Reflecting on communication means asking what you meant to say, what the listener actually understood, and what to change next time. It is a practice habit and it is separate from an official mark. Official marks come from the Cambridge assessment process, so check the current syllabus page for how speaking is assessed in your exam year.
This lesson closes speaking preparation and interaction. It turns each rehearsal into one useful next step.
Why keep reflection separate from marks?
A guessed number tempts you to argue with it. Was it a six or a seven? That debate teaches nothing about your French.
Evidence is more useful. A note such as “I answered a past-tense question in the present” tells you exactly what to practise. A note such as “about seven out of ten” does not.
Which four questions should I ask?
- Did I answer the question that was asked? Check the question word and the tense.
- Could the listener follow without help? Listen for long pauses, unclear sounds or missing words.
- Did I repair any problem? For example, did I ask for something to be repeated instead of staying silent?
- What is one change for next time? Choose a single, practical action.
Write one line of evidence for each question, taken from what you actually said. If you cannot find evidence, listen to the rehearsal again.
Worked example
A student rehearsed a short conversation, then wrote these notes.
| Question | Evidence from the rehearsal | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Answered what was asked? | The question was Qu’est-ce que tu as fait hier ? and I said Je vais au parc. | Listen for as fait and reply in the past: Je suis allé au parc. |
| Easy to follow? | The meaning was clear, but I paused after every sentence. | Link ideas with puis and ensuite. |
| Repaired a problem? | I missed samedi and asked Pardon, vous avez dit samedi ? It worked. | Keep this habit. |
| One change | Past tense of aller and faire. | Say three past-tense answers aloud each day. |
The student ended with a single action, not a verdict. The notes name specific words from the rehearsal, so a teacher or the student could check them later.
Notice also that one thing went well. Recording what worked is part of reflection, because it tells you what to keep.
The mistake to watch for
A common slip is to turn reflection into a score or a general judgement.
Mistaken note: My speaking was about 6 out of 10. I am just bad at French.
This note does not help. The number is a guess, the second sentence is a judgement, and neither says what to practise. It can also make you less willing to speak next time.
The correction is to replace it with evidence and one action: I answered a past question in the present. Next week I will practise the past of aller and faire.
Check yourself
Try each one, then compare with the answer.
1. Rewrite this note so it is useful: My speaking was bad.
Show answer
One possible rewrite: I answered each question with one word. Next time I will add a reason with parce que to every answer. It names what happened and gives one action.
2. Who awards the official mark for an IGCSE French speaking assessment: you, your tutor, or the Cambridge assessment process?
Show answer
The Cambridge assessment process. Your own reflection and a tutor’s feedback are for practice only. Ask your exam centre how the speaking test will be arranged, and check the Cambridge syllabus page.
3. Your notes say: I understood the questions, but I forgot the word for “library”. Choose one practical next step.
Show answer
One possible step: write la bibliothèque on a card, say it in a sentence aloud, and plan how to explain a forgotten word, such as un endroit où on lit des livres. Having a way around a missing word is itself a speaking skill.
Where this leads next
Use your notes to choose a lesson to revisit: expanding a short answer, asking for clarification or rehearsing a two-way conversation. Then try the speaking preparation practice set, and return to the module overview in speaking preparation and interaction.
Reflection works well when someone who knows the language listens with you. That is a natural part of online one-to-one French tuition.