Chucky Mama Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 YS (13) is going back into year 9 in September and wants to do some work on his French at home. He says that he had either cover teachers or a teacher that wasn't great last year and learned nothing Not really good enough I know, especially being in the top set Anyway, he will be taking French as an option at GCSE and doesn't want to be behind. Does anyone have any tips on good resources to use at home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 YS (13) is going back into year 9 in September and wants to do some work on his French at home. He says that he had either cover teachers or a teacher that wasn't great last year and learned nothing Not really good enough I know, especially being in the top set Anyway, he will be taking French as an option at GCSE and doesn't want to be behind. Does anyone have any tips on good resources to use at home? We used a website based at a university in the US when I did french at A-level, I'll try and find it, it was developed as a teaching resource. Give me a few minutes! Found it! http://www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/ brilliant, get him some headphones, they'll come in very handy. It's a very good resource, as like I said, we were still using it at AS and A2! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I've just learnt my french from school, but he could use linguascope (an online program) if the school have bought it, as you need a password/ login from the school to access it. You could try using kids chatrooms, changing websites into french (which you can do on Omlet, for example) perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 If he needs any help perhaps I might be able to a little . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I've just learnt my french from school, but he could use linguascope (an online program) if the school have bought it, as you need a password/ login from the school to access it. I thought about that but can't remember the password or username I'll have a think because that was good for Spanish vocab. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 When I was studying French ( way back in the olden days) I used to buy French magazines ( there's French equivalent of OK magazine) and newspapers. If you can get French tv thats also a help (I used to be able to pick it up as I lived so close to the coast). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 24, 2011 Author Share Posted August 24, 2011 Thanks all, some good tips especially the weblink squiffs. I just remembered that I have some Asterix books somewhere that I used for ES when he got bored in French is Year 7, I'll go and dig them out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Rosie is the same age and doing French too, she recommends Linguascope or Languagesonline.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisP Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I used linguascope as well when I did my GCSE's, quite a few years ago! I was very useful! Does the school have a french exchange programme? That proved very useful as well! Finally, I struggled at french a bit, and got a bit of tutoring outside of school for my french speaking. As this improved, so did the rest of my french, because it made the reading and write sides of it much simpler. Could this be something to look into? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 Yes, see if you can find a friendly French speaker for him to spend some time with - we have a French neighbour who does this in her spare time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted August 24, 2011 Share Posted August 24, 2011 I remember for GCSE French + German we used, Linguascope, S-cool and there was a RGSHW languages website we used to use all the time that was good but googling it I can't find it! Looks like its changed to this: http://www.languagesonline.org.uk This list may help too? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 I have to admit, when I was at high school, we didn't use anything software-wise to learn languages. Just textbooks and dodgy videos! (and I only finished my GCSEs in 2005, so I'm not talking back in the dark ages ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 25, 2011 Share Posted August 25, 2011 when I did languages at O Level, computers were still the size of rooms and programmed in binary code! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 what about Babbel? you get some courses free, but you have to pay if you want to do it properly. its helping me loads with swedish at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted August 30, 2011 Author Share Posted August 30, 2011 I'll have a look. I managed to pick up a brand new Linguaphone course at a car boot sale for £3 at the weekend. Don't know how good it will be but I can't resist a bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pips_pekins Posted August 30, 2011 Share Posted August 30, 2011 Hi. Have you tried BBC Bitesize? DS didn't do French so not sure what or how good it is for that subject I'm afraid but might have something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squiffs Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 Hi. Have you tried BBC Bitesize? DS didn't do French so not sure what or how good it is for that subject I'm afraid but might have something. I found BBC Bitesize quite good for french, and a bit naff for german! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted August 31, 2011 Share Posted August 31, 2011 what about Babbel? you get some courses free, but you have to pay if you want to do it properly. its helping me loads with swedish at the moment. Babbel is brillient , it's like Rosetta Stone but cheaper! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
