Duck Duck GOOSE! Drilling Structures

Frédéric Dichtel (Aquinas College) has recently introduced the Duck, Duck, GOOSE game to drill grammar structures in particular.
If you are not familiar with the game, you will find a set of rules here.
Fred uses this game to enhance his students' languages skills at any level. Here are some examples he shares:
- Year 11 students can play the game saying, "je dois, je veux, je peux, bonjour" (the student tapped on the head as "bonjour" is uttered becomes the goose)

- In Year 10: "j'aime, j'adore, je déteste"
- In Year 13: "bien que, pour que, pourvu que, quand" etc.
He adds that to allow for a fun game, make sure the circle is wide enough, so the "goose" can have a chance to catch up with the "fox.

Fred wishes to thank his Y10 student Katherine M. for suggesting this game.

The Ashcombe School Videos on Demand

The award winning Ashcombe School (UK) has produced 35 Videos on Demand which cover the whole syllabus (from Beginners to Seniors). The videos function as standalone exercises for anyone who wishes to practise their language skills. Each exercise comprises a video clip of a native speaker, followed by an online, self-checking quiz, together with transcripts in the target language and English.  Watch their website as they are currently developing Iphone French resources!

Before you introduce them to your students, read about the Videos on Demand

Access the 35 Videos from here.

Language Perfect

Language Perfect is a powerful tool for language teachers and their students.
This program provides a fun, effective and rewarding online environment in which students learn and revise key vocabulary It has been created in 2008 by students who have recently completed the NCEA syllabus who strive to produce the ultimate interactive revision tool for French levels 1, 2 and 3.

Listed below are its key features:
Teacher‐created lists – teachers create vocabulary lists for their classes to revise.
Intelligent testing engine – picks up and repeats any words students are struggling with.
Online access – students can use Language Perfect from any computer with Internet Access.
Database connectivity – student progress is stored in our online database.
Sound Files– allow students to hear each word with accurate pronunciation.

Chris Durrant (HoD Languages at Otago High School for Girls) has carried out research into Language Perfect effectiveness for the Ministry of Education.  The results are stunning: they show ALL students who used the online programme have improved their vocabulary and top students report learning vocabulary faster with Language Perfect!  Read below about this research, in an article published in Interface (Feb 2009). 

On rigole!

French expressions and play on words can provide Francophiles with hot topics of conversation but also with a good dose of laughter! Ruth Bourchier (French National Adviser), amongst many, enjoys them very much and she shares two PPT:  the first one picks on a range of expressions (you could use it a slide at a time with your students to instill in them the finer aspects of French!) and the second is a selection of blunders found on exam answers. 

Expressions Idiomatiques

Discover a range of Idiomatic Expressions with illustrations and explanations from bonjourdefrance.com .  Students click  "Voulez vous vous tester?" to access the related self evaluating reading comprehension exercise.

Liaisons or not?

Ruth Bourchier (National French Adviser) casts some light on this tricky point.  The article below is on when and when not to make LIAISONS. It has been adapted from the BBC course ALLEZ FRANCE.

FlashCards, yes, but Online!

Discover the French vocabulary e-flash cards on Quizlet:  Verb conjugations and tenses, Vocabulary on contexts such as Parts of the Body, Food, Pet... Cultural and Historical aspects … Choose a set you want your students to work on, then let them go on to familiarizing themselves with vocabulary, then learning and self testing.  With the option to play word games and combine different lists together.

Vocabulary Building Exercises to support a worthy cause! 

For each answer you get right in this quiz FreeRice gives 20 grains of rice for the UN World Food Program to help end hunger.  Chose your level, start playing,  improve your French and above all help provide food to the hungry.

Online Material to support  Christian Schools' Special Character in French.

Wilda Laux (Sancta Maria College) is sharing the following link to www.croire.com . Wilda teaches at a catholic school, and one of the tasks of each teacher there is to contribute to the special character of the school (catholic spirit). With her classes, she does prayers at the beginning of each class and this website (you get a 15 day trial period) provides quality catholic materials (prayers, readings, life stories....).  Wilda also believes the material can be used in any christian institutions and beyond (wherever you would like to introduce a little something out of the ordinary).

Selection of Quizzes

►Le Millionaire  Seating in the famous Hot Seat! And be a virtual millionaire in Euros!  Online quiz made of questions by members of www.francaisfacile.com You can become a member for FREE and get your students to devise their own questions/answers to submit and add to the bank of questions.

►Fantastic general knowledge quiz and its answers
►French grammar, vocabulary, and comprehension, as well as culture, study habits, and more Quizzes

50 Questions French Quiz

Julia Brown (Dilworth School) has created and shared the following France General Knowledge Quiz!  A great resource to get your students thinking and researching but also a fantastic way to have fun while your colleagues and friends test their French "culture générale"!Well timed for International Languages Week.

Selection of Games

►Comprehensive list of Classroom Games

Find below:

1- a list of "games that work"! courtesy of frenchteacher.net

2- Pascale Hyboud-Peron (french.ac.nz Administrator) has tried and tested four activities, some from the above list, with Camella Murrie's (Aquinas College) year 10 class.  The activities are explained in detail, with examples, based on the topic Food and Drink.  All these activities can be adapted: use them as time fillers or as an integral part of your lesson, keep the vocabulary simple for beginners, or make them a practice for more complex grammatical structures.

Example of an adaptation for the "Phrases à Rallonges" with a group of year 12 students to work on 'après+avoir/être+past participle" : start with "après le lycée je vais...", and each student must had a verb.

#1: Après avoir fini le lycée, je vais aller à l'université

#2: Après avoir fini le lycée et réussi mes exams, je vais aller à l'université

#3: Après avoir fini le lycée et réussi mes exams, je vais aller à l'université et je vais étudier l'informatique. Etc.