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thefrenchwhisperer

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A few years ago, I retired from my position as head of Modern Languages, a bit fearful of the "R" word. But to date, it has been nothing but fun! Canadian law requires school-aged actors to study with a qualified teacher when they’re off-camera. Many of our young actors are in immersion French so I've found a happy little niche, teaching a few days a week as an on-set tutor and moving in inspiring and creative circles! Furthermore, I get to share resources here! Vive la retraite!

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A few years ago, I retired from my position as head of Modern Languages, a bit fearful of the "R" word. But to date, it has been nothing but fun! Canadian law requires school-aged actors to study with a qualified teacher when they’re off-camera. Many of our young actors are in immersion French so I've found a happy little niche, teaching a few days a week as an on-set tutor and moving in inspiring and creative circles! Furthermore, I get to share resources here! Vive la retraite!
Roald Dahl's THE LANDLADY
CarlavCarlav

Roald Dahl's THE LANDLADY

(1)
I’m reposting this old file because it’s Roald Dahl’s centenary and because “The Landlady” is an exceptionally well written, suspenseful and eerie short story that cries out to be explored at Hallowe’en by both middle and high school students. (It is not to be missed if “foreshadowing” and “appearance versus reality” figure in your curriculum.) I’ve summarized The Landlady and stirred the pieces in my cauldron. After your class has read the story, your students should be able to reconstitute the summary as a small group, co-operative activity.
C'EST TOUCHANT! pour La Saint-Valentin (Ce jeu est un peu comme Boggle.)
CarlavCarlav

C'EST TOUCHANT! pour La Saint-Valentin (Ce jeu est un peu comme Boggle.)

(0)
Embedded in the puzzle grid are 13 French words on the Saint-Valentin theme and more than 70 general vocabulary words. The file includes a thematic vocabulary, an answer key and a “how to play” guide. (I posted the English version of this Valentine's game five years ago and am truly tickled to see that it has been downloaded 3355 times! If your students enjoy the activity, please let me know and I will create more like it.)
FRENCH: Où sont les trésors cachés (verbes ER)
CarlavCarlav

FRENCH: Où sont les trésors cachés (verbes ER)

(7)
Où sont les trésors cachés? (les verbes ER) works well as a full-class, teacher-directed game or as a small group activity. After the fun of the oral treasure hunt, you can also assign coordinates to create an instant written assignment to reinforce the correct conjugation of the verbs. You’ll find that even reluctant learners will be motivated to listen carefully and the promise of “treasure” tends to generate enthusiastic oral participation as well. My answer key is for “le présent” and “le passé composé” but the game works for virtually every verb tense and even the subjunctive mood. I’m proud to say that, globally, this game has been downloaded over 6000 times. OÙ SONT LES TRÉSORS game sheets also are available for the following verbs and themes: Les verbes IR Les verbes RE Les verbes ER, IR and RE ÊTRE et AVOIR Les expressions AVOIR (3 game sheets) DEVOIR, VOULOIR et POUVOIR FAIRE, PRENDRE, METTRE OUVRIR, DÉCOUVRIR, SORTIR, PARTIR SAVOIR, CONNAÎTRE et RECONNAÎTRE Les verbes conjugués avec ÊTRE Les verbes PRONOMINAUX) The 10 premium games bundled. Enter “Où sont” in the search window of my shop to find them: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Carlav
Where are my Christmas gifts?” (A virtual scavenger hunt)
CarlavCarlav

Where are my Christmas gifts?” (A virtual scavenger hunt)

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Originally designed for Modern Language classes, “Where are my Christmas gifts?” is a virtual scavenger hunt that encourages even reluctant students to participate enthusiastically in class. It works well as a full class and as a small group activity. You’ll be astonished to experience the phenomenon of an entire class listening “actively” because no one wants to waste a guess choosing a square from which the gift has already been claimed. After the oral treasure hunt, you can create an instant written assignment by assigning a handful of co-ordinates. I’ve included answer keys for the present and the future tenses but “Where are my Christmas gifts?” works well for almost all verb tenses. Please note that there are two versions of the game to accommodate those who know that the name of the one and only jolly old elf is “Father Christmas” . . . or “Santa Claus”. If you’d like more resources on this theme, just type “Christmas” into the search window of my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/Carlav
Le MOTDOKU (sudoku) du subjonctif: devoir
CarlavCarlav

