Showing posts with label French language. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French language. Show all posts

Tuesday, 19 March 2013

French Quiz For Children

Find the correct answer for each question and, send them to me at languageresources@btinternet.com - subject: French Quiz. One of you will receive a beautifully illustrated French Poster with Pronunciation on a voice recording.

The answers will be posted on Saturday.

1) What does "Noir" mean?

     -  blue
     -  yellow
     -  black
     -  pink

2) When it is cold, what do you wear?

     - un manteau
     - une casquette
     - un short
     - des sandales

3) Le/La. Which one of these animals is feminine (la).

     - canard
     - vache
     - mouton
     - cheval

4) Which number is missing? douze, ----------------?, quatorze.

     - seize
     - treize
     - huit
     - vingt

5) Which one is a fruit?

     - la poire
     - le pain
     - le fromage
     - l'oeuf

6) When you meet someone in the morning, do you say?

     - bonsoir
     - bonne nuit
     - au revoir
     - bonjour

7) Where do you sleep at night?

      - dans la cuisine
      - dans la chambre
      - dans la salle de bains
      - dans le jardin


Thank you for taking part.

Bonne chance



 
Illustrated Poster
 
with
 
Pronunciation

Tuesday, 12 March 2013

Introduce French Words to Children with Flashcards

Flashcards can help you or your family,
 
to
 
·         Quickly touch up or add to your French vocabulary



            ·          Prepare for a trip to France or a French class
 
·        learn something fun, new and useful


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Tuesday, 26 February 2013

What do I write to my French pen pal?

What a great way to practice your writing in French by writing to a French language pen pal!

But even when you are learning French, it is still hard to get started on your letter/email because you want to make a good first impression and you want your new pen pal to be interested in writing back to you in the French language.  You should know that everybody has trouble getting started when writing a letter or email.

If you are writing in French to someone who is close to your age, they will probably be interested in some of the same things that you are.  Try to think about what you would want to know about your French language pen pal.



If you ask your French language pen pal some questions in your letter, it will be easier for them to get started when they write back to you.

Here are some ideas to get you started writing in French:
§  Let your pen pal know who you are and why you are writing to them.  Tell them your first name or and your nickname if you have one and that you are learning French.

§  Explain where you found their name and email or street address, so they understand that you are serious about finding a pen pal.

§  Next, tell them your age, and if you are a boy or girl and what country you live in.

§  Write a little information about your neighborhood – for instance do you live in a busy city or in the country or somewhere in between.

§  Talk a little bit about your family – do you have brothers and sisters? – list their names and how old they are.

§  Share with them any hobbies you have or talk about what you like to do in your spare time – maybe you enjoy video games or reading.  Give your French language pen pal some details, like what are your favorite games or books.

§  Ask them if they have a pet – if you have a pet, tell them about it.

§  If there is a sport that you like you can talk a little about that and ask them if they play sports.

§  Things in your everyday life will be interesting to your pen pal.  You can talk about your favorite color, your favorite music or what you like best or least at school.

§  Trips or vacations are another topic you can add to your writing in French.  Have you been on a trip or do you plan to go on vacation?

To end your letter it is best to use something friendly in French language of course, but not too friendly – remember you are just getting to know each other.  Something like “your new friend” or “Cheers” is better than “Love”.
MOST IMPORTANT especially if you are emailing is to keep safety in mind.  Likely your parents and teachers have talked about safety online.  It is a good idea to let your parents know that you are writing in French to a new pen pal and let them look over your letter.


 



 

Thursday, 31 January 2013

Educational Tools for Learning French Language Skills

Children learning French language skills may sometimes struggle to remember French vocabulary. Having the appropriate words to communicate is what learning a new language is all about. One of the ways in which teachers help their students to memorize basic vocabulary is through the use of worksheets.
 
Children have a limited attention span and so they need short, interesting lessons. Illustrated worksheets with fun exercises that children can work through do just that, Kids gain practice in using the French words correctly. The exercises are enjoyable to do and effective in teaching important French vocabulary.


Colour Worksheets

 

Wednesday, 23 January 2013

Learning French words with mime/gesture

Teaching professionals agree that learning French or any other language is a verbal and auditory exercise.  You need to hear and speak the sounds when you are learning French words for example.

Learning styles have an impact on what and how we teach. Understanding strategies for teaching visual learners can help your Learning French Language students get the most out of your French language classes.

The challenge is that the majority of students are visual learners, so it is important to use a system that will provide visual cues or prompts to aid the memory of visual learners.  Just think of the expressions we use:


§  Let's look at it differently.

§  See how this works for you.

§  I can't quite picture it.
 
                  § Let's draw a picture or map.

For those who are teaching French words to visual learners you should use images, pictures, color and other visual aids to help students learn.

