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thefrenchwhisperer

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(based on 198 reviews)

A few years ago, I retired from my position as head of Modern Languages, a bit fearful of the "R" word. But to date, it has been nothing but fun! Canadian law requires school-aged actors to study with a qualified teacher when they’re off-camera. Many of our young actors are in immersion French so I've found a happy little niche, teaching a few days a week as an on-set tutor and moving in inspiring and creative circles! Furthermore, I get to share resources here! Vive la retraite!

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A few years ago, I retired from my position as head of Modern Languages, a bit fearful of the "R" word. But to date, it has been nothing but fun! Canadian law requires school-aged actors to study with a qualified teacher when they’re off-camera. Many of our young actors are in immersion French so I've found a happy little niche, teaching a few days a week as an on-set tutor and moving in inspiring and creative circles! Furthermore, I get to share resources here! Vive la retraite!
25 EXPRESSIONS IDIOMATIQUES EXPLIQUÉES ET ILLUSTRÉES
CarlavCarlav

25 EXPRESSIONS IDIOMATIQUES EXPLIQUÉES ET ILLUSTRÉES

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This resource will help visual learners master the following idioms: aller droit au but avoir du pain sur la planche avoir la langue bien pendue avoir le bras long avoir le coeur sur la main avoir une peur bleue c'est dans la poche c’est simple comme bonjour ce n’est pas la mer à boire ce n’est pas sorcier connaître les ficelles couper la poire en deux coûter les yeux de la tête en faire tout un fromage faire la court échelle à quelqu'un faire la pluie et le beau temps faire la une faire le pont il y a quelque chose qui ne tourne pas rond je suis un vrai tombeau les doigts dans le nez mettre la main à la pâte parler français comme une vache espagnole plier bagage quand les poules auront des dents un ours mal léché If you like this resource, please let me know and I will make more like it.
Language Lego™ (French sentence-building blocks)
CarlavCarlav

Language Lego™ (French sentence-building blocks)

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The objective of Language Lego™ is to accumulate as many points as possible building the longest sentences possible with “interlocking” phrases. This game helps students get over their fear of speaking French by guiding them each step of the way with a few giggles thrown in for good measure. Cards may be printed in colour or B&W on business card sheets or card stock. A handful of blank cards is included to allow you to personalise the deck. Headset icons help players with the pronunciation of “difficult” words. The nose icons indicate syllables that are to be nasalised. If you like this resource, please let me know and I will make more like it.
Lollipop Puzzle (practising the IR verb endings in the present tense)
CarlavCarlav

Lollipop Puzzle (practising the IR verb endings in the present tense)

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Even some of my advanced learners still trip over the IR present tense endings. So, I've built a few little activities that look like puzzles but are really just sneaky ways to get students to write out the verbs in context. This is one of them. It incorporates forms of the following verbs: atterrir choisir démolir finir grandir maigrir obéir punir ralentir réfléchir remplir réussir rougir vieillir vomir If you like this activity, please let me know and I will post more like it.
La conjugaison de choisIR au présent: a MOTDOKU6 (simplified word sudoku) 2.0
CarlavCarlav

La conjugaison de choisIR au présent: a MOTDOKU6 (simplified word sudoku) 2.0

(0)
The old-fashioned practice of writing out conjugations for mastery still works academic wonders for many students. But it’s a much-maligned approach so I’m always looking for ways to camouflage it as fun. As students solve this MOTDOKU6, they will inadvertently conjugate the present tense of CHOISIR three times. If you like this activity, please let me know and I will post more like it. . P.S. The original file had and orphan subheading for "vouloir, pouvoir & devoir" which has been corrected in this version
Where are my Valentine’s gifts? (A virtual scavenger hunt)
CarlavCarlav

Where are my Valentine’s gifts? (A virtual scavenger hunt)

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Originally designed as a Modern Language tool, this virtual scavenger hunt encourages even students who are usually reluctant to participate in class to jump right in and to speak in full sentences. You’ll experience the phenomenon of an entire class listening “actively” because no one wants to waste a guess choosing a square from which the gift has already been claimed. After the oral treasure hunt, assign a handful of co-ordinates for an instant written assignment that will reinforce verb conjugations and vocabulary acquisition. “Where are my Valentine’s gifts?” has been designed to review virtually any tense. I have appended answer keys for four of them: the present, the simple past, the simple future and the conditional perfect.
A Shakespearean insults Wordoku6  (An antidote to cloying Valentine's sentiment)
CarlavCarlav

A Shakespearean insults Wordoku6 (An antidote to cloying Valentine's sentiment)

