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.
Answer section to the German Lifesaver Linked Translation Activity Booklet.
[Here is the link to the main activity booklet:]
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/german-linked-translation-lifesaver-booklet-12466732
This answer section is available separately so that teachers can decide whether to issue them to pupils for self-checking.
It is recommended that pupils are not given automatic access to this resource in order to ensure the effectiveness of online and home learning. The best strategy is to issue answers on a page by page/section by section basis once pupils have had time to work out the sentences for themselves.
Answer section to the French Lifesaver Linked Translation Activity Booklet.
[Here is the link to the main activity booklet:]
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/french-linked-translation-lifesavers-12466726
This answer section is available separately so that teachers can decide whether to issue them to pupils for self-checking.
It is recommended that pupils are not given automatic access to this resource in order to ensure the effectiveness of online and home learning. The best strategy is for teachers to issue answers on a page by page/section by section basis once pupils have had time to work out the sentences for themselves.
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
A booklet of linked translation exercises.
French to English; English to French
60 pages, 20 topics, 3 levels for each topic.
Ideal preparation for GCSE but also for general translation practice.
Suitable for French 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.
This resource is also available for German.
Here’s the link to the German booklet.
TES: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/german-linked-translation-lifesaver-booklet-12466732
Two study booklets for A-Level Media Studies (with a particular focus on the OCR course). The booklets focus on Episode One of each series and contain over twenty pages of episode summaries, notes and activities.
The ‘Deutschland 83’ Episode 1 Study Booklet is a 24-page workbook particularly aimed at students doing the OCR A-Level Media Studies course.
It is filled with activities, notes and thought-provoking questions, designed to give students a thorough overview of
Episode 1 of this fascinating series. The aim is to encourage students to engage with the questions, and to understand wider themes and aspects of representations.
The workbook is especially suitable for 16-18 year olds, Media A-Level students and also for anyone generally interested in Channel 4 long-form TV dramas, film, plus the issues around the production and appeal of subtitled TV drama in the English speaking world .
OCR A-Level Media Studies Teachers should find the workbook useful as it gives students an opportunity to work independently on a range of activities. The study pack is also intended to be a useful revision resource.
The resource may also be of interest to teachers of History and A-Level German.
I have also done a booklet on Episode 1 of ‘Stranger Things’, a different but equally compelling series which explores aspects of retro sci-fi, ‘coming of age’ themes and intertextuality.
The ‘Stranger Things’ Episode 1 Study Booklet is a 24 page workbook particularly aimed at students doing the OCR A-Level Media course.
It is filled with activities, notes and thought-provoking questions, designed to give students a thorough overview of
Episode 1 of this retro sci-fi series. The aim is to encourage students to engage with the questions, to understand wider themes and aspects of representations.
The workbook is suitable especially for 16-18 year olds, Media A-Level students and also for anyone generally interested in Netflix-style long form TV dramas, film, and the issues around the production and global appeal of this type of drama.
OCR A-Level Media Studies Teachers should find the workbook useful as it gives students an opportunity to work independently on a range of activities. The study pack is also intended to be a useful revision resource.
I have also done a booklet on Episode 1 of Deutschland 83, a different but equally fascinating series which allows a comparison between English language and non-English language products.
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.
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.
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
Media Theory Booklet 2 - this is a free resource as it’s shorter than the other two.
A four page summary of useful theories for A-Level Media Studies, Year 2.
Contains information panels with space alongside for students to write their own notes, examples and visual prompts.
Page 4 is a 30 question test, with suggestions on how to use it as a differentiated learning resource.
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.
A booklet of 8 differentiated activities based on the Youtube trailer for ‘Intouchables’. (French audio with English subtitles).
Available on Youtube, the trailer is short (1m 51secs), visually interesting and fast-paced.
The booklet consists of 3 pages of activities in French (8 exercises)
an answer section.
8 differentiated exercises, suitable for year 10 upwards (14-18 year olds)
The clip and these resources are a good introduction to the Advanced level French film topic. It can be used in A-Level taster lessons and as a stimulus for post-GCSE bridging work.
‘Intouchables’ (Nakache, Toledano 2011) is a touching, humorous and thought-provoking exploration of friendship and social divisions. It raises questions about society’s attitudes to race and disability. The booklet introduces learners to some of the language required to tackle these themes.
One of Jon Meier’s many UFTELL resources.
UFTELL = using film to enhance language-learning.
UFTELL = using film to enthuse language learners.
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.
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 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.
Not an original resource but highly effective. It’s in the style of a Tex-Mex menu.
Powerpoint templates for setting a bank of differentiated homework tasks.
Slide 1: 12 possible tasks can be set; 4 levels of difficulty. Ideal for a six-week module of work where a bank of extra home-based tasks can be set in advance.
Slide 2: 4 possible tasks can be set. The other boxes in the grid can be used for help & notes.So the whole slide becomes a home-learning help-mat.
Slide 3: a sample version of the 4-task menu and help-mat.It uses the topic of building descriptions in French.
The Powerpoint format is easier to customize than Word. Teachers can add their school logos etc.
The pickn’mix approach works really well with pupils.
They can use the menu to choose a set of homework activities over a period of time.
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.
A 3 page worksheet for A-Level Media Studies on Print Terms.
Page 3 is a recap test/ learning-check activity.
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
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