BBC education includes two offerings for absolute beginners: “Talk” comes in the four main European languages, “Steps” is available in French, German and Spanish. The usual polished BBC presentation comprising video clips, transcripts, vocabulary lists and reinforcement exercises means that it can be used as a stand-alone resource or followed up in class - suggestions are provided in the teachers’ notes for “Talk”. Topics covered include introductions, shopping, eating out and getting around.

www.channel4.comlearningmicrositesEextra

Based on the television Extra series, these activities in French, Spanish and German cover familiar ground in an engaging way. For example, a virtual lonely-hearts club provides practice in personal description and hobbies. Or students can respond to an email requiring them to buy specific items at an online “shop”.

www.bonjour.org.uk - well known for its lively presentation and clear pedagogical focus - now has two sister sites: www.hallo.org.uk (German) and www.hola.org.uk (Spanish). Still in their infancy, but worth watching.

GERMAN

www.juma.de

A selection of JUMA articles with teachers’ notes. Features vary in length and level of difficulty and focus on everything from fashion and pop culture to sport and social issues.

http:home.t-online.dehomesjnm.engelnicole.htm

13-year-old Nicole talks about herself, her school, her hobbies and her pets. Links to a similar page by her 11-year-old brother.

www.germanfortravellers.com

Despite its name, this has nothing to do with booking accommodation or catching a train. Vocabulary drills, grammar exercises, games and crosswords cover all sorts of topics and there are several audiovideo clips, including Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Gladiator and Castaway. You can read the text in German alone or German and English simultaneously and comprehension is tested through multiple choice questions.

www.interdeutsch.destudien1.htm

A wide-ranging bank of activities designed to reinforce both vocabulary and grammar. Includes some imaginative use of technology. One exercise requires students to identify parts of speech by colouring in a tortoise. Another asks them to classify words according to gender by catching them as they fall and steering them into the right box. Downside: Vocabulary exercises are sorted by type of activity rather than theme.

FRENCH

www.adoptanescargot.com Ostensibly devoted to snails, this delightful, tongue-in-cheek site actually covers everything from holidays and road signs to classroom conversations and Olympic sports. If you join the club you can contribute material, but it’s a fun place to visit even if you don’t. For example, you could ask students to write a story beginning “Il etait une fois un escargot”.

www.bonjourdefrance.com

Contains lots of useful material including texts and audio clips with multiple choice comprehension tests, vocabulary practice with pictures and games, grammar lessons, illustrated idioms, lessons based on situations and teaching tips.

www.ur.sechloeframe.html

Read and listen to the adventures of Chloe, a mystery in nine episodes, each lasting around 10 minutes. Comes with vocabulary lists, linked translations of key words and follow-up activities.

www.zut.org.uk

French teacher Catherine Murphy has put together hundreds of activities including jumbled sentences, word searches, listening exercises and dialogues. Easy to navigate, the site is organised by year group sub-divided into topics. Links to other resources include a clear description and evaluation of each site.