Lesson Plan – Prose 6: The Last Lesson
The Last Lesson
Subject: English | Topic: Prose | Author: Alphonse Daudet
Language and Literature
Patriotism
Value Education
1. Learning Objectives
The teacher expects the students to:
Understand the story The Last Lesson and its historical background.
Identify the main characters: Franz, M. Hamel, Wachter and the village people.
Understand the importance of learning one's mother tongue.
Develop reading, comprehension, vocabulary and writing skills.
Recognise the value of education, discipline and respect for teachers.
Understand the importance of time management and avoiding procrastination.
Appreciate the relationship between language, culture and national identity.
2. Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, students will be able to:
Summarise the story in their own words.
Describe Franz's feelings before and during the last lesson.
Explain why M. Hamel and the villagers were sad.
Use new vocabulary in meaningful sentences.
Express the importance of their mother tongue and cultural identity.
Apply the lesson's message by studying regularly instead of postponing work.
Show gratitude to teachers and respect for different languages and cultures.
Real-life application: Students will understand that they should not postpone learning until tomorrow. They should value their education, practise their languages and respect the languages spoken by others.
3. Introduction
The teacher begins the lesson by asking the following questions:
Which languages do you speak at home?
Why is it important to learn our mother tongue?
Have you ever postponed your homework until the last minute?
How do you feel when you miss an important lesson at school?
What would you feel if you were told that you could no longer study your favourite language?
The teacher connects the students' answers to the lesson and introduces the title, The Last Lesson, by Alphonse Daudet.
4. Reading and Understanding
A. Reading activities
The teacher introduces the author and the historical background of the Franco-Prussian War.
The teacher reads the lesson aloud with suitable expressions and pauses.
Students read the lesson paragraph by paragraph.
The teacher explains difficult passages and asks comprehension questions.
Students identify the characters, setting, important events and central message.
B. Vocabulary and meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chirping | Making short, high-pitched sounds |
| Bustle | Busy and energetic activity |
| Unison | Doing or saying something together |
| Rapping | Striking with quick, audible blows |
| Thumbed | Showing marks from frequent handling |
| Saar | A river in northeastern France and western Germany |
| Cranky | Strange or irritable |
| Angelus | A Roman Catholic prayer or devotion observed at morning, noon and evening |
C. Comprehension check
Why was Franz afraid of going to school?
Why were the villagers sitting on the back benches?
What announcement did M. Hamel make?
Why did Franz regret not learning his lessons?
What did M. Hamel write on the blackboard at the end?
5. Mind Map
6. Consolidation and Presentation
Summary of the lesson
The Last Lesson is a short story by Alphonse Daudet set during the Franco-Prussian War. Franz, a schoolboy, starts late for school and fears that his teacher, M. Hamel, will question him about participles. When he arrives, he finds the classroom unusually quiet and the village elders seated at the back.
M. Hamel announces that this will be their last French lesson because an order from Berlin requires German to be taught in the schools of Alsace and Lorraine from the following day.
Franz regrets wasting his time and not learning his lessons properly. M. Hamel explains that the students, their parents and even he himself have postponed learning. He praises the beauty of the French language and urges everyone to preserve it.
The villagers attend the lesson to honour M. Hamel for his forty years of faithful service. The class studies grammar, writing and history with deep emotion. When the church clock strikes twelve, M. Hamel becomes overwhelmed and cannot speak. He writes “Vive La France!” on the blackboard and dismisses the class.
Presentation by students
Students narrate the story in sequence.
A group presents a role-play featuring Franz, M. Hamel and the villagers.
Students explain the significance of the final words, “Vive La France!”
The teacher highlights the central message: education, language and freedom should never be taken for granted.
7. Reinforcement
The teacher reinforces the lesson through the following points:
Importance of language: Language preserves a community's culture, history and identity.
Value of education: Learning should be continuous and taken seriously.
Avoiding procrastination: Postponing work may lead to regret.
Respect for teachers: M. Hamel's forty years of service show his dedication.
Patriotism: The story expresses love for France and the French language.
Historical awareness: The Franco-Prussian War changed life in Alsace and Lorraine.
Activity: Students write the names of languages spoken in their community and share one way to preserve each language.
8. Evaluation
The teacher evaluates students' understanding through three levels of questions.
A. Lower Order Thinking (LOT)
Who is the author of The Last Lesson?
Who is Franz's teacher?
What words did M. Hamel write on the blackboard?
B. Middle Order Thinking (MOT)
Why was Franz shocked by M. Hamel's announcement?
Why did the village elders attend the last lesson?
How did Franz's attitude towards his books change during the lesson?
C. Higher Order Thinking (HOT)
What lesson can students learn from Franz's regret about postponing his studies?
Why does M. Hamel consider language important to a people's freedom and identity?
If you were Franz, how would you feel and what would you do differently after hearing the announcement?
9. Remedial Teaching
The teacher supports slow learners through simple, structured activities:
Simple explanation: Retell the story in short sentences using familiar words.
Picture support: Use pictures of Franz, M. Hamel, the classroom and the blackboard.
Vocabulary cards: Match difficult words with their meanings.
Sequencing activity: Arrange five or six events from the story in the correct order.
Guided reading: Read short passages aloud and help students identify key ideas.
Sentence completion: Provide prompts such as “Franz was afraid because ______.”
Peer learning: Pair struggling learners with supportive classmates.
Frequent oral assessment: Ask short questions and provide immediate feedback.
10. Writing
The teacher asks students to complete the following writing tasks.
A. Short answer: Write five sentences about why Franz regretted not learning his lessons earlier.
B. Paragraph writing: Write a paragraph of 100–120 words on “The Importance of Our Mother Tongue.”
C. Character sketch: Describe M. Hamel as a dedicated teacher who loves his language and country.
D. Creative writing: Imagine that you are Franz. Write a diary entry about your feelings after attending the last French lesson.
11. Follow-up / Homework
Students complete the following activities at home:
Write a summary of The Last Lesson in 150 words.
Prepare a character sketch of M. Hamel.
Find five new words from the lesson, write their meanings and use each in a sentence.
Interview a family member about the importance of the mother tongue and write five points.
Prepare a small poster with the slogan “Learn Today, Never Regret Tomorrow.”
Expected outcome: Students understand the importance of education, language, cultural identity and making good use of learning opportunities.