Le MOTDOKU (sudoku) du subjonctif: devoir

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IMHO, the old-fashioned practice of writing out conjugations for verb mastery still works academic wonders. But it is a much maligned approach so I’m always looking for ways to camouflage it as fun. This “MOTDOKU (sudoku) du subjonctif" is a review of the formation of the present subjunctive of DEVOIR dressed up as a sudoku puzzle. To be sure that it’s the kind of thing you want, download the free MOTDOKU du subjonctif (vouloir): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/le-sudoku-du-subjonctif-vouloir-6160677
MOTDOKU (sudoku) du subjonctif: VENIR, DEVOIR, PRENDRE, VOIR, VOULOIR, POUVOIR, ALLER, SAVOIR, FAIRE
CarlavCarlav

MOTDOKU (sudoku) du subjonctif: VENIR, DEVOIR, PRENDRE, VOIR, VOULOIR, POUVOIR, ALLER, SAVOIR, FAIRE

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As students solve this MOTDOKU (SUDOKU) du SUBJONCTIF they inadvertently “write out” the following verbs. (Yes, it’s manipulative! Mea culpa.) 1 que je vienne 2 que je doive 3 que je prenne 4 que je voie 5 que je veuille 6 que je puisse 7 que j’aille 8 que je sache 9 que je fasse To be sure that this kind of activity is right for your students, download the free MOTDOKU du subjonctif (vouloir): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/le-sudoku-du-subjonctif-vouloir-6160677
FRENCH: 2 Jeux de mots pour Noël
CarlavCarlav

FRENCH: 2 Jeux de mots pour Noël

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2 Jeux de mots pour Noël (EN COMMENÇANT PAR LA FIN et MOTS COUPÉS) EN COMMENÇANT PAR LA FIN The end of every word in this circular puzzle is also the beginning of a new word. The words embedded in the puzzle are: 1 renne (m.) 2 neige (f.) 3 générosité (f.) 4 terre (f.) 5 réveillon (m.) 6 Noël (m.) 7 lutin (m.) 8 invité (m.) 9 étoile (f.) 10 lettre (f.) 11 rêve (m.) 12 vert 13 traîneau (m.) 14 auberge (f.) 15 église (f.) 16 étable (f.) 17 emballage (m.) 18 geler 19 roi (m.) 20 imagination (f.) 21 naître MOTS COUPÉS In this virtual race, players have to reconstitute and recopy words that have been broken down into syllables and scattered over the game grid. The words in this puzzle are: vacances (f.pl.) sapin (m.) cadeau (m.) étoile (f.) église (f.) chaussette (f.) enfant (m.) lutin (m.) hiver (m.) traîneau (m.) jouet (m.) grelots (m.pl.) 13. gui (m.) SEE IF THESE ACTIVITIES ARE RIGHT FOR YOUR STUDENTS. TRY . . . a free English version of “En commençant par la fin” : https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/i-know-these-words-backwards-and-forwards-thanksgiving-11424790 a free English version of "Mots coupés: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/chop-chop-a-hallowe-en-word-puzzle-11407269
2 Christmas word puzzles (BROKEN WORDS and I KNOW THESE WORDS BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS)
CarlavCarlav

