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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!
LES LÉGUMES (1 puzzle vaut 1000 mots)
CarlavCarlav

LES LÉGUMES (1 puzzle vaut 1000 mots)

(0)
Imprimez et découpez ces puzzles pour que vos élèves puissent les reconstruire. Par l’effet d’osmose, les enfants apprendront à lire et écrire le mot illustré tout en jouant. Engage your pupils with reading (and writing) through play by  printing and cutting out these puzzles for them to solve. Le premier dossier comprend les puzzles en lettres minuscules;  le deuxième comprend les puzzles en lettres majuscules . le poivron le broccoli les pois le maïs la carotte le céleri la tomate (Même si, en effet, la tomate est un fruit!)
VEGETABLES (A puzzle's worth a thousand words)
CarlavCarlav

VEGETABLES (A puzzle's worth a thousand words)

(1)
Engage your pupils in reading (and writing) through play by  printing and cutting out these simple puzzles for them to solve. There are separate files for puzzles in upper and lower case letters. pepper broccoli peas corn carrot celery tomato (even though it’s actually a fruit)
JOYEUSE RENTRÉE! (une activité brise-glace rien que pour le plaisir)
CarlavCarlav

JOYEUSE RENTRÉE! (une activité brise-glace rien que pour le plaisir)

(1)
These message cards look a bit like QR codes until you raise them to eye level and read the “magical messages” from bottom - indicated by a number - to top.  Decades ago, these things took me forever and a day to draw by hand. But then I could legitimately challenge my students to draw a message of their own. Nowadays I use the computer so they just take forever. However, I’ve lost the moral authority to launch the drawing challenge. But the “wow” moment when a student actually sees the message still makes it worthwhile. P.S. Print the messages on card stock if you’d like to use them as little reward records. Once my students accumulate ten stickers or stamps, they redeem the card for a small treat or a bonus point on a future test.
BACK TO SCHOOL (A little icebreaker just for fun)
CarlavCarlav

BACK TO SCHOOL (A little icebreaker just for fun)

(0)
These message cards look a bit like QR codes until you raise them to eye level and read the “magical messages” from bottom (indicated by a number) to top.  Decades ago, these things took me forever and a day to draw by hand. But then I could legitimately challenge my students to draw a message of their own. Nowadays I use the computer so they just take forever. However, I’ve lost the moral authority to launch my drawing challenge. But the “wow” moment when a student actually sees the message still makes it worthwhile. P.S. If you print your magical messages on card stock you can also use them as little reward records. Once my students accumulate ten stickers or stamps, they redeem the card for a small treat or a bonus point on a future test.
LES FRUITS (1 puzzle vaut 1000 mots)
CarlavCarlav

LES FRUITS (1 puzzle vaut 1000 mots)

(0)
Imprimez et découpez ces puzzles pour que vos élèves puissent les reconstruire. Par l’effet d’osmose, les enfants apprendront à lire et écrire le mot illustré tout en jouant. Engage your pupils with reading (and writing) through play by  printing and cutting out these puzzles for them to solve. Le premier dossier comprend les puzzles en lettres minuscules;  le deuxième comprend les puzzles en lettres majuscules.
FRUIT (A puzzle's worth a 1000 words)
CarlavCarlav

FRUIT (A puzzle's worth a 1000 words)

(0)
Engage your pupils in reading (and writing) through play by printing and cutting out these simple puzzles for them to solve. There are separate files for puzzles in upper and lower case letters.
Quelles qualités cherches-tu chez ton ami(e)?
CarlavCarlav

Quelles qualités cherches-tu chez ton ami(e)?

(4)
I've updated this PDF and have incorporated the how to play guide. A few years ago, I had to cover a Family Studies’ class. The students had been studying healthy relationships and my job was to run a Values’ Auction. The kids were so taken by the activity that I took home a copy to rework for a unit on Les amis et la vie sociale. I hope your students enjoy it as much as mine do.
ON-ZINNETJES: "reading in context" can be seriously funny (DUTCH)
CarlavCarlav

ON-ZINNETJES: "reading in context" can be seriously funny (DUTCH)

(1)
This is the Dutch version of Drôle d'exercice. Again, it is a stand-alone puzzle activity that might be just the ticket for an entertaining end-of-the-year lesson. My students genuinely enjoy this activity and I hope yours will, too. If it prompts you to create one or two of your own, please let me know. This set is intended for more advanced students of Dutch.
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)

(3)
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!

(1)
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.
Hanoucca ('C'est touchant' est comme 'Boggle'
CarlavCarlav

Hanoucca ('C'est touchant' est comme 'Boggle'

(1)
A five minute filler for French teachers. If your classes enjoy my Christmas puzzles, please let me know and I'll post some of my others . . . les verbes ER, la Saint-Valentin, au bord de l'eau, au cinéma, etcetera.
A Valentine 'Boggle' + solutions
CarlavCarlav

A Valentine 'Boggle' + solutions

(2)
This is a five-minute filler for English teachers. Because I live in Canada, I'm guessing about the proper curriculum level and would appreciate your feedback. A B & W version for teachers who&'d like to photocopy a handout has just been added. P.S. I've listed a number of possible answers but (prudishly? wisely?) I've avoided possibilities like 'lover' and 'loins'!
que, qu', dont? (3.0)!
CarlavCarlav

que, qu', dont? (3.0)!

(1)
In spoken English, we now commonly end sentences with prepositions so the taboo of ending a sentence with 'de' tends to mystify some students. Here's a straightforward exercise that centres on identifying the phantom DE and magically transforming it into DONT. This version should be sans typos.
Passover puzzle (like Boggle)
CarlavCarlav

Passover puzzle (like Boggle)

(0)
A Passover 'How Touching' or Boggle puzzle + solutions This is a five-minute filler for English teachers. The colours have flattened in the transfer from Pages to PDF. Does anyone know how to get around this, please?
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
Lollipop Puzzle (practising the IR verb endings in the present tense)
CarlavCarlav

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

(0)
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.
A Shakespearean insults Wordoku6  (An antidote to cloying Valentine's sentiment)
CarlavCarlav

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

(0)
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.