A 28-page booklet based around the film ‘Mr Bean’s Holiday’ (Bendelack, 2007) Although the film is English, it provides lots of opportunities to discuss aspects of French life and explore French vocabulary in context. The activities are graded by difficulty , and are suitable for 11 -15 year olds. The resource could be given to pupils as a three week study/project module. The pupils’ booklet includes a 7 page alphabetical vocabulary glossary. The resource also comes with a separate answer booklet. Look out for other UFTEL (Using Film to Explore Language) booklets written by Jon Meier. Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis Taxi 1 Un Chat à Paris La Maison du Bonheur

A French activity booklet based around the successful film, Bienvenue Chez les Ch’Tis (Boon, 2008) The resource consists of • 13 pages of activities plus 4 glossary pages covering the words used in the exercises and 1 final page containing ideas for exploiting glossaries. • A separate answer booklet. The ideal target age is 14+. The slang spoken by the Northerners may be a little too bizarre to inflict on beginners but is a delight for more advanced linguists. Activities are graded by ability. The resource could be used with more disaffected pupils, perhaps those who have decided not to continue with French for GCSE. The booklet could be given to pupils as a three week study/project module. It can also be used for older pupils and adults who want to keep their French ticking over. The resource includes an observational quiz based on a 7 minute sequence towards the start of the film. The observation quiz section can be done orally or in writing. The focus is in English to give all pupils an opportunity to show their often exceptional powers of observation. These sections work well as a class game – one side of the room against the other or boys v girls. They are a good way to keep less motivated pupils engaged. Vocabulary from the quiz is followed-up in subsequent activities. The quiz is actually a discrete opportunity to contextualize vocabulary. The activities also offer opportunities to discuss prejudice and intolerance. There is one film review-writing activity. The main focus is however on developing vocabulary. This is another of my French UFTEL (Using Film to Explore Language) resources. I hope it shows the benefits of Using Film to Engage Linguists. Amusez-vous bien. Jon Meier.

The ‘Deutschland 83’ Episode 1 Study Booklet is a 24-page workbook particularly aimed at students doing the OCR A-Level Media Studies course. It is filled with activities, notes and thought-provoking questions, designed to give students a thorough overview of Episode 1 of this fascinating series. The aim is to encourage students to engage with the questions, and to understand wider themes and aspects of representations. The workbook is especially suitable for 16-18 year olds, Media A-Level students and also for anyone generally interested in Channel 4 long-form TV dramas, film, plus the issues around the production and appeal of subtitled TV drama in the English speaking world . OCR A-Level Media Studies Teachers should find the workbook useful as it gives students an opportunity to work independently on a range of activities. The study pack is also intended to be a useful revision resource. The resource may also be of interest to teachers of History and A-Level German. I have also done a booklet on Episode 1 of ‘Stranger Things’, a different but equally compelling series which explores aspects of retro sci-fi, ‘coming of age’ themes and intertextuality.

A French/English pantomime-style play, based on Cinderella. Written by Jon Meier. Lots of humour and great fun - especially the 'France has Talent ’ middle section. Most of the dialogue is in English but there’s plenty of French, repeated and reinforced visually. Suitable for years 6-9. Duration around 30 mins. 17 in the cast (scope for flexibility, sharing and doubling of roles). Minimum 13 max 22 Others can be used for sound, props, poster and programme design etc Can be worked on in 1 day (with scripts) – intensive work with a scripted performance at the end of the day. Show in assembly or at a languages celebration event or just have fun reading it through. Ideal for a language/ drama festival competition Sixth-formers can help with the production. Language is visual and contextualised. Audience will also understand it as the story is familiar and the French is explained. Script contains details of props and sound effects, with links to downloadable sound effects. Vocabulary lists are also included with the script showing the vocabulary on each page. 3 page thumbnails of the opening scenes are also available as a free taster. You will need to produce your own sound files as I’m not allowed to post external links here. Could be a job for a keen pupil who wants a non speaking role in the production.