2 Christmas word puzzles (BROKEN WORDS and I KNOW THESE WORDS BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS)

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You’ll find two new word work puzzles in this file.
 1 I know these words backwards and forwards (CHRISTMAS) The end of every word in this circular puzzle is also the beginning of a new word. The words embedded in the puzzle are: 1 rejoice 2 celebration 3 Noel 4 list 5 stocking 6 gift 7 trim 8 imagine 9 newborn 10 ornament 11 tree 12 eggnog 13 gingerbread 14 advent 15 tinsel 16 elves 17 sleigh 18 holly 19 yuletide 20 decorate 21 eating 22 guest 23 star 24 reindeer 2. Broken Words! (A CHRISTMAS word puzzle) In this virtual race, players have to reconstitute and recopy words that have been broken into syllables and scattered over the game grid. The words embedded in this puzzle are: 1 chimney 2 stable 3 magi 4 angel 5 holly 6 stocking 7 advent 8 carol 9 manger 10 tinsel 11 infant 12 present 13 joy N.B. Try before you buy. Be sure that these activities will be right for your students by downloading their free sister resources: I know these words backwards and forwards (THANKGIVING) at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/i-know-these-words-backwards-and-forwards-thanksgiving-11424790 and Chopped Up Words (A Hallowe'en word puzzle) at: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/chopped-up-words-a-hallowe-en-word-puzzle-11407269
17 Special Day Multilingual Scribblescrabbles
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17 Special Day Multilingual Scribblescrabbles

4 Resources
Unlike Scrabble players, Scribblescrabblers can choose which letters to use for each of their turns. As in Scrabble, however, they will score the most points with the strategic placement of those letters. This bundle includes Scribblescrabbles for: 1 Halloween 2 Diwali 3 Eid 4 Remembrance Day 5 Kwanzaa 6 Christmas 7 Hannukah 8 The New Year 9 Martin Luther King Jr. Day 10 Chinese New Year 11 Valentine’s Day 12 Groundhog Day 13 Saint Patrick’s Day 14 Easter 15 Passover 16 Earth Day 17 Thanksgiving This file includes English, French and Spanish versions for each grid and a blank grid for those of you teaching other languages.
Scribblescrabbles for Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, Passover and Earth Day (Multilingual)
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Scribblescrabbles for Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, Passover and Earth Day (Multilingual)

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Challenge your students to use their words with these puzzles for Saint Patrick’s Day, Easter, Passover and Earth Day. Unlike Scrabble players, Scribblescrabblers can choose which letters to use for each of their turns. As in Scrabble, however, they will score the most points with the strategic placement of those letters. You may ask your students to incorporate a thematic vocabulary list or to play using general vocabulary only. Either way, they will be engaged! In fact, very competitive students tend to want to play every possible open square. This file includes English, French and Spanish versions for of each grid and a blank grid for those of you teaching other languages.
2 more GET THE PICTURE? games: “Le présent des verbes RE” and  “Le présent des verbes IR”
CarlavCarlav

2 more GET THE PICTURE? games: “Le présent des verbes RE” and “Le présent des verbes IR”

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These printable games are self-correcting activities designed to help beginners master the verb endings for RE and IR verbs in the present tense. To see if these games are right for your students, download the free resource, GET THE PICTURE? (Le présent des verbes ER): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/get-the-picture-le-pr-sent-des-verbes-er-a-self-correcting-learning-activity-11342123
FRENCH BRAG TAGS / BILLETS "TU PEUX ÊTRE FIER!"
CarlavCarlav

FRENCH BRAG TAGS / BILLETS "TU PEUX ÊTRE FIER!"

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Because it's hard to find big, bright, text-rich, French motivational stickers, I have designed about fifty “reward cards” to encourage and congratulate my students. My kids like them and I like being able to update them as needed. Many sincere thanks to my (much) younger colleague, who gently suggested that I move into this millennium and label this file as “brag tags”! HOW I USE THEM 1) AS COLLECTIBLES They work as little giveaway rewards for good effort. (I’m from Canada, hockey trading card country. The best compliment I ever got was when one of my boys announced that he was trying to collect the “whole set”!) 2) AS CURRENCY Students may trade in 10 cards for a package of gum or a dollar store /pound shop gift. 3) As a “bon point” incentive A bon point is redeemable for “1 mark on our next test”. Even high school kids love this little card trick. If you go this route, reserve two or three styles (for example, the “vachement bien” and the “de quoi être fier /fière” cards) as the bon point cards.
LE MIEN,  LA MIENNE,  LES MIENS,  LES MIENNES  (Ceci n’est pas une leçon de grammaire.)
CarlavCarlav

LE MIEN, LA MIENNE, LES MIENS, LES MIENNES (Ceci n’est pas une leçon de grammaire.)

