Modern Languages - German Resources

This resource list was developed for the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative. It contains a range of materials that can be used by teachers of French involved in primary teaching. The list includes books, songs, stories, videos, research and reference materials.

Two types of resources will be used in the French Primary classroom: ‘teacher made’ resources and commercially produced FLE (Français Langue Etrangère) resources. In relation to the former, refer to all the suggestions made in the general section on Resources for the Modern Language classroom.

You may consult French resources (books, magazines, tapes/CDs, videos, and DVD) and borrow them if you are members, from the ‘Section Jeunesse’ of:

• Médiatèque Française, 1 Kildare St., Dublin 2 - Tel: 01.676 17 32 Fax 01 676 40 77 Website: www.alliance-francaise.ie
• Bibliotèque de l’Alliance Française de Cork, Tel/Fax: 021.431 06 77

For general information about France from a cultural point of view:

• Service Culturel de l’Ambassade de France, 1 Kildare St., Dublin 2 Tel: 01.708 83 00 Fax: 01 676 94 03 E-mail: culture@ambafrance.ie Website: www.ambafrance.ie

For teachers' courses in France: www.fle.fr

Another obvious source of resources for French, other than going to France, Belgium, Switzerland, Tunisia etc… yourself is to develop those invaluable links with a partner school in any of these countries and to get pen pals and teachers to send you and your classes lots of ‘authentic materials’, as you will send to them.

Another invaluable source of documents (written, graphic or audio) is the internet. For a list of recommended sites, see below.

There is quite a good choice of commercially produced FLE resources. Some of them may be considered to be core resources, from which all schools should choose their initial stock. The others would be extra resources to be drawn upon according to teachers’ and classes’ interests, and according to finance.

Many of these resources are available from the two Dublin language bookshops:

International Books: (contact person: Karl Brady)
18 South Frederick St, Dublin 2
Tel:01 679 93 75 email: info@interbooksirl.com Website: www.internationalbooks.ie

Modern Languages: (contact person: Thérèse Marry)
Westland Row, Dublin 2
Tel:01 676 42 85 email: modlang@indigo.ie

Both bookshops stock many of the resources on this list but if planning to visit them, it is advisable to ring in advance and indicate the specific or the type of resources that you will want to consult or buy. You may also order if they don’t stock the product. In all cases always compare prices.

General bookstores such as Eason’s can also be a good source of illustrated French books and cassettes/CDs for children which could be useful as reference books in the classroom, for the school library or to be recommended to parents who seek to encourage more practice of French at home. The bigger stores may also stock French language posters/wall charts and French word builders software. Sources for specific resources are mentioned when relevant.

Note: This Resources list is not prescriptive. It contains the element of choice and guidelines required by teachers to purchase resources that best suit their own and their classes’ needs.

::::::::::::::::::: Core Resources :::::::::::::::::::

Text Books

In so far as the French programme is based on the NCCA curriculum and guidelines, integrating the three strands and a cross-curricular activity-based approach, it is not recommended that teachers use a single class textbook or a linear type approach. Textbooks should only be used, just as other resource books on an ‘à la carte’ basis, for their ideas, graphics and activities, to be borrowed and adapted according to the needs of the curriculum and the class. A number of textbooks have an accompanying set of cassettes or CDs which may contain useful listening material including songs. Some come with a ‘cahier de l’élève’ which may also suit as class sets or as a source of worksheets.

One of the following is advised as a good base package:

Primary French Starter Pack
Helen Morrison
Collins
Has to be bought as a complete pack containing Teacher Handbook, 10 Pupils’ Books, Posters and 2 audio CDs. Supplementary sets of ten copies of the Pupils’ Books are also available. They would constitute a good class set.
Highly rated as a flexible, easy to use resource, pitched exactly at the right level and at the 10-12 age group. With appealing graphics and photographs it is also culturally rich. The CDs include key language and classroom language.

Skoldo
Lucy Montgomery
Ecole Alouette
Four levels are available: from the Elementary Book to Book Four. Each level includes Pupil’s Book and a photocopiable Teacher’s Handbook which also includes a CD.
Skoldo is a popular resource among teachers because of its ready to use photocopiable worksheets. Parts of all four levels could potentially be of use over the two years. The Elementary level may not be considered entirely age appropriate as it has been designed for 4-7 year olds but it may still be useful for weaker pupils or classes. Book Four would only be useful for a good 6th class pupils needing greater challenge.

Alex et Zoé
Colette Samson
CLE
Included in the Alex and Zoé ‘méthode’ are the following: Pupil’s Book, Teacher’s Handbook, Activity Book, 1 individual cassette, 3 cassettes for classroom use. (Sold separately)
Alex et Zoé presents the disadvantage of being designed as an all encompassing text book or méthode. However it has an ‘authentic’ French feel about it (for example in its use of the cursive ‘joint writing’ favoured by French schools and its many rich cultural components). It also includes ‘language awareness’ activities.
Most useful would be the Livre de l’élève for a class set, the Cahier d’activité and Guide pédagogique as resources for activity ideas and photocopiable worksheets, the 3 cassettes collectives which provide listening activities linked with the Livre de l’élève as well as songs.