A sample 3-page unit from my German Language Lesson Lifesaver booklet of linked translations. Ideal for MFL teachers and departments who need to set cover work. Answers are included on the last page. The range of levels goes from German near-beginners to advanced learners (GCSE +). Each topic has 3 differentiated levels: Entry, Continuation, Extension. One A4 worksheet per level. Each worksheet is divided as follows: ➢ Section A: 10 sentences to translate from German into English. ➢ Section B: 5 sentences to translate from English into German. These sentences are linked to the German examples in section A. Students can work out the German by careful scrutiny and manipulation of the sentences in the first section. ➢ Section C: vocabulary grid linked to the sentences. Grouped by gender, verb and other grammatical forms. The vocabulary grid can be included with the sheet or folded over and not copied for students. This provides a further element of differentiation. ➢ Section D lists the grammar areas covered. ➢ Answers are in a separate section at the back so that cover teachers can go over work. The resource does NOT contain grammar explanations, just links to grammar points. The worksheets can be a springboard for further grammar work. Vocabulary is based on word frequency and not on prescribed content of exam boards or publishers. The focus is on general translation skills practice, and is not specifically aimed at GCSE. It is an absorbing way to keep pupils busy and engaged. The full booklet has 60 pages of worksheets - 20 topics (3 levels per topic). Ideal if you or other colleagues are absent. Or just extra translation-based topic reinforcement. NWACWA - Never Worry About Cover Work Again! For the full booklet, copy and paste the following link: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/german-language-lesson-lifesaver-booklet-linked-translations-11260420

A booklet of linked translation exercises. French to English; English to French 60 pages, 20 topics, 3 levels for each topic. Ideal preparation for GCSE but also for general translation practice. Suitable for French learners aged 11-16. Written to help hard-pressed teachers faced with having to set work quickly for cover lessons or for supply staff. This resource is ideal for independent, online work. Originally a paid-for resource, it’s now available free of charge during the pandemic. This resource is also available for German. Here’s the link to the German booklet. TES: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/german-linked-translation-lifesaver-booklet-12466732

A booklet of 8 differentiated activities based on the Youtube trailer for ‘Intouchables’. (French audio with English subtitles). Available on Youtube, the trailer is short (1m 51secs), visually interesting and fast-paced. The booklet consists of 3 pages of activities in French (8 exercises) an answer section. 8 differentiated exercises, suitable for year 10 upwards (14-18 year olds) The clip and these resources are a good introduction to the Advanced level French film topic. It can be used in A-Level taster lessons and as a stimulus for post-GCSE bridging work. ‘Intouchables’ (Nakache, Toledano 2011) is a touching, humorous and thought-provoking exploration of friendship and social divisions. It raises questions about society’s attitudes to race and disability. The booklet introduces learners to some of the language required to tackle these themes. One of Jon Meier’s many UFTELL resources. UFTELL = using film to enhance language-learning. UFTELL = using film to enthuse language learners.

A list of higher level language for GCSE German. Emphasis is on grade-boosting phrases and constructions. Ideal revision for those targeting higher grades in the Writing, Reading and Listening components. 5 pages with plenty of examples. Followed by a ‘learning check’ section - 30 examples from the main section to translate into English. The next section has the answers in English with space to translate them back into German. In ‘Word’ so it’s customizable.

The ‘Stranger Things’ Episode 1 Study Booklet is a 24 page workbook particularly aimed at students doing the OCR A-Level Media course. It is filled with activities, notes and thought-provoking questions, designed to give students a thorough overview of Episode 1 of this retro sci-fi series. The aim is to encourage students to engage with the questions, to understand wider themes and aspects of representations. The workbook is suitable especially for 16-18 year olds, Media A-Level students and also for anyone generally interested in Netflix-style long form TV dramas, film, and the issues around the production and global appeal of this type of drama. OCR A-Level Media Studies Teachers should find the workbook useful as it gives students an opportunity to work independently on a range of activities. The study pack is also intended to be a useful revision resource. I have also done a booklet on Episode 1 of Deutschland 83, a different but equally fascinating series which allows a comparison between English language and non-English language products.

