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thefrenchwhisperer

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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!

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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!
Triangle puzzle: Vouloir, Pouvoir et Devoir
CarlavCarlav

Triangle puzzle: Vouloir, Pouvoir et Devoir

(0)
This triangle puzzle focusses on the present tense of the irregular verbs, vouloir, pouvoir and devoir. To solve the puzzle co-operatively, students will have to match snippets of text to form sentences like, "Pour jouer à Minecraft, on doit utiliser son imagination" and "Pour voir mes photos, vous pouvez me suivre (folow) sur Instagram". To make sure this activity is right for your students, test drive another triangle puzzle, the free "futur simple" puzzle: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/le-futur-simple-a-triangle-puzzle-6450469
L' Oeuf de Pâques (Crespi): a crazy, mixed-up review activity
CarlavCarlav

L' Oeuf de Pâques (Crespi): a crazy, mixed-up review activity

(1)
If you’ve been working on Henri Crespi’s "L’Oeuf de Pâques" and you’re looking for a hands-on, collaborative alternative to paper and pen review questions, try this activity. The original text and an audio version of the story are available online here: http://web2.gyldendal.no/contact/flash/chap9/ecoute4.swf BTW, I usually distribute chocolate Easter eggs before we read the story . . .
An illustrated crossword puzzle to complement "Trouvé (Les vêtements)”
CarlavCarlav

An illustrated crossword puzzle to complement "Trouvé (Les vêtements)”

(2)
This little crossword puzzle complements my “Trouvé (Les vêtements)” card game. The puzzle uses the same symbols found in the "Trouvé" game, which focusses on oral practice, to provide a simple, written element to further the lesson. It also works as a quick, stand-alone activity for anyone presenting a unit on “les vêtements". The vocabulary includes des baskets (f.) des bottes (f.) un chandail de hockey un chandail un chapeau des chaussettes (f.) des chaussures (f.) une chemise une cravate des gants (m.) un imperméable un jean une jupe des mitaines (f.) un pantalon une robe un sac à dos des sous-vêtements (m.) un survêtement un sweat à capuche un tee-shirt Trouvé (Les vêtements), a game like Spot It™, is available here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/trouv-les-v-tements-11232726
Trouvé (Les vêtements)
CarlavCarlav

Trouvé (Les vêtements)

(0)
In the Trouvé (Les vêtements) game, students try to be the first to find the matching expression on any two cards. The game encourages students to concentrate, to read attentively and to pronounce the thematic vocabulary carefully. The featured vocabulary includes: des baskets des bottes un chandail de hockey un chandail jaune un chapeau une chaussette violette des chaussettes dépareillées des chaussures une chemise une cravate des gants un imperméable un jean une jupe des mitaines une mitaine perdue un pantalon une robe un sac à dos des sous-vêtements un survêtement un sweat à capuche un tee-shirt une écharpe To extend the lesson, download the free companion activity, a crossword puzzle illustrated with the same symbols found on the "Trouvé" cards. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/an-illustrated-crossword-puzzle-to-complement-trouv-les-v-tements-11237465
Triangle puzzle:  Le Petit Prince ( JUNIOR version)
CarlavCarlav

Triangle puzzle: Le Petit Prince ( JUNIOR version)

(0)
"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
Triangle puzzle: Les verbes conjugués avec être ( ou les verbes DR. & MRS. VAN DER TRAMP)
CarlavCarlav

Triangle puzzle: Les verbes conjugués avec être ( ou les verbes DR. & MRS. VAN DER TRAMP)

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This triangle puzzle requires students to work in the past tense with verbs conjugated with ÊTRE (or the DR. and MRS. VAN DER TRAMP verbs). To solve the puzzle co-operatively, they will have to match the snippets of text to form sentences like, "J'ai quitté FB le jour où mes parents en sont devenus membres!" If you are not sure if this activity is right for your students, have a look at another triangle puzzle, the free futur simple activity: 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.
Qui, que et qu'   (les pronoms relatifs )
CarlavCarlav

Qui, que et qu' (les pronoms relatifs )

