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thefrenchwhisperer

Average Rating4.46
(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!
A tiny Hallowe'en rebus
CarlavCarlav

A tiny Hallowe'en rebus

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Thanks to their texting skills, today’s students intuit the principle behind rebus puzzles but I’ve included a “how to” guide nonetheless. To extend the lesson, ask your students to create a rebus of their own. If you’d like me to make a rebus on a specific theme, please let me know.
Un rébus pour Halloween
CarlavCarlav

Un rébus pour Halloween

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A five-minute filler. Thanks to their texting skills, today’s students intuit the principle behind rebus puzzles but I’ve included a “comment déchiffrer un rébus” guide nonetheless. This rebus is intended for native speakers, Immersion, Extended & advanced Core French classes.
LANGUAGE ARTS: Santa's Resolutions 2020
CarlavCarlav

LANGUAGE ARTS: Santa's Resolutions 2020

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Santa’s Resolutions for 2020 is an exemplar of a New Year’s activity. I couldn’t resist making a list of resolutions on Santa’s behalf. It will give your students some ideas, a laugh and an opportunity to try their hand by filling in resolutions 9, 10, 11 and 12. Note: This is not a new resource but an update of the resolutions that I’ve been posting since 2012.
Motdoku6 (L'action de Grâce)
CarlavCarlav

Motdoku6 (L'action de Grâce)

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Ce MOTDOKU simplifié met en valeur le vocabulaire ci-dessous. This MOTDOKU6 is a simplified version of my 9 x9 word sudokus. Students are challenged to slot the expressions below into the grid. 1 la tarte à la citrouille 2 partager 3 la dinde 4 la famille 5 la corne d’abondance 6 l’automne Joyeuse Action de grâce à tout le monde!
Les mots coupés (Jour du Souvenir)
CarlavCarlav

Les mots coupés (Jour du Souvenir)

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In this virtual race, players have to reconstitute words that have been broken into pieces and scattered over the game grid in order to find “l’intrus”. Si vous voulez prolonger la leçon, demandez à vos élèves d’écrire un paragraphe au sujet du Jour du Souvenir qui comprend tous les mots coupés et l’intrus. Les mots coupés sont: 1 honneur (m.) 2 clairon (m.) 3 soldat (m.) 4 fusil (m.) 5 silence (m.) 6 combat (m.) 7 devoir (m.) 8 prière (f.) 9 héros (m.) 10 tranchée (f.) 11 obus (m.) 12 courage (m.) L’intrus: PAIX (f.)
Le jour du souvenir (Imagique)
CarlavCarlav

Le jour du souvenir (Imagique)

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Pour déchiffrer les mots cachés dans ce mots croisés visuel, écris la première lettre de la première image dans sa case dans la petite grille. (Attention! Dans un mots croisés les accents sont ignorés.) Continue de cette façon pour toutes les images et tu découvriras un nouveau mot.
Annaleise, 14 ans, traverse le lac Ontario
CarlavCarlav

Annaleise, 14 ans, traverse le lac Ontario

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Annaleise, une adolescente de 14 ans, vient de traverser le lac Ontario à la nage. Not sure how much general interest there would be in a story like this on your side of the pond but it will work for teachers looking for 'girl power' affirmation stories for the French classroom. BTW, Annaleise covered 52 kilometres so this is comparable to a Channel swim. I am curious to know if you and / or your students find this interesting so would appreciate any feedback. Joyeuse rentrée.
Using TV transcripts in the TL
CarlavCarlav

Using TV transcripts in the TL

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Many students are reluctant to speak in the target language. Using the transcripts of popular commercials and children’s television shows, this activity builds their confidence and enthusiasm for speaking in French. • First, have the class view the whole video. • Then, assign short segments of the (tran)script to small groups of students. • Each group will listen and rehearse their lines carefully because on the second screening of the full video, the sound will be muted and they will be providing the soundtrack. (I usually schedule the second viewing a week after the first screening.) • Especially creative and motivated classes should be encouraged to include sound effects and/or background music. This file includes transcripts for videos about Halloween, l’Action de Grâce, Noël and le patin à glace. I’ve included suggestions for extending the lesson for both Immersion and Core French programmes.te
Le futur simple (a triangle puzzle)
CarlavCarlav

Le futur simple (a triangle puzzle)

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This triangle puzzle can be used as a co-operative activity or as an enrichment puzzle for individuals. Students have to match the edges of the triangles that ask and answer questions or begin and finish sentences. If possible, laminate the puzzle sheets. Then cut up one puzzle for every two or three students. Put the 12 triangles into an envelope. Et à vos jeux. If you ask your students to make sure that the 12 triangles are returned to their respective envelopes after the activity, you should be able to reuse the same game pieces with many future groups.
LE NOUVEL AN CHINOIS (Un jeu qui ressemble un peu à Boggle™.)
CarlavCarlav

LE NOUVEL AN CHINOIS (Un jeu qui ressemble un peu à Boggle™.)

