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French for Children (Language for Children Series)
Posted by: admin on Monday, February 8, 2010Recommended because it is an excellent tool for the study of French language by children of ages 6-10. The book is fully colored and contains carefully structured and explained activities. The book is a part of the fully integrated program that also contains two 60 minutes CDs with activities and songs for children that accompany the book. The on-going episodes of super-cat are also included. An additional Parent/Instructor’s CD provides tips for helping children get the most out of the program, additional games and activities, and all the program songs collected together. Topics and materials include basic language skills, such as introducing yourself, counting numbers from 1-20, talking about family, talking to friends, describing things, expressing likes and dislikes, and many others. The program encourages children to learn with their parents (who require no knowledge of the language) – but it does include activities that children will enjoy playing on their own, or with their friends or siblings. Be aware of of the fact that the book is published in French.
Citation: Bruzzone, Catherine. Second edition. McGraw-Hill. 2003.
Ambiguous Adventure
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides cultural information on Senegal. The novel is an important work of post-colonial African literature written by a native of Senegal. It tells the story of an African traveling to Europe to study and the resultant clash between traditional African values (in this case also: Islamic values) and those of the West. The book is also available in French. Although the original French language version of the book would be considered as an advanced French language material, it is fairly easy to follow and enjoy. Both English and French versions could be used in conjunction when teaching literature or culture classes. I recommend this book for use by advanced French language high school learners.
Citation: Cheikh Hamidou Kane. Heinemann International Literature and Books. 1972
Invitation au Monde Francophone (with Audio CD).
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides linguistic, grammatical, and cultural information for elementary and intermediate level learners of French. This is a textbook of French. Unlike many textbooks, this text places a significant emphasis on Francophone countries and not just France. Much of the book is dedicated to the study of French and Francophone cultures settings outside of France. One of the overriding goals of the book is to show interconnectedness and unity among Francophone countries and cultures. Another goal is to use technology in combination with the book. Internet sites, computer exercises, and other similar activities are common in the book. An audio CD with student pronunciation and grammar exercises corresponding to each of the 14 chapters accompanies the text. Teachers annotated edition, teachers manual, student activities handbook with mandatory for it audio CDs, and 50-text specific transparencies are recommended to accompany the main text. Teachers are also given the option of purchasing an educational Invitation au Monde Francophone video. Be aware of of that fact that the second edition of the text is underway.
Citation: Gilbert A. Jarvis, Diane W. Birckbichler, Therese Bonin, Philippe DuBois. Holt, Rinehart and Winston, a division of Harcourt College Publishers. 2000.
Advanced French Grammar
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides extensive information on French grammar designed for advanced students and teachers of French wishing to improve their understanding of the French language. Although the book is for advanced learners of French, it is in English. A rare feature, it makes the book very effective at clarifying some of the more complex linguistic and grammatical concepts of French to English speaking audience. The book is a reliable and lasting investment.
Citation: L’Huillier, Monique. Cambridge University Press. 1999.
Chocolat (1988. France/Cameroon. Directed by Claire Denis)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it is a great resource to teach about French colonialism and post-colonial Africa to advanced and older students. The film tells a story of a young French woman, named France, who travels back to the country of her childhood, Cameroon. Through Frances memory flashbacks, we are revealed the injustices and harsh realities of the colonial Cameroon. Dominated by the internal and external conflicts of the Cameroon native, Protee, whose entire existence is limited to serving Frances French family, the film is an exploration of the last days of colonial empire and the beginning of independence in West Africa. The film is filled with subtle humor and at times sarcasm directed at the European desire for the exotic. There are a number of scenes that could be used to depict colonial lifestyles. The film is subtitled Be aware of some adult content.
Hate (1995. 76 min. France. Directed by Matthieu Kassovitz)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it offers a sobering look at the aspects of French culture, which are rarely mentioned. The film takes a look at the life in the so-called ghettos of Paris, the suburbs. Although it was shot on location in Paris, the conditions of life described in the film are characteristic of most major cities of France. Instead of the usual charming presentation of the City of Light, the film explores the other Paris. Following in the footsteps of three close friends (all three of whom are of Francophone and not French origin), the film uncovers the crime, the violence, the drugs, the murder, and other horrors that have all become part of everyday lives of the large immigrant populations of France, most of whom are hopelessly channeled to reside in the most poor and unhealthy environments in the country. The film could be used with older students when learning about everyday life and culture of France. As part of its artistic statement, the film is in black and white. It is subtitled. Be aware of the occasional adult language used in the film.
Heinle Introductory French Video/DVD
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it is a useful and effective addition to the Invitation au Monde Francophone textbook that could just as effectively be used separately. This video, filmed on several locations in France, reflects both French and Francophone lifestyles and models the functions, grammar, and vocabulary presented at the introductory level. Each segment represents a complete teaching unit filled with drama, culturally authentic situations and culturally appropriate language. As students get to know the characters, they are exposed to both the modern-day and historical situations that render France and the Francophone world what they are today. Be aware of the fact that the new video/DVD will not be available until 10/04. The older version of the video is already availble.