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As you can see from the illustrations for the cards, “prof de français” and “cheveux”, the ostensible goal of this game is to guess the mystery word(s) given the fewest number of clues possible. In point of fact, however, it is to motivate students to talk about their immediate environment in the target language. The focus of the deck is the world of school but there are just enough cards on more general topics to keep things interesting. EXTENDING THE LESSON There are 120 cards in this deck. To extend the lesson and to create a new deck, distribute two or three blank cards to each of your students and challenge them to write in their own “mots devinettes”. NOTES 1 Although I designed these cards on a printable business card template - 10 per sheet - you can also run them on card stock and cut them along the guidelines. 2 Tailor the deck for use by younger or less advanced students by culling the more abstract concepts like “avenir” and “style”. 3 I’ve offered a handful of expressions in both European and Canadian French. The Canadian French vocabulary is marked with a small maple leaf.
2 MARELLES:  les verbes conjugués avec “être” / Dr. & Mrs. van der Tramp
CarlavCarlav

2 MARELLES: les verbes conjugués avec “être” / Dr. & Mrs. van der Tramp

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Il y a 8 phrases cachées dans chaque marelle. There are eight sentences hidden in each of these two hopscotch games. Le début de chaque phrase est signalé par un petit numéro qui indique le nombre de cases dans la phrase. Toutes les cases qui forment une phrase se touchent. C’est la logique qui détermine l’ordre à suivre. The beginning of each sentence is marked with a number in a circle. This little number also tells you how many boxes make up the sentence. All the boxes that form a sentence are connected. You may move up, down, left, right and diagonally. Let logic guide you to the end of each sentence. Download the free resource, "Une marelle pour accompagner Le Gruffalo” to see if this game is suitable for your class. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/une-marelle-pour-accompagner-le-gruffalo-11288270
Instead of French stickers try these QR codes
CarlavCarlav

Instead of French stickers try these QR codes

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Because it's not easy finding French stickers with meaningful captions and because my students are always looking for an excuse to use their cell phones, I decided to tell them, “I think QR doing a good job” using QR codes. The 34 comments I’ve encoded are listed below. See the enthusiastic reaction the codes generate for yourself by attaching one of the QR comments in the preview to your students’ next assignment. 1 Un bel effort! C’est génial Très impressionnant! C’est un bonheur de t’enseigner! Excellent comme d’habitude! Chouette! Bien fait! 2 Tu vois? Tu es très capable. Bravo! Tu réussis haut la main! Formidable! Tu connais bien tes verbes irréguliers! Vouloir, c’est pouvoir, n’est-ce pas? Bravo! Tu fais des progrès! 1, 2, 3 . . . je peux toujours compter sur toi! 3 Je suis content que tu sois dans ma classe! Je suis contentE que tu sois dans ma classe! Je suis fier de toi! Je suis fièrE de toi! Tu es un éleve de rêve! Tu es unE éleve de rêve! 4 Je savais que tu y arriverais! Wow! Je n’aurais pas pu mieux faire moi-même! Tu as bien réussi cette tâche! Tu t’exprimes très clairement! Bravo! Encore un peu et tu l’auras! J’ai remarqué que tu as vraiment fait de ton mieux aujourd’hui! Je t’en félicite! 5 Tu as écouté très attentivement aujourd’hui. C’est toute une amélioration! Félicitations! Ton comportement était exemplaire aujourd’hui! Félicitations! Viens me voir pour de l’aide supplémentaire. C’est bien trouvé! Je t’applaudis! 6 Ce conjugueur peut t’aider avec les verbes difficiles: http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/conjugaison/verbe Sers-toi de cette ressource indispensable: le dictionnaire en ligne, WordReference: http://www.wordreference.com/ *Tu peux vérifier ta grammaire et ton orthographe à http://bonpatron.com/ Et pour le dessert . . . En récompense de ce travail si bien fait, ce soir tu n’auras PAS DE DEVOIRS!
C'est Touchant! (un jeu comme Boggle)  pour L'Automne, L'Action de Grâce, L'Halloween et L'Hiver
CarlavCarlav