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This "C’est Touchant!” puzzle for Le Nouvel An Chinois is a Boggle™ with a twist. Embedded in the game grid are 11 French words on the theme of Chinese New Year and 100 more general vocabulary words. 4 mini-grids are included for teachers who are trying to cut back on photocopying costs The file includes • a “how to play” guide • a full colour puzzle • 4 mini-grids for teachers trying to cut back on photocopying • a thematic vocabulary • the answer key • la fiche, Comment jouer, qui explique les règles du jeu en français. • and links to 3 other very worthwhile resources on the same theme
Christmas Singalong & triangle puzzle
CarlavCarlav

Christmas Singalong & triangle puzzle

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My sister and her writing partner have given me permission to share their happy new Christmas song with other teachers. So, to spark a seasonal singalong, I’ve made a karaoke version of BABY, BABY, IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMA for your students. P.S. I’ve also included a triangle puzzle based on the lyrics and, of course, the lyric sheets. (Triangle puzzles make wonderful cooperative activities.) May your well-deserved Christmas holidays be joyful, relaxing, and . . . restorative. Merry Christmas!
10 OURS PARTENT EN PIQUE-NIQUE
CarlavCarlav

10 OURS PARTENT EN PIQUE-NIQUE

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10 OURS PARTENT EN PIQUE-NIQUE pour tous ceux, jeunes ou moins jeunes, qui ont déjà chéri un ours en peluche ou un doudou. Voilà une histoire d’amour, de loyauté, de nounours, et de compter jusqu’à dix. Le lien vers l’histoire et le PDF du PUZZLE TARSIA qui l’accompagne sont inclus dans cette ressource. Si vos étudiants aiment 10 OURS PARTENT EN PIQUE-NIQUE, nous apprécierons votre feedback.
10 Bears (Almost) Go on a Picnic
CarlavCarlav

10 Bears (Almost) Go on a Picnic

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10 BEARS (ALMOST) GO ON A PICNIC is a story for anyone, young or old, who has ever cherished a teddy bear or stuffie. It’s about love, loyalty, teddy bears, and counting to ten. The link to the story and the downloadable TRIANGLE PUZZLE that accompanies it are included in this resource. If you and your students like 10 BEARS (ALMOST) GO ON A PICNIC, we would truly appreciate your feedback.
Triangle puzzle:  Le Petit Prince ( JUNIOR version)
CarlavCarlav

Triangle puzzle: Le Petit Prince ( JUNIOR version)

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"A triangle puzzle: Le Petit Prince (JUNIOR version)" is a co-operative activity. Students are asked to match the text on the edges of the 11 triangles to answer and complete the following Q & A and quotes from Le Petit Prince. Quelle est la profession du narrateur du Petit Prince? • Il est pilote. Quand on veut faire de l’esprit . . . • il arrive que l’on mente un peu. Selon le renard, pour voir l’essentiel . . . • il faut regarder avec le coeur. J'en ai fait mon ami, et il est maintenant . . . • unique au monde. Mon dessin numéro 1 était comme ça. • (dessin d’un chapeau) On est responsable de . . . • ce qu’on apprivoise. Si tu m’apprivoises . . . • nous aurons besoin l’un de l’autre. Qui aide le Petit Prince à regagner sa planète? • Le serpent. Un astronome turc avait fait une grande démonstration . . . • Mais personne ne l'avait cru à cause de son costume. Dessine-moi . . . • un mouton. Comment le Petit Prince a-t-il quitté sa planète? • Grâce à une migration d'oies sauvages. Try the free future simple triangle puzzle to determine if this kind of activity is right for your students: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/le-futur-simple-a-triangle-puzzle-6450469
A triangle puzzle for Richard Howard's English translation of The Little Prince
CarlavCarlav

A triangle puzzle for Richard Howard's English translation of The Little Prince

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This is a co-operative activity designed for readers who have studied The Little Prince in English. Students are asked to match the text on the edges of the 11 triangles to answer and complete the following Q and A and quotes from the text. I have included a second version of the puzzle based on a freer translation of the original work. What does the narrator of The Little Prince do for a living? • He’s a pilot. When one wishes to play the wit, • he sometimes wanders a little from the truth. According to the fox, it is only with the heart that one can see rightly; • what is essential is invisible to the eye. But I have made him my friend, and now he is… • unique in all the world. My Drawing Number One. It looked like this: • (illustration of a hat) You become responsible, forever, for • what you tame If you tame me, then… we shall need each other. Who helps the Little Prince return to his planet? The snake A Turkish astronomer had presented his discovery to the International Astronomical Congress. • But he was in Turkish costume so nobody would believe what he said. Draw me… • a sheep! How did the Little Prince leave his planet? • With the help of a flock of wild birds.
Phrases hypothétiques ("if " conditions)
CarlavCarlav