Le Jouet (1976. 95 min. Directed by Francis Veber. Starring Pierre Richard)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because because it is a touching story of friendship between a middle-aged man and a young child. The film or its parts could be used to teach introductory and intermediate vocabulary and some aspect of French culture. Light humor and well-written dialogue add to this remarkable story and a heart-touching ending. The film has served as an inspiration and a source of endearment to many a generation of French and other peoples around the world. Be aware of the fact that the versions of the film circulating in the U.S. are subtitled, but rarely dubbed. Also, be aware that a Hollywood re-make of the film was successfully produced in 1982.
Cyberschoolbus
Posted by: admin on Tuesday, January 19, 2010Recommended because Cyberschoolbus provides a wealth of information for educators on the world and its issues. Some sections are very kid-friendly.
URL: Ausenegal.com
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it is a rich source of cultural information on Senegal. Topics and materials include such areas as history, population, fauna, flora, climate, geography, social life, nightlife, sports, arts, culture, maps, and much more. Most importantly, the site offers a plethora of photographic and other images that in of themselves compose an extensive overview of the country and its riches. Start by visiting the Cartes et Plans section that contains multiple maps of the country. Be aware of the primary use of French by this site.
Esclavage-Martinique.com
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it contains important cultural and historic information on Martinique. The site tells the story of the Martinique slaves. Topics and materials include the abolition and the origins of slavery in Martinique, a look at the modern day slavery, and the lexicon used to teach and learn about slavery. The history of slavery is explored through investigation of the family and life of a young student from Martinique. To say that the site is interactive is an understatement. The site offers access to a free transcontinental discussion forum on slavery which can be accessed via the home page or by clicking at this Forum link. The discussions are available in both French and English. Start by viewing the the Jeu Ludo-Educatif as a starting point. Be aware of the potential difficulty during initial navigation that gets easy quickly.
Prefecture de Martinique
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it is the official site of the Martinique government. Topics and materials include institutional history of the country; geography and environment; political, administrative, economic, and social facts and data; information of the political structure and functions of the Martinique government; maps, and other information. Start by exploring La Martinique section that, among other things, contains vital statistics on the country. The site could be used in teaching a unit on political and/or socio-economic issues in the intermediate classroom. Be aware of the primary use of French by this site.
Senegalaisement
Posted by: admin onRecommended because this site is a well of practical information on Senegal that is ideal for teaching a unit on tourism and travel. Topics and materials include economy, ethnicities, national parks, history, religion, transportation, sports and leisure, society, culture, geography, regions and others. Start by clicking at the Regions link. Like most of the site, this section is very interactive and easy to navigate, offering extensive information on each of the seven major regions of the country. Be aware of the primary use of French by this site.
About French Gestures
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides cultural information on authentic French gestures including photographic documentation of each gesture. The site would also be excellent for introducing body vocabulary along with cultural knowledge. Topics and materials include regularly updated lessons and multiple links to other French educational resources including dictionaries and pronunciation kits. Links to free on-line discussion forums on France and Francophonie, and a free subscription to twice-weekly About French newsletter are also available. Start by clicking on individual expressions and gestures on the first page to learn how the site works. Be aware of the fact that the site is used for commercial advertisement of educational resources and might require payments to get complete access to some of its resources.
Francophone Newspapers
Posted by: admin onRecommended because the site contains essential cultural and linguistic information on Francophonie. The site offers access to a large collection of Francophone newspapers from the Antilles, Caribbean, North America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. Although most newspapers are in French, many of them are also available in English. Start by reviewing the newspapers in the region of your interest. Be aware of the inconsistent links.
French Language Newspapers and Magazines
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides cultural information on France and other Francophone countries. The site offers access to a variety of national, regional, and local French language newspapers and magazines on a broad range of topics. Start by choosing your publication of interest and exploring it. Be aware of the fact that some of the links might not be consistent.
City Sites
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it contains a collection of several official city web sites in France. The site could be used to study vocabulary in travel, geography, transportation and other units. It could also be used to study French culture and, in particular, several of the major cities in France. The selected sites emphasize different aspects of the cities they represent, including city holidays, important history, people, etc. Start by browsing the sites to get a better idea of the range of topics and emphases contained in the sites. Be aware of the commercial touristic purposes of the site.
French Comics
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides cultural information on France and, in particular, on French comics. The site is an overview of history and variety of French comics. Topics and materials include detailed history of the French comic art; summaries of story plots of various comics; description of main characters; sources of origin of comic plots and stories; publishing information; information on authors; links to related websites; and others. Start by exploring the Timeline section that offers a comprehensive overview of the evolution of French comics. Be aware of the fact that the site is in English, a feature that would allow students to explore it independently.
