.

Brilliant.

When people go skiing, they often stay in a chalet.

Now which one looks right here to you? It's French-derived, C-H.

Chalet is that building often found in the mountains.

To find out more information, read the brochure.

Again, French-derived so it's our C-H and that looks correct, doesn't it? They flew down safely using a parachute.

I think that might open up to allow you to glide safely down to the ground through the sky.

And again, it's our C-H, French-derived.

So we can say all of these words in English are rooted in French.

They have that C-H representation for that sh.

So, we're gonna do a practise task now.

I'd like you to have a go at spelling these words that contain our French-derived CH.

Consider where the sh sound is coming in the word and how it's going to be spelt.

Also look carefully back at the spellings to see if you think it looks right.

The first word is chef.

The chef cooked a wonderful meal.

Number two is machine.

Factories use lots of machines.

Number three is brochure.

I read the holiday brochure and couldn't wait to go away.

Number four, chalet.

We stayed in a ski chalet.

And number five, parachute.

I opened up my parachute after I jumped off out of the aeroplane.

So chef, machine, brochure, chalet, parachute.

Off you go.

Excellent job, team.

Really impressed.

Some great spelling of these French-derived words.

So chef.

Is that ch-ef, chef? It's the sh coming at the beginning? It's just one F and it's that C-H, French-derived spelling.

Then we have machine.

Machine, M-A and it's the C-H-I-N-E, machine.

Be careful with that, it's the strange I-N-E making that E sound.

Brochure.

French-derived.

B-R-O-C-H-U-R-E, chure.

Then we have chalet, be careful here as well.

Has that T, which is almost like a silent T, isn't it? I don't say chalet.

Chalet.

And it's that strange E-T making that A sound at the end, which again tells us that it's French-derived too.

There's many words with a silent T at the end are also derived from French.

And we have that C-H at the beginning too.

And finally parachute.

Be careful with this ute sound at the end.

It's U-T-E, parachute with that French-derived C-H for that sh sound.

Great job.

How did you do there team? Make any corrections, share your learning.

Now, off you go.

Onto our next learning cycle then, which is the French-derived G-U-E and Q-U-E spellings.

So we're continuing to look at French-derived words, words rooted in the French language.

Listen to these words.

Jog, Going for a jog, like a run.

Slug.

Fatigue.

Fatigue is that's sense of tiredness.

League, like a football league.

Intrigue.

Vague.

Not being very clear.

Dialogue.

Speaking between more than one person.

Synagogue.

A Jewish place of worship.

Do you notice anything interesting about these words? Saying them again, listen out for a similar sound.

Brilliant.

Well, I've noticed that they all contain G-U-E or a g.

They all contain that g sound, jog, slug, intrigue, synagogue.

G, g.

So a g sound.

It can be spelt in a variety of different ways as we can see here.

Can be spelled with a g or a G-U-E.

Let's find out more about some of the words we've just looked at then.

Here we have jog, fatigue, and league.

So jog as a verb means to run at a slow pace or to give a little push.

Has that g spelling at the end and it's derived from Middle English, its origin.

Fatigue and league though you'll notice have the G-U-E spellings.

They're nouns.

Fatigue the condition of being tired.

This is derived from French.

This G-U-E spelling for the g sound is originated in French.

And league, people join together for a common cause.

Again, G-U-E origins in French.

So the words contain the G-U-E spelling for that g sound, that g sound often come from the French language.

They're French-derived.

The letters U and E are not pronounced.

Instead we hear a hard g, g sound.

A hard g.

Let's look at two more, intrigue and vague.

Intrigue is a verb, to draw strong interest or to fascinate.

And it's, you guessed it, G-U-E where we don't hear the u and the e but we hear a hard g.

Its origins are in French.

And the same for vague, not clearly expressed or barely visible.

Again, it's derived from French.

So, could you please have a look at these words and identify the French-derived spellings? Off you go.

Great job.

Slug.

Hmm, that's just with a g, isn't it? And perhaps from Old English.

Fatigue, linked to the French fatigue meaning tired.