C'est Touchant! (un jeu comme Boggle) pour L'Automne, L'Action de Grâce, L'Halloween et L'Hiver

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Embedded in each of the 4 puzzle grids in this bundle are several French words on the themes of L'Action de Grâce, L'Automne, L'Hiver and L’Halloween as well as many more general vocabulary words. The bundle includes • Full-colour copies and BW copies of each puzzle • a thematic vocabulary for each theme • answer keys • a “how to play” guide Try the free TES activity,'Joyeux Noël ('C'est touchant' is like Boggle.)' to see if this activity is for you: https://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Joyeux-No-and-235-l-and-quot-C-and-39-est-touchant-and-quot-is-like-Boggle-6150658/
Où sont les trésors cachés? (ÊTRE et AVOIR)
CarlavCarlav

Où sont les trésors cachés? (ÊTRE et AVOIR)

(0)
"Où sont les trésors cachés? (ÊTRE et AVOIR)" works well as a full-class, teacher-directed game or as a small group activity. After the fun of the oral treasure hunt, you can also assign co-ordinates to create an instant written assignment to reinforce the correct spelling of the verb endings. You’ll find that even reluctant learners will be motivated to listen carefully and the promise of “treasure” tends to generate enthusiastic oral participation as well. My answer key is for le présent tense but the game works for virtually every verb tense. To see if this this ÊTRE and AVOIR lesson is right for your students, try the free, “Où sont les trésors cachés (les verbes ER): https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/o-sont-les-tr-sors-cach-s--les-verbes-er-6438862
Où sont les trésors cachés? ( DEVOIR, VOULOIR et POUVOIR)
CarlavCarlav

Où sont les trésors cachés? ( DEVOIR, VOULOIR et POUVOIR)

(0)
“Où sont les trésors cachés? (DEVOIR, VOULOIR et POUVOIR)” works well as a full-class, teacher-directed game or as a small group activity. After the fun of the oral treasure hunt, you can also assign co-ordinates to create an instant written assignment to reinforce the correct spelling of the verb endings. You’ll find that even reluctant learners will be motivated to listen carefully and the promise of “treasure” tends to generate enthusiastic oral participation as well. My answer key is for le présent tense but the game works for virtually every verb tense. Try the free, “Où sont les trésors cachés (les verbes ER) to see if ”Où sont les trésors cachés? (Les verbes DEVOIR, VOULOIR et POUVOIR)” is right for your students: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/o-sont-les-tr-sors-cach-s--les-verbes-er-6438862
How Touching! Word games like Boggle for Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, Hannukah and Christmas.
CarlavCarlav

How Touching! Word games like Boggle for Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, Hannukah and Christmas.

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It includes thematic puzzles for Hallowe’en, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hannukah and • full colour copies and B &W copies of each puzzle • a thematic vocabulary for each theme • answer keys • a “how to play” guide Try the free TES activity, “Hippity Hoppity, Easter’s on its Way” to see if this activity is for you: https://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Hippity-Hoppity-Easter-and-39-s-on-its-way-boggle-6194577/
Les verbes conjugués avec être (a triangle puzzle)
CarlavCarlav

Les verbes conjugués avec être (a triangle puzzle)

(0)
This triangle puzzle can be used as a co-operative activity or as an enrichment puzzle for individuals. Students have to match the edges of the triangles that ask and answer questions or begin and finish sentences . If possible, laminate the puzzle sheets. Then cut up one puzzle for every two or three students. Put the 12 triangles into an envelope. Et à vos jeux. Is this grammar activity for you? See for yourself by trying the free resource, Le futur simple (a triangle puzzle): http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Le-future-simple-a-triangle-puzzle-6450469/