Enchanted Learning
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides language resources for elementary level learners. The site contains the English-French Picture Dictionary with numerous links for games and other learning tools. Start by selecting the letter of you choice and then reviewing the dictionary’s potential. Be aware of the fact that by clicking on any word you will be redirected to a page that contains additional vocabulary activities and exercises.
French-at-a-Touch
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides extensive cultural information on all Francophone countries. Topics and materials include detailed information about history and everyday life of numerous cities and regions in France and Francophonie, French and Francophone cuisine, maps, travel, universities, schools, children, pets, architecture, cheese, wines, and numerous others. Start by visiting the Maps and Photos sections that contain extensive collections of respective resources. Be aware of the identical organization of the site for each Francophone country that makes the site very easy to navigate. Also, although the site itself is in English, most of its resources are in French.
American Association of Teachers of French (AATF)
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides cutting-edge professional information for teachers of French in the U.S. In addition to informing about recent developments and innovations in the field, the site is also a demonstration of professional collaboration and unity among French educators in the U.S. Topics and materials include professional standards and development, cultural competence, promotion of French education, use of technologies in the classroom, access to better resources, and others. Start by visiting About AATF section that contains a detailed overview of the organization. Be aware of the annual membership fee required to join the AATF.
Fromages
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides cultural information on France, and in particular on French cheeses. Although the site is designed to serve primarily a commercial purpose, it is effective at introducing an essential component of French culture cheese. The extensiveness of the site is so complete, that its readers are inevitably led to understand and appreciate the French affection to cheese. Topics and materials include a cheese library; a monthly gazette that carries news in the world of cheese; the Cheese Board of the month; free cheese newsletter; an opportunity to select and order your cheese of preference; and others. Start by by exploring the Cheese library to find some familiar cheese names. Be aware of the fact that the site is available in French and Englis
Nordicite
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides cultural information on several rarely heard of Francophone regions of the world: Yukon, Territoires Nord-Ouest, Nunavut, Nunavik, and Labrador. Topics and materials include history, modern state of affairs, governance, everyday life, French heritage of these regions, additional web resources, and others. Start by exploring the links to each of the five territories on the left side of the site. Be aware of the commercial purpose of the site to stimulate the tourism to the region.
Francophone Television and Radio
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it provides extensive information on Francophone cultures. The site is an extensive collection of television and radio stations from a number of Francophone countries of Europe, Africa, North and South America, Caribbean, Asia, Oceania, and others. Start by reading the introduction to the site displayed inside the yellow rectangle at the top of the site. Be aware of the inconsistent links.
French Basic Grammar
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it offers an extensive but concise kit for the study of basic French grammar. The site could be used in conjunction with a textbook in the classroom and by students independently. The site could easily substitute any basic grammar textbook, an important feature considering that the site is free to use. In addition to the usual grammar repertoire, topics and materials also include photographs of urban and rural France, and also interactive surveys that explore various cultural aspects of french people and society. Start by reviewing the table of contents on the left side of the front page to verify the extensiveness of the site. Be aware of the bilingual French-English presentation of every item included in this site.
The Educator’s Reference Desk
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it contains K-12 French language lesson plans for elementary and intermediate level learners. The site could be useful for beginning teachers or for teachers with experience wishing to compare their lesson plans against someone else’s. Topics and materials also include Resource Guides, Question Archives, and a direct link to the ERIC search engine. The site also allows individual educators to post their own lesson plans if they wish to do so. Start by reviewing the suggested lesson plans for your grade level, selecting from the specified grade levels.
French Steps
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it offers excellent listening and comprehension exercises for beginners and intermediate French students. Topics and themes encompass every practical area of spoken French. Start by clicking on “Start Steps” link and selecting the area of spoken French appealing to you. Be aware of the additional languages available for listening under the Language heading.
ClicNet
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it contains a large quantity of French language and grammar information. Topics and materials include online interactive exercises drawing from everyday life, culture, music, visual arts, and others. The site contains a plethora of listening, comprehension, and conjugation exercises, dictionaries and much more, including interactive online help section. Start by installing RealPlayer on your computer; then browse through the main menu. Be aware of potentially unstable links.
Le site Officiel de la Tour Eiffel
Posted by: admin onRecommended because it contains extensive information on one of the world’s most famous and loved landmarks – the Eiffel Tower. The site is very interactive. It contains a variety of visual information, including 360 degree views of Paris from the Tower, virtual tour of the tower, popular postcards with images of the landmark that can be filled out and send online (an excellent interactive tool for language practice and learning!), screensavers with historic and modernday photos of the Eiffel tower, video files of the now famous 2004 Eiffel Tower fireworks, well documented and visualized history of the Tower, and much more. Start by visiting the Carte d’Identite section to begin the proper acquaintance with this architectural phenomenon. Be aware of needing to have QuickTime Player to view the video files.
Title VI Language Resource Centers
Posted by: admin onTitle VI federally funded centers offer outreach to teachers in many languages. These often include instructional materials, films, and guest speakers.