Jan Lewandowski

The Language Show at Olympia (31st Oct)

The Language Show does not necessarily attract teachers from the Primary sector as it also features secondary, higher and business recruitment.  Nevertheless, as a regular visitor, I’ve noticed that gradually more exhibitors are offering resources for Primary.

Here is a selection (in alphabetical order) of just some of the exhibitors and resources that I came across; for a full list visit ……

The Basque Government had a stand; they have language brochures and badges are available which might be useful for Spanish/multi-lingual/language days or European Day of Languages.

BBC Active

The Primary French course Primary French is Fun 1 - Let’s Begin (age 7-11) has been updated with a new section to bring it into line with the QCA scheme of work.  It may be useful for all those schools who are busy finding resources to fit the scheme of work; it might save reinventing the wheel!  To be published very soon.

Beelingua

I was delighted to see that Val Thornber has a new resource about to be published which will replace ‘Little Tales of the Unexpected’

GrowStoryGrow is to be published in March and seems to tick an awful lot of boxes.  I chatted with Valerie Thornber, the author, for some time; this resource must have been a marathon effort and a real labour of love.  Here’s the summary from the Language Show catalogue:

‘GrowStoryGrow is our new multilingual, multi-themed, multi-skilled, multi-levelled and multi-storied website.  It is very simple to use: choose a language (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Urdu, Mandarin, Arabic), choose a story (The Plant Cycle, The Solar System, The Tudors), choose a level (there are four) and go.’

This resource could work on sorts of levels, nit least to complement the QCA SOW.  Watch this space for more information as it becomes available.

Bilingual Games

This company, which I think is new, is offering Français Snap which might be useful for odd moments outside normal lesson times or for wet play activities etc.  I’ve asked for samples to check the resource out for myself and to evaluate it for the classroom.

Brilliant Publications

I’ve been familiar with the resources produced by Brilliant Publications for a long time now; they have a broad catalogue of publications in French, German, Spanish and Italian, most of which are suitable for non-specialists in KS2.  They are one of the few publishers who have produced specific material for KS1; ‘J’aime parler’ and ‘J’aime chanter’  are useful and not too expensive.  They also avoid using the same material which you might want to use in KS2.

Chinese Made Easy

CME Books Europe are the producers of Chinese Made Easy for Kids series.
Sorry to say I know no Chinese but find the language and culture fascinating. The company can also supply posters, flashcards, DVDs, word cards and reward stickers; all of which might be useful for language days / European Day of Languages.

The Consejería De Educacíon

The Consejería  is becoming more geared up to Primary languages and provides online and CPD support resources, a good song CD, posters etc.  I’ve always found them very helpful, particularly for some of my festivals workshops.  The URL is certainly not the most catchy or obvious!  Here’s a contact name if that helps: isabel.mateos@mepsyd.es

European Schoolbooks Ltd

Had a very big stand at the Language Show where it was possible to browse an extensive collection of story books for KS2 MFL.  Most were for French still, but there was also an increased range for Spanish (for which there is a big demand) and other languages.  I’m a regular visitor at the European Bookshop (part of European Schoolbooks) in Warwick St., just off Regent St., in London; well worth a visit if you are in town.  European Schoolbooks seems to have pretty much cornered the market in importing foreign language story books for KS2; they also stock the titles and CDs etc that complements the Catherine Cheater schemes of work and the Jolie Ronde schemes of work for French and Spanish.

Some teachers don’t seem to realise that the books will complement most other schemes of work, and in particular the ‘Mon Ane’ DVD is a useful resource for anyone teaching French and is actually produced by Folimage.

I really recommend that teachers have a good look at story books before they buy to check that the language level is appropriate for their classes and for their own personal language level; buying books ‘cold’ can be very expensive.

I’ve run workshops in ‘Stories and Big Books’ and will be doing so again at the Comenius East Conference on 26th November.

More to follow ………………

La Poste in France has just issued a pack of 2 ready-stamped postcards which is ideal for primary children to send back to home &/or school in the UK.

It looks really easy to complete in simple language with boxes to tick for the weather and word and symbol stickers to add. Price 4,20 €

I’m off to France soon so will buy a pack and send one to myself; that leaves one spare, anybody want me to send them the other one? I promise to fill it in in very simple French so your class can read it easily. You’ll need to send an address!

If you’re considering organising a school trip, Rouen is another great place to visit. Packed with interesting historical and artistic associations: Joan of Arc (Jeanne d’Arc) was burned at the stake there and Monet painted the famous cathedral at many different times of day. If you can’t get to Rouen in person, you might like to take a look at this illustrated alphabet which uses a collage technique taken from an XV Century tapestry from the Bibliotheque Municipal in Rouen.