Dictionaries

Dictionnaire School Français-Anglais, Anglais-Français
Larousse
Although this is a regular bilingual dictionary, it has been designed specifically for 10-12 year olds language beginners (in French schools) with an emphasis on legibility and numerous colour illustrations. Very useful for a class set, particularly in 6th class.

Dictionnaire illustré français
ELI
Illustrated dictionary, very appealing as classroom or library reference. Covers 36 topics (monolingual: French)

First 1000 words in French
Osborn
Attractive picture dictionary which presents the advantage of also existing in Gaeilge (published by Gill & Macmillan) as well as in other continental languages.

Tapes & CDs

FLE songs:
A selection of the following is an invaluable resource, each having its own appeal

Le français en chantant
J.C.Delbende, V.Heuzé
Didier
Pack consists of cassette (10 FLE songs), Pupil activity book, Teacher’s handbook. (sold separately)

French songs
Lucy Montgomery
Ecole Alouette E-mail: info@skoldo.com Website: www.skoldo.com
Song book and cassette

Un kilo de chansons
Mary Glasgow Publications
Language Centre Publications

Français! Français! – French raps and songs
Carol Nicol
The Language factory (Skoldo)
3 complementary CDs can be bought separately

Chantez plus fort!
Rosemary Bevis, Martial Romanteau and Ros Hopwood
Brilliant Publications
Book (copyright free pages) with 2CDs, 20 ELP or traditional songs. Teacher’s notes included.

1,2,3 Soleil
Bruno Husar
Popular FLE songs sung by native French children and adults. Practical suggestions and transcripts in the accompanying booklet

1,2,3, Techno
Bruno Husar
Complementary to 1,2,3, Soleil

Authentic songs:

Génération Française 4
CD1: Chanson Pop et Rock
CD2: World, Reggae, Hip Hop
CAVILAM, Vichy Order form from www.cavilam.fr
Postage cost only is charge for these CDs of compilations of representative modern French songs.

La Chanson francophone
Ministère des Affaires Etrangères, Service Cuturel de l’Ambassade
Copies available to MLPSI schools from the National Coordinator, Kildare Education Centre. Video of karaoke songs from well known contemporary singers from French speaking counties

Posters & Wall Charts

Three main sources:

Schofield & Sims
Brightly illustrated posters covering basic vocabulary such as les chiffres, les couleurs,…
(Each sold separately)

ELI (European Language Institute)
Posters Actifs Base, Posters France and Posters Actifs
Sets of posters illustrating basic French vocabulary. Words and phrases are printed on electrostatic labels for multiple matching activities with the pictures.

Flip Posters
Set of 20 spiral-bound, wipe on-wipe off posters (50x70cm) on a stand. Teacher’s notes are also available.

Flip posters France
Flip posters of photographs about France. Also available are Teacher’s book, student book and cassette

Videos

The BBC has produced a number of very useful children’s Beginners French video packages. They are pitched at different age groups within the Primary classroom: the first two for 6-10 year olds, the last two for 10-13 year olds.

Salut Serge!
BBC
Set of two videos with accompanying workbook or workbook and cassette pack.
Contains a cartoon-based story-line. The main character, Serge, is a monkey. Also includes a useful football theme.
Only suitable for younger or younger minded classes. The video is popular with some teachers while others profer to only use the songs from the cassette. Worth checking out for suitability to your 5th class.

Bonjour les amis 2- French made fun
Wonderland
Combination of basic language teaching sequences and songs for young children up to 10. Suitable for 3d to 5th class. Designed more for home use by children and parents but has been found useful by some teachers. An alternative to Salut Serge!

15 minutes
BBC
Video useful for both language and cultural background (150 min), with teacher’s notes. An alternative to Le Club video (below). Suitable for 5th and 6th. class.

Le Club
BBC
Video useful for both language and cultural background (150 min), with teacher’s notes. An alternative to 15 Minutes video (above). Suitable for 5th and 6th. class.

::::::::::::::::::: Extra Resources :::::::::::::::::::

Text Books

S’il vous plait – An Introduction to French
Barbara Turvey
Prim-Ed
A series of simple photocopiable worksheets to practice French written skills. Suitable from 3d to 5th class.

Le français en vacances ( books 1, 2 and 3)
ELI
A graded series of full colour activity books to practice reading and writing skills, suitable for 5th and 6th class.