Phrases hypothétiques ("if " conditions)

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Both of the self-correcting games in this file are designed to hone your students’ understanding of les phrases hypothétiques or sentences built around “si” clauses. GET THE PICTURE? After students have shuffled the 44 cards in this deck and spread them, text side up, on a table, they look for pairs of cards that make logical “phrases hypothétiques”. To check their work, they turn over each set of cards. Matching pictures mean they’ve made the right choices. Pictures that don’t match are gentle encouragements to try again. The TRIANGLE PUZZLE asks students to align the text printed on the edges of 16 triangles to reconstitute the original hypothetical sentences. Both of these activities work for independent learning, learning centres and competitive play with a study buddy. Examples are not repeated in the two games. Here are three of the “hypothetical” sentences your students will work with: Quelqu’un qui boit trop d’alcool est alcoolique. Alors si moi, je bois beaucoup de Fanta, JE SERAI FANTASTIQUE, N’EST-CE PAS? Couche-toi de bonne heure SI TU AS UN EXAMEN DEMAIN. À mon avis, si Shakespeare vivait aujourd’hui, IL ÉCRIRAIT DU RAP. You’ll find a simple aide-mémoire at the end of the GET THE PICTURE? file. It reminds students that the tense of the “then” clause depends on the tense of the “if” clause and charts what those tenses are.
Instead of French stickers try these QR codes
CarlavCarlav

Instead of French stickers try these QR codes

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Because it’s not easy finding French stickers with meaningful captions and because my students are always looking for an excuse to use their cell phones, I decided to tell them, “I think QR doing a good job” using QR codes. The 34 comments I’ve encoded are listed below. See the enthusiastic reaction the codes generate for yourself by attaching one of the QR comments in the preview to your students’ next assignment. 1 Un bel effort! C’est génial Très impressionnant! C’est un bonheur de t’enseigner! Excellent comme d’habitude! Chouette! Bien fait! 2 Tu vois? Tu es très capable. Bravo! Tu réussis haut la main! Formidable! Tu connais bien tes verbes irréguliers! Vouloir, c’est pouvoir, n’est-ce pas? Bravo! Tu fais des progrès! 1, 2, 3 . . . je peux toujours compter sur toi! 3 Je suis content que tu sois dans ma classe! Je suis contentE que tu sois dans ma classe! Je suis fier de toi! Je suis fièrE de toi! Tu es un éleve de rêve! Tu es unE éleve de rêve! 4 Je savais que tu y arriverais! Wow! Je n’aurais pas pu mieux faire moi-même! Tu as bien réussi cette tâche! Tu t’exprimes très clairement! Bravo! Encore un peu et tu l’auras! J’ai remarqué que tu as vraiment fait de ton mieux aujourd’hui! Je t’en félicite! 5 Tu as écouté très attentivement aujourd’hui. C’est toute une amélioration! Félicitations! Ton comportement était exemplaire aujourd’hui! Félicitations! Viens me voir pour de l’aide supplémentaire. C’est bien trouvé! Je t’applaudis! En récompense de ce travail si bien fait, ce soir tu n’auras PAS DE DEVOIRS!
2 MARELLES:  les verbes conjugués avec “être” / Dr. & Mrs. van der Tramp
CarlavCarlav

2 MARELLES: les verbes conjugués avec “être” / Dr. & Mrs. van der Tramp

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Il y a 8 phrases cachées dans chaque marelle. There are eight sentences hidden in each of these two hopscotch games. Le début de chaque phrase est signalé par un petit numéro qui indique le nombre de cases dans la phrase. Toutes les cases qui forment une phrase se touchent. C’est la logique qui détermine l’ordre à suivre. The beginning of each sentence is marked with a number in a circle. This little number also tells you how many boxes make up the sentence. All the boxes that form a sentence are connected. You may move up, down, left, right and diagonally. Let logic guide you to the end of each sentence. Download the free resource, "Une marelle pour accompagner Le Gruffalo” to see if this game is suitable for your class. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/une-marelle-pour-accompagner-le-gruffalo-11288270
2 more GET THE PICTURE? games: “Le présent des verbes RE” and  “Le présent des verbes IR”
CarlavCarlav

2 more GET THE PICTURE? games: “Le présent des verbes RE” and “Le présent des verbes IR”

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These printable games are self-correcting activities designed to help beginners master the verb endings for RE and IR verbs in the present tense. To see if these games are right for your students, download the free resource, GET THE PICTURE? (Le présent des verbes ER): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/get-the-picture-le-pr-sent-des-verbes-er-a-self-correcting-learning-activity-11342123