Languages - 11 to 12-year-olds

We have created our own game of Happy Families around the theme of the perfect tense.

Each pupil choses a verb, finds out whether its auxiliary is etre or avoir, then declines that verb in the perfect tense with the six pronouns on six different cards (il and elle are on the same card), adding some fun graphics too.

The game has done wonders for their learning of the perfect tense and pupils love practising this way. I also enjoy joining in the games.

This tip works with any theme - topical vocabulary in Year 7, tenses, you name it

Valerie Demargne is head of modern languages at Woolmer Hill College in Haslemere, Surrey.