Allons Y!
Subscription magazine
Mary Glasgow, Scolastic
Tel: 1800 272 321 Fax: 01.830 16 55

101 Chansons de toujours
Préface de Henri Dès
Bayard Jeunesse
An excellent collection of traditional French children’s songs, each with illustration and score. Does not unfortunately come with a cassette but all ordinary cassette of traditional children songs could accompany it.

101 Poésies et comptines
Bayard Jeunesse

ELI Plaisir de lire -graded readers
16 traditional French titles such as Boucle d’Or, Les Trois Petits Cochons

Le français par les mots croisés…(édition photocopiable)
Le français? Oui, merci!
Jeux faciles en français
ELI
All three books based on word puzzles, crosswords, etc…

Easy French Word Games & Puzzles
Maurie N.Taylor
Passport Books, NTC/Contemporary Publishing Group

At school
Publi’Lang -Language in groups series e-mail: publilang@eircom.net
Series of laminated flashcards and activity sheets with teacher’s guidelines to practice the vocabulary of school and the classroom.

The twins in France
Sally Kilroy
Orchard Books
An introduction to France through the eyes of two young children spending a holiday there with their parents. Interesting choice of situations and nice illustrations. Classroom or library resource. Suitable for 3dto 5th class.

France Live - country, culture, people
Danièle Bourdais, Sue Finnie
Oxford University Press
Cultural background book which may be very useful as a class or library resource for 6th class projects. Well selected, up-to-date information. Pitched at students age 12 upwards.

Stickers: attractive reward or greetings stickers can be obtained from:

• Ecole Alouette E-mail: info@skoldo.com, Website: www.skoldo.com
• The Language Stickers Company E-mail: sales@languagestickers.co.uk Website:www.language-stickers.co.uk

Videos

Allons vite à Bethléem
Ecole alouette (Skoldo)
Nativity video (18min) with 4 traditional French carols, 4 Christmas songs and a dramatisation of the nativity story with French subtitles. Part of a pack consisting of video, CD of carols and songs with book of words and piano score and Christmas stickers. Each can be bought separately.

Vie d’enfant, métier d’écolier
R.Binks, M. Garabédian
Didier/Hatier
60min video with accompanying pedagogical guide (sold separately). Consists of interviews of 8-11 year old French children. Useful for language as well as for cultural awareness.

Flashcards
Available from ELI (European Language Institute):
Flashcards Français (240 flashcards)
Les Masques humorous portraits and fun activities to practice the descriptive language of the face

FLE games available from:

Mini-flashcards Language Games

• Ici On Parle Français: French for Beginners by Hillary McColl and Susan Thomas…photocopiable series

ELI (European Language Institute)

• Bingo-images, Jeu de nombres, Dominos des heures, Dominos de la journée,…

Formative Fun
Shops in Blanchardstown, Dundalk, Galway, Letterkenny and Limerick

• Les courses à faire matching type group game
• French Word jigcards matching picture? French word/English word, colour coded
• Cherchons le mot self-correcting jigcards matching picture/French word/English word
• Faisons la pizza French phrases game

CD Roms

Harry learns French
Sue Finnie & Daniele Bourdais
CD Rom with colourful book
Attractive cartoon characters and native French children voices. Limited range of vocabulary but plenty of interactive practice and reinforcement. Suitable for 4th/ 5th class

French Jump Ahead
Knowledge Adventure
Formative Fun (shops Blanchardstown, Dundalk, Galway, Letterkenny, Limerick.)

Vocabulary Builder-French
Eurotalk Interactive

Websites of Interest

General - Click here

Sites for accessing French language learning activities for teachers and pupils:

http://www.momes.net

http://www.cartables.net

http://www.ecoledespetits.free.fr

http://www.envolerie.com

http://www.lapinville.net

http://www.bonjourdefrance.com

http://www.yahoo.fr

http://www.lafontaine.net

http://www.halloween.tm.fr

http://www.asterix.tm.fr

http://www.langprim.org

http://www.frenchlinks.org.uk/french3.html

http://www.bonjour.com

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryFrench/teachers/index_flash-html

Websites for French songs

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/olivier.druard/LaClefDesChants/Sommaire.htm

Click on ‘Carnets de chants’ for children songs (lyrics and melody)

www.paroles.net

Site offering lyrics of songs from all the famous French singers. To access the 169 children songs, choose: www.paroles.net/artis/1008

www.chanter.com

www.silapedagogie.com/jeux_de_grands.htm

Offers explanations of traditional comptines with actions or jeux mimés for young children.

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryFrench/teachers/index_flash-html

Very attractive simple songs in this self access Beginners French online course for children.

Websites to find French speaking penpals (correspondants) or e-pals :

www.epals.com

www.momes.net (cliquez sur ‘CORRESPONDANTS’)

www.eun.org

www.primlangues.fr (cliquez sur ‘Correspondre’)