I contacted the designer Virgile Laguin who was very happy to let me use the illustration on this site. I love his original, quirky, innovative work; so many educational websites are just plain ugly! (Sorry personal rant over). I don’t suggest you use the alphabet all in one go in its entirety but for the odd five minute now and again I think it’s a winner! You’ll need to explain some of the words here and there and possibly some of the humour, but this is a ‘sophisticated’ little resource which might appeal to Year 6 or work as a resource for secondary transition and it has plenty of potential to form the basis of some creative arts and/or language work.

Picking up on a post that Jo Rhys-Jones put up on primarymfl.ning about aliens (thanks Jo! Lots of really useful ideas and links) I thought I’d do a bit of research on UFOs. In French and Spanish a UFO is known as an OVNI (Objet Volant Non-Identifié) which is pretty much the same as UFO, but of course the word order is different. Take a look at this video ‘Invasion alien sur Arcachon!’, which is actually an advert for a SATNAV

(Q: What’s a SATNAV in French then? A: GPS still, I think)

Probably this is one for the teachers or secondary students but you might (just) get away with it if you explain ‘pipi’ – the children are always very quick to learn words for bodily functions! You could also tell them about Arcachon and La Dune de Pyla, the highest sand dune in Europe. I thought the video was very funny and took ‘intercultural understanding’ to a whole new dimension!

(BTW – ‘une soucoupe volante’ is a flying saucer but I expect you’d worked that out already)

Many are the school visits I’ve run to Normandy and a favourite day trip has always been to the Bayeux Tapestry or as the French call it ‘La Tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde’. I’m always astounded by the length, skill and detail of the tapestry and how you go round a corner and there’s yet more and more. The children are usually equally interested, especially after they’ve seen the excellent presentation beforehand. One year, a boy in my class wanted a particularly close look at the tapestry as apparently one of his ancestors was in it! He must have had precise instructions from his mum as to where to find the said ancestor but still we managed to miss him (not surprising really as he was one of the many dead and injured scattered around the battlefield.

Anyway, I was allowed to accompany my pupil along the tapestry one more time and this time we found him! It really brought history to life for us and his mum was really pleased that we’d found the ancestor. There’s a fantastic video of the Bayeux Tapestry. It’s in English but would be really good for doing some cross-curricular work. Do take a look!

Photo by Aldor

Look very carefully at the rear view of this statue and you will see ‘un petit poisson’.

On April Fool’s Day in France it is traditional to stick a paper fish onto the back of the unsuspecting victim who then, with luck, spends the rest of the day with the fish on his/her back.

Last year ‘Petit Bateau‘, the children’s clothing retailer had an advertising campaign with card little fish in various colours and patterns. I collected a whole stack of them in Belgium and then gave them away as freebies at the RSG in Worcester.

It’s easy for children to make their own fish and bring an extra element of fun to the lesson. Also a good opportunity to emphasise ‘premier’ when you are teaching months and dates.

Joyeuse Fête!

I came across this little song video today from French theatre company Les2vents

If there is a problem with buffering go straight to YouTube.

My last post should, of course, have included catalan as a tag! I’ve rectified that now.

I’ve enjoyed many visits to Catalunya and although Spanish gets me by it’s always interesting to compare and contrast the two languages.

You can get a free, comprehensive and beautifully illustrated Catalan language guide called `Vocabulari en imatges‘ from the Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de la Presidencia, Secretaria de Politica Linguistica. You can download it, complete with multilingual translations, directly from the site or email spl.presidencia@gencat.net direct to obtain the paper version. Worth it!

You can also get a Catalan verb wheel, if you are so inclined, from www.llull.ca

I got my book and verb wheel from The Language Show last November, look out for yours next year.

I see Aldi are selling packets of mix for Crema Catalana from this Sunday. £1.29 a packet serves 4. Might work out a little expensive for the whole class but good for teacher treats. Delicioso!

Seriously though ,when I’m running workshops around the country the issue about giving foreign foods etc. to children is something that leads to a lot of discussion. Policies seem to vary from one LA to another. One teacher I met was not allowed to give her class anything at all; in another LA they are allowed to make exceptions so that children can experience`foreign food’. Other schools check with their caterers beforehand. If in doubt, probably the best policy is the latter.

As eating and drinking are inextricable from the whole inter-cultural experience it would be good to have a definitive policy that one can quote before planning any treat.

Anybody know of a standard policy? What happens in your LA?

You just can’t help but notice that French handwriting looks different to the style of handwriting we have in this country. You may well have put this down to the type of lined paper that they have in their exercise books but there is a lot more to it than that.

Graphisme is what it is all about, a concept that is particularly difficult to explain in just a few words. Fortunately Teachers’ TV has just produced a video all about it and what’s more it is in mainly in French (with sub-titles):

www.teachers.tv/video/24021

Excellent viewing which explains a lot about the French Education system by taking you into the classroom.

Incidentally cheap French exercise books, bought in the hypermarket, make great prizes in our classrooms and children sometimes enjoy practising `French’ handwriting. You can even purchase pre-printed books of exercises which parents in France buy to help their children with graphisme.

All good for inter-cultural understanding !