A French/English pantomime-style play, based on Snow White. Written by Jon Meier. Lots of humour and great fun. Set against a background of 7 reporters covering a news story of trapped miners. Of course it ends happily! Most of the dialogue is in English but there’s plenty of French, repeated and reinforced visually. Suitable for ages 8-14. Duration around 30 mins. 17 in the cast (scope for flexibility, sharing and doubling of roles). Minimum 17, max 22 Others can be used for sound, props, poster and programme design etc Can be worked on in 1 day (with scripts) – intensive work with a scripted performance at the end of the day. Show in assembly or at a languages celebration event or just have fun reading it through. Ideal for a language/ drama festival competition. It could fill a few weeks of lunchtime and after school French clubs. Sixth-formers could also help out. Language is visual and contextualised. Audience will also understand it as the story is familiar and the French is explained. This full script version contains details of props and sound cues, with links to downloadable sound effects. Vocabulary lists are also included with the script showing the vocabulary on each page. A 4 page extract of the opening scene is also available as a free taster. __________________________________________________________________________ Blanche Neige sound files - I’m not allowed to make these available as an external link. A keen pupil could work on these, perhaps a pupil who doesn’t want a speaking part. _____________________________________________________________________________ You may also be interested in my version of Cinderella: ‘Cindy va à Hollywood’ (ages 7-14) or Petit Chaperon Rouge, Little Red Riding Hood (ages 7-11)

A fairly easy French ‘Call My Bluff’ quiz on False Friends. Contains fairly common, basic misleading high-frequency words (false cognates). Good for an end of term activity. Could be done as a form or inter-form competition. 25 questions: 5 easy, 5 a bit less easy, 5 slightly harder + 10 harder. Suitable for 9-14 year olds. As well as the main Powerpoint, you get: a blank answer grid for pupils, the answer sheet for marking. The answers are also on the final Powerpoint slide. Slide 28 also contains a link to a Kahoot version of the same quiz. You could run the Kahoot quiz as a recap or reward activity once you’ve been through the answers.

A quiz worksheet on 25 famous brands with literal French translations. e.g. Paixverte - Greenpeace Features partial logo clues (easy version) or definitions (harder). Suitable for all levels. An end of term activity or a refreshing break from the exam grind. The resource contains 3 versions of the questions, answer sheets, vocabulary follow-up and extension .

Keep Fit French French ‘read and dance’. A fun and original kinesthetic reading activity. Devised by Jon Meier in 2012. In response to popular demand, I’ve finally uploaded this resource after running it for a few years with pupils at various schools and on MFL staff training workshops. Create a folder called Keep Fit French. Make sure you download both the Powerpoint and the background music file. Put both files in the folder. For the best collective experience you ideally need a group of about 8 to 20 people. Target group: 9-12 year olds and/or youthful French teachers. Test the Powerpoint – the music should play automatically from slide 5. If you can’t hear it, check your volume settings. *If the music is still not playing, see instructions at the bottom of this box. Everyone needs to be standing to do this. Spread out. Run the Powerpoint . Music should play automatically from slide 5 onwards. Read the phrase to yourself, and take one step in the direction of the correct picture. A step can be forwards, backwards, left, right or diagonally. Then step back to your starting position. Simple. Always remember to step back to your starting position The entire dance takes about 4 minutes. We’ve run this as an annual y7 pre-Christmas dance-off contest. Would also be good as a lunchtime fitness activity or ‘Sports Relief’ language event. _____________ *If the music does not play: Look at slide 5, check that the music file has been correctly inserted. Check the filename and pathname. It depends where you have put the folder. You may need to help Powerpoint to find the music file or you could reinsert it. Ensure that the sound is set to ‘start automatically’ and ‘play across slides’

A French/English pantomime-style play, based on Little Red Riding Hood Written by Jon Meier. Lots of humour and great fun - especially the Wolf whose favourite song is Shaggy’s Boombastic Most of the dialogue is in English but there’s plenty of French, repeated and reinforced visually. Suitable for ages 7-11. Duration around 25 mins. About 14 in the cast (scope for flexibility, sharing and doubling of roles). This includes some non-speaking roles. Others can be used for sound, props, poster and programme design etc Can be worked on in 1 day (with scripts) – intensive work with a scripted performance at the end of the day. Show in assembly or at a languages celebration event or just have fun reading it through. Ideal for a language/ drama festival competition. It could fill a few weeks of lunchtime and after school French clubs. Sixth-formers could help out. Language is visual and contextualised. Audience will also understand it as the story is familiar and the French is explained. This script contains details of props and sound effects, with links to downloadable sound effects. Vocabulary lists are also included with the script showing the vocabulary on each page. A 4 page extract of the opening scene is also available as a free taster. ___________________________________________________________________________ Petit Chaperon sound files - details and links are in the script _______________________________________________________________________________ You may also be interested in similar texts for older pupils: my version of Cinderella - Cindy va à Hollywood and Snow White - ‘Blanche Neige et les Sept Reporters’

