A passionate MFL and Media teacher for over 30 years, I am also a co-author of Expo 1 & 2 and am still involved in commercial textbook writing. I was an Advanced Skills Teacher for Modern Languages, running successful workshops for teachers.
You will find here a range of resources for French and German teaching, mainly for 11-16 year olds.
Plus some A-Level Media Studies and general learning resources.
Based on over 30 years' classroom experience in the non-selective secondary state sector.
A passionate MFL and Media teacher for over 30 years, I am also a co-author of Expo 1 & 2 and am still involved in commercial textbook writing. I was an Advanced Skills Teacher for Modern Languages, running successful workshops for teachers.
You will find here a range of resources for French and German teaching, mainly for 11-16 year olds.
Plus some A-Level Media Studies and general learning resources.
Based on over 30 years' classroom experience in the non-selective secondary state sector.
A quiz worksheet containing 25 famous logo clues with literal French translations
e.g. Paixverte - Greenpeace
A quiz worksheet for all levels.
A good end of term activity or a refreshing break from the exam grind.
This version is free and comes with answers.
A ‘premium’ version is also available with vocabulary follow-up, extension tasks and variations on the clues.
A 2 side worksheet of questions, mainly in French about the film ‘Une Vie de Chat’.
The questions are divided into 4 sections, covering the whole of the 60 minute film.
Answers are provided.
This beautifully drawn animation is suitable for learners who have been studying French for a year or two.
Warning: The film is aimed at children but it does refer to a little girl who has been traumatised by the death of her father. Sensitivity is required. As ever, make sure you know your pupils.
Pupils could do follow-up work after each section, based on the new vocabulary covered, perhaps making up a word quiz or an online game. Extension: Write 10 sentences using the target words.
An UFTEL resource (Using Film to Explore Language). Part of a series of my French film activity worksheets and booklets.
A booklet of linked translation exercises.
German to English; English to German
60 pages, 20 topics, 3 levels for each topic.
Ideal preparation for GCSE but also for general translation practice.
Suitable for German learners aged 11-16.
Written to help hard-pressed teachers faced with having to set work quickly for cover lessons or for supply staff.
This resource is ideal for independent, online work.
Originally a paid-for resource, it’s now available free of charge during the pandemic.
A French version of this resource is also available
TES
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/french-linked-translation-lifesavers-12466726
Narrative Terminology Match-up Worksheet for A-level Media Studies.
One page, 20 items.
Answers are provided on page 2.
This is a free extract from a 28 page background study booklet on Key Concepts and Textual Analysis for Media Studies. Written by Jon Meier. Available here on TES resources. Copy and paste this link:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-level-media-studies-background-study-booklet-key-concepts-11324599
8 page mini-book. Ideal for topic revision, keyword and vocabulary lists.
7.5x10.5cm
Careful, crisp folding is needed. Only one small scissor cut is required.
Resource contains two A4 sheets. One is a template with folding instructions for practice.
The other is a blank template.
You can find a Youtube video walkthrough. Just search for: 8 Page Mini Book Made from a Single Sheet of Paper!
A booklet of differentiated activities in French, based around the 6 minute short film
'Quais de Seine by Gurinder Chadha.
This charming short film made in 2006 by the female director of ‘Bend it Like Beckham’, ‘Quais de Seine’ is a 6 minute section of a longer film called ‘Paris Je t’aime’, a series of chapters set in various districts (arrondissements) of Paris. It is a simple, self-contained story full of ideas about race, sexism, prejudice, integration and friendship. The film is ideal for Years 10 to 13.
Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLL4ogfxvss
The film is ideal for luring your Year 10 and 11 pupils towards French A-Level.
The booklet consists of
7 basic level activities (GCSE level)
10 more advanced activities (A-Level)
Plus an answer section for cover teachers.
There is a useful ALE (A Level Essentials) section with killer essay language which can be used in work about racism and intolerance.
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The resource is another UFTELL tool: Using Film to Enthuse Language learners.
Using Film to Enhance Language-Learning
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This activity booklet could easily provide 2 weeks of lesson material.
Remember: You don't need to buy the film - it's on Youtube and it's only 6 minutes long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLL4ogfxvss
A set of activities about the compelling 8 minute French film 'French Roast'. (Joubert 2008)
The film can be seen on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbFhATUfuow
Although it only contains about 4 words of dialogue, the film provides plenty of scope to explore vocabulary and discuss aspects of French culture. It is also a good introduction to debates about prejudice.
Suitable for 12-17 year olds.
The material could be covered over 2 or 3 lessons plus a homework.
Pupils could also use the booklet for independent study or project work.