(0)
This 11-page tutorial walks students through the differences between the interrogative and the relative pronouns, qui and que /qu'. It also explains the difference between the subject and object pronoun. However, there's also a simple little visual for those students who have not yet studied or mastered that grammatical point in English. The relatively simple gap fill exercise is followed by a more challenging mini-tutorial on combining two sentences using these pronouns and a page of questions.
Twelve Christmas Rebus Puzzles
CarlavCarlav

Twelve Christmas Rebus Puzzles

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Here are 12 more rebus puzzles for students who enjoyed the free rebus “A little Christmas Rebus to decipher! (The Little Drummer Boy)”: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/another-little-christmas-rebus-to-decipher-6454697 Thanks to their texting skills, today’s kids “get” the principle behind rebus puzzles intuitively. The “Twelve Christmas Rebus Puzzles” start with simple thematic phrases like “baking gingerbread cookies” and builds to a 3-page invitation to students to make their own rebus. The invitation is, of course, in rebus format! An activity tailored for the run-up to the holidays.
Des fleurs et des bougies (Les attentats du 13 novembre 2015 à Paris)
CarlavCarlav

Des fleurs et des bougies (Les attentats du 13 novembre 2015 à Paris)

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After the Paris attacks, this video interview with a frightened little boy went viral. The child articulated everyone’s fear and confusion but his gentle and wise father managed to find just the right words to comfort his son . . . and the rest of us. One sane, calm voice for peace on earth in a dark time. This file includes a link to the French-only clip, a full transcript and the French FB page with reactions to the interview from around the world and a message from Angel Le, the child’s father.
There's a creditable version of Adele's "Hello" available in French!
CarlavCarlav

There's a creditable version of Adele's "Hello" available in French!

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If your students are fans of the original, try this version sung in French by Sara'h. The video is also captioned in French. (I've attached a gap-fill worksheet and corrected a few grammar errors found in the subtitles.) Again, the age range will be determined by whether your programme is for French as a first language, Immersion, Extended or Core French students. If your students enjoy it, I'd love your feedback.
A DOZEN ILLUSTRATED HALLOWE’EN VOCABULARY BINGO CARDS
CarlavCarlav

A DOZEN ILLUSTRATED HALLOWE’EN VOCABULARY BINGO CARDS

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These twelve (I know, I know, I should have done thirteen) illustrated Hallowe'en Vocabulary bingo cards will work well in your Language Arts or ESL classroom. Print, laminate and cut out the bingo (GHOST) cards on pages 3 through 8. Call one of the words or phrases listed under each letter of the Call Sheet, cycling through G, H, O, S and T until there’s a “bingo” (or in this case, a “ghost”). Cross out each word as you call it.
DIRE OU INTERDIRE?  (Un jeu comme Taboo): L'édition de Halloween
CarlavCarlav

DIRE OU INTERDIRE? (Un jeu comme Taboo): L'édition de Halloween

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DIRE OU INTERDIRE? can be played by intermediate and advanced students For advanced, immersion and francophone groups: If your students are confident and articulate in French, have them play DIRE OU INTERDIRE? like traditional Taboo®. Divide the class into two teams. Place the deck facedown on a desk. A player from the first group chooses a card and tells his/her team everything s/he can about the word at the top of the card. The only catch is that s/he may not use any of the words listed under the orange and black lines in the descriptions. If the class cannot guess the word within 60 seconds, the mystery word is announced to the class and a player from the second team tries his or her luck. A point is scored each time the mystery word is correctly guessed. It’s usually a good idea for you as a teacher to announce that you will accept synonyms. For example, in Canada, a student might guess “un party (de Halloween)” rather than “une fête”. For intermediate level learners: If your students are uncomfortable giving clues, turn the rules upside down. Tell them to use the words beneath the black and orange 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 28 Halloween-themed cards, a template for students to make their own DIRE OR INTERDIRE? game and a how-to-play guide.
10 French Bingo Cards for Hallowe'en
CarlavCarlav