Yeah and it has that G-U-E spelling where we don't hear the u and the e and we hear the hard g.

That's a French-derived word.

Jog.

Hmm.

Again, just a single g spelling.

Perhaps Old English.

And vague, V-A-G-U-E.

Yep, that's the hard g, we don't hear the u and the e.

It's French-derived.

Listen to these words now.

Lick.

Scheme.

Talk.

Kick.

Are you hearing a similar sound in all of these words? Unique.

Antique.

Something's very old.

Mosque, a Muslim place of worship.

Technique.

The way in which you do something.

Say these words again.

Do you notice anything interesting about them? Brilliant.

Well, absolutely.

Look at this.

We have that k sound, a k, k sound in all of them, don't we? Lick, scheme, talk, kick, unique.

But it can be represented in a variety of different ways.

We have C-K, C-H, K, Q-U-E.

Hmm.

The words containing our Q-U-E spelling for this k sound, this k sound, often come from the French language.

They are French-derived words.

The letters u and e, just like with our G-U-E, are not pronounced.

Instead we hear a hard k or a hard k sound.

Let's look at two words.

Unique and mosque.

Unique's an adjective, meaning being the only one of its type.

And guess what? It's has French origins.

Mosque, which is a Muslim place of worship.

We don't hear the u and the e.

We hear that hard k, don't we? And it's French-derived again.

These are French-derived words then.

Can you identify the French-derived spellings here for me? Think about the words that we've looked at so far.

Read them.

Off you go.

Excellent.

Antique.

Yeah, absolutely, that Q-U-E French-derived.

Mask just with a k.

Nope.

Scheme with that C-H for that hard k, k.

That's not French-derived actually.

Interestingly, I believe that may be a Greek-derived word.

Technique.

Ah, that has a C-H making a k sound but then it has the Q-U-E making the k sound as well.

So this is a combination.

This is a French-derived word.

That technique at the end, that Q-U-E has origins in French.

Seeing a word within a sentence can help us to recognise the correct spelling.

So let's have a look.

The directions were vague, so not very clear.

So I didn't know where to go.

Which looks correct? Well, I think our French-derived G-U-E definitely does.

Muslims worship at the mosque.

Which one looks correct here? Absolutely, our French-derived Q-U-E spelling.

Brilliant.

With the words that we've looked at in mind and also considering which look correct, can you identify the correct spelling of the words highlighted in each of these sentences? I suggest reading the sentences as well.

Off you go.

Great job, team.

The mirror in the hall was antique.

So very old.

Absolutely, it's French-derived Q-U-E.

Sam joined a new football league.

Again, that U-E we don't hear at the end.

G-U-E, French-derived.

Every fingerprint is unique.

That's gonna be our Q-U-E.

It's making a k, k, not a g, g.

The G-U-E for that hard g and the Q-U-E for that hard k sounds nearly always appear at the end of words.

Synagogue, that Jewish place of worship.

Intrigue.

Antique.

Unique.

The g and k sound or g and k sound with the more common spellings can appear anywhere in the word.

So good with our g coming at the beginning.

Eagle in the middle, frog at the end.

Kid with our k, k, hard K at the beginning.

Pumpkin in the middle.

Back, c and k coming together there to make that sound at the end.

So our French-derived spellings not found everywhere in the word, most commonly at the end of the word.

So, with that in mind, let's practise some words now.

I'm gonna say the words, just listen carefully.

Remember once you've written them out, look carefully and see if you think it looks correct.

That can often help us and be a great strategy.

The first word is vague.

The directions I was given were vague, so I was lost.

Number two, fatigue.

After the race, the fatigue began to set in.

Number three, league.

I joined a new football league.

Number four, antique.

The antique clock rang.

Number five, unique.

We are all unique.

So, I'll say those again.

Vague, fatigue, league, antique, unique.

Pause the video, have a go at writing those words now.

Remember those French-derived spellings at the end.

Off you go.

Excellent.

Really, really impressed so far.

So the first word was vague, meaning not very clear.

It's that French-derived, it's V-A and then G-U-E.

Then we had fatigue, meaning tired.

Linked to that French word fatigue.