The booklet consists of 4 pages of activities which progress from basic observational vocabulary questions to more complex tasks about its message and techniques. There is also a film review scaffold which pupils can adapt.
Answers are also provided. Do not copy these for the pupils!
Another UFTEL resource (using Film to Explore Language). A must for anyone who loves film and France.
A French/English pantomime-style play, based on Little Red Riding Hood
Written by Jon Meier.
Lots of humour and great fun - especially the Wolf whose favourite song is Shaggy’s Boombastic
Most of the dialogue is in English but there’s plenty of French, repeated and reinforced visually.
Suitable for ages 7-11. Duration around 25 mins.
About 14 in the cast (scope for flexibility, sharing and doubling of roles). This includes some non-speaking roles.
Others can be used for sound, props, poster and programme design etc
Can be worked on in 1 day (with scripts) – intensive work with a scripted performance at the end of the day.
Show in assembly or at a languages celebration event
or just have fun reading it through.
Ideal for a language/ drama festival competition.
It could fill a few weeks of lunchtime and after school French clubs.
Sixth-formers could help out.
Language is visual and contextualised.
Audience will also understand it as the story is familiar and the French is explained.
This script contains details of props and sound effects, with links to downloadable sound effects.
Vocabulary lists are also included with the script showing the vocabulary on each page.
A 4 page extract of the opening scene is also available as a free taster.
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Petit Chaperon sound files - details and links are in the script
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You may also be interested in similar texts for older pupils:
my version of Cinderella - Cindy va à Hollywood
and Snow White - ‘Blanche Neige et les Sept Reporters’
A fairly easy French ‘Call My Bluff’ quiz on False Friends.
Contains fairly common, basic misleading high-frequency words (false cognates).
Good for an end of term activity. Could be done as a form or inter-form competition.
25 questions: 5 easy, 5 a bit less easy, 5 slightly harder + 10 harder.
Suitable for 9-14 year olds.
As well as the main Powerpoint, you get:
a blank answer grid for pupils,
the answer sheet for marking.
The answers are also on the final Powerpoint slide.
Slide 28 also contains a link to a Kahoot version of the same quiz.
You could run the Kahoot quiz as a recap or reward activity once you’ve been through the answers.
A French ‘call my bluff’ quiz on False Friends
Good for an end of term activity. Could be done as a form or inter-form competition.
25 questions: 5 easy, 5 medium, 5 hard and 10 very hard.
Suitable for 11-17 year olds.
There’s a blank answer grid for pupils.
Plus the Teachers’ answers.
The answers are also on the final Powerpoint slide.
Slide 28 also contains a link to a Kahoot version of the same quiz.
A French/English pantomime-style play, based on Cinderella.
Written by Jon Meier.
Lots of humour and great fun - especially the 'France has Talent ’ middle section.
Most of the dialogue is in English but there’s plenty of French, repeated and reinforced visually.
Suitable for years 6-9. Duration around 30 mins.
17 in the cast (scope for flexibility, sharing and doubling of roles). Minimum 13 max 22
Others can be used for sound, props, poster and programme design etc
Can be worked on in 1 day (with scripts) – intensive work with a scripted performance at the end of the day.
Show in assembly or at a languages celebration event
or just have fun reading it through.
Ideal for a language/ drama festival competition
Sixth-formers can help with the production.
Language is visual and contextualised.
Audience will also understand it as the story is familiar and the French is explained.
Script contains details of props and sound effects, with links to downloadable sound effects.
Vocabulary lists are also included with the script showing the vocabulary on each page.
3 page thumbnails of the opening scenes are also available as a free taster.
You will need to produce your own sound files as I’m not allowed to post external links here. Could be a job for a keen pupil who wants a non speaking role in the production.
Media Studies revision words for A-Level, Year 12
387 words and concepts with definitions. A 43-page booklet.
The pages can be folded over, borders trimmed and then laminated.
They can then be cut into revision cards. Definition on one side, keyword on the other.
The cards are designed to be used in class with pupils reading definitions or key words to each other. Also good for study circles and for use with learning buddies.
An ideal resource for taboo or card games - see below for a card game idea which always works well.
The free sample extract of 72 cards is available here. Copy and paste this link:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/media-studies-key-words-free-72-word-random-sample-a-level-year-12-11264588
Another set of cards for Year 13 is here:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/media-studies-keyword-revision-cards-for-a-level-year-13-11267388
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Revision Card game instructions - ideally players sit in a table of 4, as for a card game. A pile of about 30 cards is formed, with the keyword facing downwards. Player A holds the pack and reads, to player B on his/her left, the definition on the top card, making sure the others don’t see the answer. Player A reads the definition to player B, who is the player to his/her left. If player B knows the answer, s(he) says it and wins the card. Player B then takes the pile and reads the top one to Player C on his/her left. If they get the keyword right they win the card. And so on.