All children love to role play, so you could consider using gestures and mime in training your students in Learning French Language.   Here are some examples you could use:


-          When you say “good-bye” always wave

-          When  you say “sit down” you should use a gesture

-          Or if you say “be quiet” you can put your finger to your lips

To get the whole class involved, you could have French words for emotions on flash cards and as you hold up each card the students say the word and also gesture the emotion.  For instance, “happy” – everyone could smile, “sad” – everyone could frown.

 Students could also act out a story so they can associate the gestures with the words they are learning.

 
The most important thing to remember when using mime and gestures to students learning French is to be consistent, use them every time you say the words.  Practice makes perfect and it makes learning more fun.

 

Friday, 18 January 2013

Some French Expressions made with Vegetables and Fruits



Faire le poireauTo wait without moving



En avoir gros sur la patate To be deeply upset or to bear a grudge
 

Tomber dans les pommesTo faint
 

Ramener sa fraiseTo intervene during converstion without justification

      S’occuper de ses oignonsTo mind its own business
 

Ne plus avoir un radis To be broke
 

C’est la fin des haricotsThe end of everything
 
Etre haut comme trois pommesTo be small
                               

 Etre rouge comme une tomateTo be blushful or flushed  


 
Avoir les jambes en compoteTo have aching legs after long walk for example
 
 
 Couper la poire en deuxTo find a compromise

 

Avoir un cœur d'artichautTo fall easily in love
 

Avoir la ligne haricot vertTo be a tall and slim
 

 
Être un cornichonTo be an idiot
 
 
La cerise sur le gâteauThe best of everything
 


Mettre du beurre dans les épinardsTo improve one’s quality of life
 
 
Raconter des saladesTo tell lies
 
 
 
Se fendre la poireTo laugh heartily



Une purée de poisA very thick fog
 


Friday, 28 December 2012

Learning French for Beginners Should Include Lots of Practice

Don't underestimate the challenge of learning french for beginners. It may not take too long to be able to say hello and goodbye, but if you want to be able to communicate anything useful, it is going to take practice. Repetition is the key to remembering new words and phrases.


 At first you will be mentally translating all your words from English to French. But with enough practice, you will start to skip the mental translation process, and you'll be able to speak or respond fluently in basic situations. It's a good idea to listen to French radio or watch French television shows, if they are available. Even if you don't understand ninety percent of what is said, just hearing French will get you familiar with the cadence and tones of the language. A new language always sounds like undifferentiated gibberish in the beginning, but the more you listen to it the more you will pick out separate words.

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

Impress Your Friends With Your French Language Skills


As the world becomes a smaller place and people cutting across different demographics and cultures come together across various walks of life, learning a new language can be an extremely utilitarian and exhilarating experience. There was a time when knowing different languages was only reserved for those who had a passion for it and these people also basked in the glory of their knowledge. Over the course of modern times, learning French language often became a hobby for some and a requisite for others. While it is true that people get compelled to learn a new language only when they have a passion or are required to do so, yet it is also a fact that mastering French language skills can be a fun experience.
 
We live in a global village today where travelling to foreign countries, having friends from various demographics and also blending in various cultures into our lifestyle to make it even more happening are not considered exceptions but an instance of the paradigm shift towards being a citizen of the world. Very few people would have no friends from France and very few people would not wish to explore France during Christmas. It is not that people in France do not know English but it certainly helps when you know the French language.


Consider a scenario where you are hosting a few friends at a Christmas party or are about to meet your French friends at a gathering. It will be an amazing idea to impress them with your French language skills. Albeit you do not need to get a Masters in French literature but knowing how to speak, listen to and correspond can be thrilling enough.

If you are visiting France anytime soon, for Christmas or for some other reason, knowing the French language would be immensely helpful. When in Paris, you would perhaps find most people being able to speak and correspond in English but as you go farther from Paris and explore the country sides, small towns and villages, you would need the help of your French language skills. Foreign tourists in France were predominantly restricted to Paris but the real picturesque France and the true essence of French culture can be best experienced when you hit the road and explore the small towns and remote areas.
 
French language is also one of the sweetest languages in the world and learning it can be a very fulfilling experience.
 




Monday, 26 November 2012

How Popular is the French Language?

When people consider learning a second language, one that pops up more often than others is the French language. Not only is French one of the popular romance languages, which also includes Spanish and Italian, but it is extremely pleasing to the ear when spoken. People all over the world love to hear it spoken aloud, and from high schools to universities, French is offered and taught to thousands of students each year. Adults who decide to learn a second language often choose French because of its pleasant phonetic sounds, but are there other reasons that people decide to learn it? From business to pleasure and beyond, there are many reasons why millions of people all over the world have chosen to learn the language of love.