We have that U-E, it's that G-U-E, fat-igue.

Brilliant.

Then we had league.

It's L-E-A and it's French-derived G-U-E.

Antique.

Now we have that hard k sound.

A-N-T-I, there's the anti in it and then Q-U-E French-derived.

And then unique.

It's not a hard g, it's a k, k.

So it's our Q-U-E spelling, unique.

U-N-I-Q-U-E.

Great job, team.

Make any corrections now and show your learning.

Off you go.

And onto our final learning cycle then, spelling curriculum words.

Let's read these words.

Muscle.

Restaurant.

Do you notice any wild or interesting about the way these are spelt? Restaurant in particular has caught my attention.

Read the words again.

Do you think there's anything interesting about them or perhaps difficult? Have a think.

Great.

Well, I've noticed a couple of things.

The sc is making a s sound in muscle.

This word is derived from Latin.

So we today have been looking at French-derived words but this is a word that's derived from Latin.

Remember, English is such a varied language, which has roots in loads of other languages.

The a and the u in the middle of restaurant are almost like silent letters.

And the a at the end makes a aunt sound.

Au, au, restaurant.

You don't hear that a and the u in the middle very clearly and that a at the end, towards the end before the nt is making a completely different sound.

What a strange word.

It is often pronounced as two syllables, restaurant, but it can help to break it down and really clearly say it with three syllables.

Res-tau-rant or res-tau-rant to really help us remember that it has those different letters in.

So, which of the words that we've just read, those curriculum words, are spelled correctly here.

Point to the correct spelling of muscle.

Off you go.

Brilliant.

Correct spelling there is that S-C and then L-E.

It's a Latin-derived word.

So that's our correct spelling.

Mussel, M-U-S-S-E-L, the one at the top there is also a word.

It's a homophone, a word that sounds the same, but it's spelled differently and it has a completely different meaning.

I'm thinking of muscle as in the muscles in our body.

The mussel, M-U-S-S-E-L, is the mussel that you might eat.

That sea creature.

Point now to the correct spelling of restaurant.

Brilliant.

Remember, say it with three syllables.

Res-tau-rant.

That has that au and then that a.

It's this one here.

R-E-S-T-A-U-R-A-N-T.

Okay, now we're gonna look at one more curriculum word, which is this word here.

My turn, your turn.

Foreign.

Meaning from a different land or country.

What do you notice about this spelling? Brilliant.

So, I've noticed that it has this E-I-G here.

The word sounds like for-en foreign, doesn't it? Okay.

You cannot hear the letters E-I-G.

The words for and reign can be found inside foreign, which is a useful way of remembering it.

It's a really great strategy finding a word in a word.

It is hard to, it's a really hard word to spell and we just need to learn it.

So foreign, meaning coming from a different land or country.

So, point now to the correct spelling of foreign.

Remember the two words that you can see inside it? Brilliant.

Absolutely, we have the words for and reign inside it but it sounds like foreign.

This word here.

Great.

So, because these are curriculum words, we're gonna use a strategy now to help us practise them.

The look, cover, write, check strategy is where we look carefully at the word and consider what's difficult about it.

So I'm looking at muscle.

I know it has that S-C for that s and that L-E.

Brilliant.

I then cover it up, M-U-S-C-L-E.

I then have a go at writing in my niches handwriting.

I then check back to see if I spelt it correctly.

And I do this a number of times, even if I keep getting it right to really embed it into my long-term memory.

So I'd like you to have a go at using this strategy now as the practise word, muscle, restaurant, foreign.

Use the look, cover, write, check strategy.

Off you go.

Great job, team.

I'm hoping you've got muscle, restaurant, foreign written out a number of times like this.

So, we today have been spelling words with French etymology.

Many words in the English language come from other languages.

In words of French origin, the letters C-H often make the sh sound.

In words of French origin, the letters G-U-E often make the hard g sound, the g sound.

And the letters Q-U-E often make a hard k or k sound.

Example words include machine, league, unique.

Great job in spelling today and keep an eye out for any other words that you think might be of French origin.

I'll see you again soon.