If a player does not know the keyword or gets it wrong, the question passes on to the next person (clockwise) until someone says the correct answer. If no-one gets it, the player asking the question reads the correct answer and places the card at the bottom of the pile.
When all the cards in the pile have been played, players add up how many cards they have won.
A 9 page activity and discussion booklet for A-Level Media and Film Studies students.
Contains guided questions to help students with aspects of key media concepts.
There are notes on the more difficult second part of the film, with follow up recap questions.
Also contains stimulus cards to facilitate class discussion.
An 11 page revision booklet containing a summary of some key media concepts for Year 2 of A-Level Media Studies.
The focus is mainly on social and digital media.
Updated recently to include sections on Clay Shirkey, as well as Eli Pariser’s ‘Filter Bubble’
The last page contains a 30 item quiz based with detachable answers.
The booklet is packed with informative panels with space alongside for the student’s own examples and annotations.
Three colourful learning ‘placemats’ full of key A-Level Media theory terms in pdf form.
Suitable for Year 2 of the A-Level course but could be introduced earlier to enable ‘drip feed’ embedding.
They can be copied and laminated on A3 and used for essay work and revision.
3 pages:
Page mat 1 is general theory, extending the Year 1 basic theory mats. See link below*
Page mat 2 mainly covers Marxism, Gramsci, News values, Feminism
Page mat 3 deals with digital and social media.
For differentiation, as students become more confident in their use of theories, the placemat support can be withdrawn. Some can be allowed to use it while others should be able to do without.
Media Theory Learning Mats for Year 1:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/media-studies-a-level-revision-learning-mat-year-1-11456706
A colourful learning ‘placemat’ of key terms in pdf form.
This can be copied and laminated on A3 and used for textual analysis and essay work.
2 pages:
Page 1 is Terminology for moving Image, print and websites.
Page 2 is other key concepts and basic related theory (Representation Institution, Audience, Narrative, Genre)
For differentiation, as students become more confident in their use of key terms and theories, the placemat support can be withdrawn. Some can be allowed to use it while others should be able to do without.
A list of key language for GCSE German.
Emphasis is on grammar rather than vocabulary.
Ideal for revision for all four skills papers, especially writing and reading.
4 pages with plenty of examples.
Followed by a ‘learning check’ section - 30 examples from the main section to translate into English.
The next section has the answers in English with space to translate them back into German.
In ‘Word’ so it’s customizable.
A list of higher level language for GCSE German.
Emphasis is on grade-boosting phrases and constructions.
Ideal revision for those targeting higher grades in the Writing, Reading and Listening components.
5 pages with plenty of examples.
Followed by a ‘learning check’ section - 30 examples from the main section to translate into English.
The next section has the answers in English with space to translate them back into German.
In ‘Word’ so it’s customizable.
Media Studies revision words for A-Level, Year 13
144 words and concepts with definitions. 16 pages.
The pages can be folded over, borders trimmed and then laminated.
They can then be cut into revision cards. Definition on one side, keyword on the other.
The cards are designed to be used in class with pupils reading definitions or key words to each other. Also good for study circles and for use with learning buddies.
An ideal resource for taboo or card games - see below for a card game idea which always works well.
______________________________________
Revision Card game instructions - ideally players sit in a table of 4, as for a card game. A pile of about 30 cards is formed, with the keyword facing downwards. Player A holds the pack and reads, to player B on his/her left, the definition on the top card, making sure the others don’t see the answer. Player A reads the definition to player B, who is the player to his/her left. If player B knows the answer, s(he) says it and wins the card. Player B then takes the pile and reads the top one to Player C on his/her left. If they get the keyword right they win the card. And so on.
If a player does not know the keyword or gets it wrong, the question passes on to the next person (clockwise) until someone says the correct answer. If no-one gets it, the player asking the question reads the correct answer and places the card at the bottom of the pile.
When all the cards in the pile have been played, players add up how many cards they have won.
A 12 page revision booklet containing a summary of key media theories for Year 1 of A-Level study.
The booklet is packed with informative panels with space alongside for the student’s own examples and annotations.
The booklet is a comprehensive summary of basic media theories.
The last two pages contain more advanced concepts showing how media relates to socio-political theory such as Hegemony, Gramsci and the Frankfurt School. These provide a bridge into Year 2 of the A-Level Media course.