10 French Bingo Cards for Hallowe'en

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Play standard bingo - lines, four corners or full house - with these cards. The list of the vocabulary illustrated on the cards is appended below. If you have access to a laminating machine, protect your cards with a coat of plastic and they will last until you retire! (And then you can give them to a younger teacher!) un balai des bonbons une boum la chair de poule un chat noir une chauve-souris une citrouille au claire de la lune un costume / un déguisement un cimetière crier effrayé un épouvantail faire du porte-à-porte un fantôme un hibou jeter un sort jouer un tour une lanterne citrouille un loup une maison hantée le maquillage la nuit les petits monstres une potion magique une poule mouillée un squelette un sorcier une sorcière une toile d’araignée un vampire
L'écrivaine, Francine Christophe, raconte un petit miracle vécu à Bergen-Belsen
CarlavCarlav

L'écrivaine, Francine Christophe, raconte un petit miracle vécu à Bergen-Belsen

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I stumbled across this extraordinarily moving and hopeful clip yesterday and feel that it deserves a wider audience. In clear, careful and beautifully articulated French, author Francine Christophe recounts a little miracle that was born of an act of kindness in Bergen-Belsen. I’ve done very little other than to put together a transcript of the story, with a link to a second, related clip and a bibliography of Christophe’s work. I’ve also included a link to a version of the clip with English subtitles for any of your anglophone colleagues who may be looking for something for their history classes or Remembrance Day.
Où sont les trésors cachés? (SAVOIR, CONNAÎTRE et RECONNAÎTRE)
CarlavCarlav

Où sont les trésors cachés? (SAVOIR, CONNAÎTRE et RECONNAÎTRE)

(0)
“Où sont les trésors cachés? (SAVOIR, CONNAÎTRE, RECONNAÎTRE)” will works well as a full-class, teacher-directed game or as a small group activity. After the fun of the oral treasure hunt, you can also assign co-ordinates to create an instant written assignment to reinforce the correct spelling of the verb endings. You’ll find that even reluctant learners will be motivated to listen carefully and the promise of “treasure” tends to generate enthusiastic oral participation as well. My answer key is for le présent but the game works for virtually every verb tense. Try the free, “Où sont les trésors cachés (les verbes ER) to see if ”Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les verbes DEVOIR, VOULOIR et POUVOIR)” is right for your students: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/o-sont-les-tr-sors-cach-s--les-verbes-er-6438862
Où sont les trésors cachés? (OUVRIR, DÉCOUVRIR, SORTIR, PARTIR)
CarlavCarlav

Où sont les trésors cachés? (OUVRIR, DÉCOUVRIR, SORTIR, PARTIR)

(0)
“Où sont les trésors cachés? (OUVRIR, DÉCOUVRIR, SORTIR, PARTIR)” is for students who have mastered regular IR verbs and are ready to work with irregular IR verbs. It works well as a full-class, teacher-directed game or as a small group activity. After the fun of the oral treasure hunt, you can also assign co-ordinates to create an instant written assignment to reinforce the correct spelling of the verb endings. You’ll find that even reluctant learners will be motivated to listen carefully and the promise of “treasure” tends to generate enthusiastic oral participation as well. My answer key is for le présent and le passé composé but the game works for virtually every verb tense. Try the free, “Où sont les trésors cachés (les verbes ER) to see if ”Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les verbes DEVOIR, VOULOIR et POUVOIR)” is right for your students: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/o-sont-les-tr-sors-cach-s--les-verbes-er-6438862
Où sont les trésors cachés? (FAIRE, PRENDRE, METTRE)
CarlavCarlav

Où sont les trésors cachés? (FAIRE, PRENDRE, METTRE)

(0)
“Où sont les trésors cachés? (FAIRE, PRENDRE, METTRE)” works well as a full-class, teacher-directed game or as a small group activity. After the fun of the oral treasure hunt, you can also assign co-ordinates to create an instant written assignment to reinforce the correct spelling of the verb endings. You’ll find that even reluctant learners will be motivated to listen carefully and the promise of “treasure” tends to generate enthusiastic oral participation as well. My answer key is for le présent tense,​ but the game works for virtually every verb tense. Try the free, “Où sont les trésors cachés (les verbes ER) to see if ”Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les verbes DEVOIR, VOULOIR et POUVOIR)” is right for your students: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/o-sont-les-tr-sors-cach-s--les-verbes-er-6438862