Nearly eighty million people in the world speak French, and it is among the most popular modern languages spoken today. Not only is the French language spoken throughout Europe, but it also widely spoken throughout Canada and even in some places in the U.S. (such as New Orleans, where the French language gave birth to the Creole culture). Nearly thirty countries all over the world have chosen French as their official language, as have over a dozen dependent territories, so it is easy to see that it is not only beloved in its native land, but around the globe as well. This is probably why so many people choose it as their second language—it is well-known in many places, and it is a very useful language to know when traveling. People who become fluent in French have a definite advantage because it is more of a universal language than an obscure one. If they become lost while abroad, the chances that they will find someone who speaks French in order to ask them for help is much better than it would be of finding someone who speaks Mandarin or Japanese.

The French language is also one of the fast-growing business languages in the world. French is becoming more popular in America along the Canadian border as Americans look to their neighbors in the north for employment. Nearly a quarter of the Canadian populace speaks French, and this would be a definite advantage to anyone traveling there for the purpose of finding a job. From fun to business and so much more, the French language is one of the most popular in the world, with more and more people learning the language of love each and every day.




 
 

Monday, 12 November 2012

Learning French Language

If you are looking for ways of learning French Language, then you’re at the right track. Language is the key for human beings to communicate. Communication is an integral part of the society. Going back to the start of the human race, we have always tried to find ways on how to communicate. Our ancestors even wrote these communicated languages in different forms like the hieroglyphics to save these important moments. But why is communication important?

As our society grows, so is the ways we communicate. Our language grew differently apart based on our location on the planet. English is the international language that we have right now. However, learning the French language is not that bad of a deal. Learning a new language is said to increase your intelligence. Also, learning French is a very good investment if you are planning to take vacations to Europe, especially in France. There are so many countries that have French as its first or even secondary language. French is the first language in France, Wallonia and Brussels, Monaco, Romandy in Switzerland, other countries in Africa, the Acadia region in Canada, and by various countries all over the world.
 


So, if you are planning to travel the world, French is one of the key languages you NEED to learn. Learning the French language is not a boring activity. The French language is very interesting. As it has its roots from Spanish and Italian languages, French is a flowing language that is very smooth in the ear. Many of the French words originated from the Vulgar Latin and were constructed from Latin or Greek roots.


As discussed above, one of the advantages of the French language is its use all over the world. With so many people speaking it, you can communicate with most people as well. If you are going to choose a second language to learn, French is a very practical language you can use. Next to English, French is one of the most popular languages in the world.
 
For parents who want to have their child learn another language, they should keep some keynotes in mind. For whatever your reason is for choosing another language for your child, you must also be able to determine the best language to learn. There are so many advantages in making your child learn another language, one is for travelling. However, there could be perks like interviews in college admissions. If you think that is still far from the future, then you are wrong. Children learn faster than adults. Even babies can recognize a different language from another.
Selecting a secondary language is like picking a class. So, you should focus more on the benefits that this language would give you. You must also take in mind that enjoying the class would deeply help your child in learning this new language. French is an intricate but fun language to learn. There are also differences in the letters that they use. So, if you are interested in learning the French language, you must get the best coach to help you with that.

 




 

Monday, 29 October 2012

Learning French For Kids Through Music


Are you aware of the fact that learning French for kids is easier when they learn the language through songs and music? The fact is that kids easily catch, memorize, and understand a song especially when they tend to sing it by heart. This will then allow them to have an attachment to the song, allowing them to naturally understand what they are singing.

In the tender years of a child, teachers and parents work hand in hand to teach children nursery rhymes and repetitive songs to the kids. By doing so, this will allow the kids to have a quick grasp of their language or native tongue. With this kind of technique, you will know that this is truly one of the oldest techniques imposed by many language educators even to these days.

And since children simply adore singing songs, they can easily memorize them even in just a short span of time. Because of this, learning a particular language through songs has become a favorite technique of children. As a matter of fact, it is considered by many language professionals as the most effective way by which one can learn a particular language.

The French language can be a very challenging thing to learn. Even when it is related to the development of the universal language which is English, both have distinct speech patterns, basic sounds, and syntax rules. Because of this, language experts consider learning French for kids can be easily done and achieved through songs and music.

One great advantage of learning a new language like French is that your voice used in singing is not as confined to your native tongue as is in your voice which you use for speaking. Because of this reality, you can easily tell that a singer mainly sings without following the accents of the given words or lyrics. Obviously, these lyrics or words are plainly recited as the song’s melody, diction, and meter require.

Because of the singing structure which is mainly different from speaking structure, it is much easier for everyone particularly children to learn a difficult language like French. When a child listens to a song and has decided to learn how to sing it, this would allow him to have an easier grasp of the language until such time that he is capable of understanding and interpreting the song word by word.

French actually comes with many different words and finding an occasion to use them frequently is hard. In this regard, when you sing a French song, you will have the best time singing them casually, allowing you to remember them most of the time. As of the students learning the language, it will be much easier for them to remember the words taught to them. And when the French language is taught through music or songs, it will be easier for them to recall.

So if you want your child to learn the French language, keep in mind that learning French for kids through music or songs is truly the best way for you and your child to do it.