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Warning: This simplified word sudoku is for those who find the usual Valentine’s fare far too saccharine. It features 6 decidedly unsentimental Shakespearean insults: 1 Thou dost infect mine eyes! RICHARD III, ACT I, SCENE II 2 Light of brain! OTHELLO, ACT IV, SCENE I 3 Thou art a … plague sore! KING LEAR, ACT II, SCENE II 4 Foul fiend Flibbertigibbet KING LEAR, ACT III, SCENE IV 5 You bull’s pizzle. HENRY IV, Part I, ACT II, SCENE IV 6 Would thou wouldst burst! TIMON OF ATHENS, ACT IV, SCENE III If your students like this kind of activity, please let me know and I will make more like it.
A tongue-in-cheek  French "Valentine" MOTDOKU6 (simplified word sudoku)
CarlavCarlav

A tongue-in-cheek French "Valentine" MOTDOKU6 (simplified word sudoku)

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Warning: This is an ironic "Valentine" puzzle in the spirit of Goscinny's classic "Djodjo" For those who find the usual Valentine’s fare too saccharine, this MOTDOKU6 features 6 decidedly unsentimental expressions. 1 Ta gueule! (Shut up!) 2 Tais-toi! (Shut up!) 3 J’en ai marre! (I’ve had enough!) 4 Je m’en fiche! (I don’t care!) 5 Va t’en! (Go away!) 6 Décampe! (Get out of here!)
French Valentine bundle
CarlavCarlav

French Valentine bundle

6 Resources
DIRE OU INTERDIRE? pour la Saint-Valentin can be played like Taboo with confident and advanced students. But if your students are reluctant to speak French, empower them by flipping the flipping rules! OÙ SONT LES TRÉSORS CACHÉS (La Saint-Valentin) will turn conjugating “avoir” and “er” verbs in any tense and speaking in full sentences into fun. (No, really.) SCRIBBLESCRABBLES are deceptively challenging word building puzzles. I’ve also included 2 free resources to save you some searching. If you like these files, please let me know.
C'EST TOUCHANT! pour La Saint-Valentin (Ce jeu est un peu comme Boggle.)
CarlavCarlav

C'EST TOUCHANT! pour La Saint-Valentin (Ce jeu est un peu comme Boggle.)

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Embedded in the puzzle grid are 13 French words on the Saint-Valentin theme and more than 70 general vocabulary words. The file includes a thematic vocabulary, an answer key and a “how to play” guide. (I posted the English version of this Valentine's game five years ago and am truly tickled to see that it has been downloaded 3355 times! If your students enjoy the activity, please let me know and I will create more like it.)
Les expressions avoir (5 resources)
CarlavCarlav

Les expressions avoir (5 resources)

4 Resources
This file includes • 3 motdoku6 (word sudoku) games • Où sont les trésors cachés (Les expressions AVOIR) • 1 powerpoint presentation illustrating 15 expressions • an 8.5" by 14" poster of those same expressions • the free game, "Let's get to the bottom (or top) of LES EXPRESSIONS AVOIR"
French activity: La St-Valentin
CarlavCarlav

French activity: La St-Valentin

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“OÙ SONT LES TRÉSORS CACHÉS? (La Saint-Valentin)” is a French verb conjugation game that will work well as a full-class, teacher-directed game and as a small-group activity. You’ll find that even reluctant learners will be motivated to listen carefully to hear which squares have already been “played” by their classmates. And the promise of “treasure” tends to generate enthusiastic oral participation as well. After the fun of the oral treasure hunt, you can assign co-ordinates to create an instant written assignment to reinforce the correct spelling of the verb endings. I’ve provided an answer key for le présent, le passé composé, le futur simple, le conditionnel présent & le plus-que parfait. However, the game can be played in all verb tenses. To be sure that “Où sont les trésors cachés? (La Saint-Valentin)” is right for your students, download the free resource, “Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les verbes ER): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/o-sont-les-tr-sors-cach-s-les-verbes-er-6438862
French vocabulary:  La St-Valentin
CarlavCarlav

French vocabulary: La St-Valentin

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Traditional Taboo® has always been a wonderful classroom tool. DIRE OU INTERDIRE?POUR LA SAINT-VALENTIN is a themed variation of the game that can be played in two very different ways. If your students are confident and articulate, have them play DIRE OU INTERDIRE? following traditional Taboo® rules. If, however, you have students who are uncomfortable giving clues, turn the rules upside down. Tell them to use some or all of the words beneath the pink and white banner in their descriptions! This topsy-turvy approach encourages and empowers everyone to participate. You won’t believe what a positive game-changer it is. This file includes 36 “Valentine” cards about friendship, relationships and love as well as a template for students to make their own DIRE OU INTERDIRE? deck.
En commençant par la fin: LES VÊTEMENTS (version junior)
CarlavCarlav

