Have you ever thought of making your own interactive games and quizzes? The following authoring tools are easy to use - no technical know-how required. Just type in the language you want to practise and let the software do the rest.

www.quia.com

Allows you to create 14 types of activity including quizzes, flash cards, matching games, concentration, word searches and hangman. Annual subscription: $49 per teacher. Free 30-day trial.

http:web.uvic.cahrdhalfbaked

The Hot Potatoes suite offers six formats: multiple choice, matching, gap-fill exercises, short answers, jumbled sentences and crosswords. Free of charge for non-profit educational users who make their pages available on the web.

www.mdlsoft.co.uk

Teacher Martin Lapworth has devised his own authoring package for non-web-based interactive activities. You can generate several exercises from one set of inputs and incorporate pictures and sound as well as text. For user comments, see TES Staffroom:

www.tes.co.ukstaffroomthread.asp?id=18116amp;threadID=196187amp;threadPage=1 Single user licence: pound;50. Whole-school licence: pound;220. Free 30-day trial.

READY-MADE MATERIALS

www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.ukCurriculummodlangindex.htm

Ashcombe School has produced 16 video clips in French and German covering all GCSE areas of experience. These are backed up by transcripts, translations and comprehension tests created with Hot Potatoes software. Suitable for key stage 4.

www.marling.gloucs.sch.uk

An impressive bank of materials in French, German and Spanish from Marling School. There is grammar revision, vocabulary practice, language work based on web pages, GCSE revision and more. The French section is particularly colourful, varied and comprehensive. All levels.

www.zut.org.uk

A well-designed site from teacher Catherine Murphy containing lots of varied activities organised by year and topic. All levels. French only.