A 14-page booklet based around the film ‘La Maison du Bonheur’ (Boon, 2006) The activities are graded by difficulty , and are suitable for a range of pupils from 14 upwards. The film’s themes also appeal to older learners - (debt, the dream of house ownership, marital love, work-pressures, suspect estate-agents and unreliable workmen) There is also an observational quiz section which could be done as a class competition. The resource could be given to pupils as a three week study/project module. The booklet (14 pages) includes a two-page glossary and an answer section. The observation quiz sections can be done orally or in writing. The focus is in English to give all pupils an opportunity to show their often exceptional powers of observation. These sections work well as a class game – one side of the room against the other or boys v girls. They are a good way to keep less motivated pupils engaged. Vocabulary from the quiz is followed-up in subsequent activities. The quiz is a discrete opportunity to contextualize vocabulary. Look out for other UFTEL (Using Film to Explore Language) booklets written by Jon Meier. Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis Taxi 1 Un Chat à Paris Mr Bean’s Holiday

A starter activity or full lesson based on Evian Baby Me Commercial 2013. The starter activity is the first task. The resource contains a number of follow-up activities. The clip is available on Youtube Suitable for ages 12+ Included also: An answer sheet, an extension idea and vocabulary sheet. There’s enough material here for a lesson starter or it can be extended to a full lesson. A great piece of film-making. Pupils are also directed to watch the ‘Making of’ clip. Video clips are ideal for ‘Pause pounce predict and bounce questioning’ UFTEL Resources - Using Film To Explore Language - help to contextualize vocabulary, celebrate the art of good film-making and channel pupils’ visual and observational skills.

4 pages of activities based around famous brands, logos and their literal German translations. The resource includes answers to all the activities. Differentiated activities suitable for near-beginners up to more advanced learners. A fun filler activity. A nice end of term or start of term resource. A distraction from the assessment grind.

A booklet of differentiated activities in French, based around the 6 minute short film 'Quais de Seine by Gurinder Chadha. This charming short film made in 2006 by the female director of ‘Bend it Like Beckham’, ‘Quais de Seine’ is a 6 minute section of a longer film called ‘Paris Je t’aime’, a series of chapters set in various districts (arrondissements) of Paris. It is a simple, self-contained story full of ideas about race, sexism, prejudice, integration and friendship. The film is ideal for Years 10 to 13. Available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLL4ogfxvss The film is ideal for luring your Year 10 and 11 pupils towards French A-Level. The booklet consists of 7 basic level activities (GCSE level) 10 more advanced activities (A-Level) Plus an answer section for cover teachers. There is a useful ALE (A Level Essentials) section with killer essay language which can be used in work about racism and intolerance. ______________________________________________________________ The resource is another UFTELL tool: Using Film to Enthuse Language learners. Using Film to Enhance Language-Learning _______________________________________________________________________ This activity booklet could easily provide 2 weeks of lesson material. Remember: You don't need to buy the film - it's on Youtube and it's only 6 minutes long. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLL4ogfxvss

A set of activities about the compelling 8 minute French film 'French Roast'. (Joubert 2008) The film can be seen on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbFhATUfuow Although it only contains about 4 words of dialogue, the film provides plenty of scope to explore vocabulary and discuss aspects of French culture. It is also a good introduction to debates about prejudice. Suitable for 12-17 year olds. The material could be covered over 2 or 3 lessons plus a homework. Pupils could also use the booklet for independent study or project work. The booklet consists of 4 pages of activities which progress from basic observational vocabulary questions to more complex tasks about its message and techniques. There is also a film review scaffold which pupils can adapt. Answers are also provided. Do not copy these for the pupils! Another UFTEL resource (using Film to Explore Language). A must for anyone who loves film and France.