En commençant par la fin: LES VÊTEMENTS (version junior)

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La fin de chaque mot dans ce mini-cercle vicieux est aussi le début d'un nouveau mot. Comme dans un mots croisés, les lettres sont toutes représentées en majuscules sans accents. Un mot accentué peut donc croiser un mot qui ne l'est pas. Fais la ronde. Combien de mots qui se chevauchent peux-tu y trouver?
Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les vêtements)
CarlavCarlav

Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les vêtements)

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In all my “Où sont les trésors cachés?” games, students must speak in full sentences as they vie to find the treasure hidden in the grid. This edition features the verbs, “porter”, “essayer”, “enlever”, “mettre” and “s’habiller” The file includes two game boards. The first concentrates on the key verbs in the tense or mood of the teacher’s choice. Clothing vocabulary and descriptors are provided to allow students to focus on their conjugations. The second game board does not provide the sentence conclusions - ie: the “vêtements” vocabulary. It’s for more courageous students who will now have to come up with their own descriptions. To see if, “Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les vêtements)” is right for your students, download the free “Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les verbes ER)": https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/o-sont-les-tr-sors-cach-s-les-verbes-er-6438862
Où sont les trésors cachés?" (Les vêtements JUNIOR)
CarlavCarlav

Où sont les trésors cachés?" (Les vêtements JUNIOR)

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As its name suggests, this is a simplified variation of the “Où sont les trésors cachés?" game. It provides the subject and the conjugated verb to allow students to focus on learning clothing vocabulary and using the appropriate definite, indefinite or partitive article. There are two game boards in this file. One labels each item of clothing. The other is illustrated but not labelled, making students responsible for providing the name for each garment. As in the original, "Où sont les trésors cachés?" games, students will think and speak in full sentences as they try to locate hidden “treasure”. There’s also a simple hack for extending the lesson to written work. To see if “Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les vêtement JUNIOR)” is right for your students, download the free “Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les verbes ER)”: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/o-sont-les-tr-sors-cach-s-les-verbes-er-6438862
The Valentine's Day edition of  YOU DON'T SAY!
CarlavCarlav

The Valentine's Day edition of YOU DON'T SAY!

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YOU DON’T SAY! is a themed variation of Taboo® that can be played in two very different ways. If your students are confident and articulate, they can play YOU DON’T SAY! following traditional Taboo® rules. If, however, you have students who are uncomfortable giving clues, turn the rules upside down. Tell them to use some or all of the words beneath the pink and white banner in their descriptions! This topsy-turvy approach encourages and empowers everyone to participate. You won’t believe what a positive game-changer it is. This file includes 40 “Valentine” cards about friendship, relationships and love. I’ve also appended a template for students to make their own YOU DON’T SAY! deck.
The Hallowe'en edition of  YOU DON'T SAY!
CarlavCarlav

The Hallowe'en edition of YOU DON'T SAY!

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If you are a fan of Taboo®, YOU DON’T SAY! might just be the game for you. It can be played in two very different ways. If your students are confident and articulate, have them play YOU DON’T SAY! like traditional Taboo®. If, however, you have students who are uncomfortable speaking in public, turn the rules upside down. Tell them to use some or all of the words beneath the orange and black banner in their descriptions! This topsy-turvy approach encourages and empowers everyone to participate. You won’t believe what a positive game-changer it is. This file includes 32 Hallowe’en-themed cards and a template for students to make their own YOU DON’T SAY! deck.
The Christmas edition of  YOU DON'T SAY!  (This game is a bit like Taboo®)
CarlavCarlav

The Christmas edition of YOU DON'T SAY! (This game is a bit like Taboo®)

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Are you a fan of Taboo®? Then YOU DON’T SAY! is the game for you. And it can be played in two different ways. If your students are confident and articulate, have them play YOU DON’T SAY! like traditional Taboo®. If, however, you have students who are uncomfortable speaking in public, turn the rules upside down. Tell them to use some or all of the words beneath the green and red banner in their descriptions! This topsy-turvy approach encourages and empowers everyone to participate. You won’t believe what a positive game-changer it is. This package includes 36 Christmas-themed cards and a template for students to make their own YOU DON’T SAY! deck. Merry Christmas!