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Archive for the ‘French Grammar’ Category

Culture is something intangible, abstract but pervasive. It is therefore not surprising that it also tinges the holidays, even those that are internationally recognized and celebrated, giving them a local flavor everywhere and consequently raise their interest. In addition to dealing with some peculiarities of the French language with respect to Easter, this article also addresses the way this holiday is emphasized in France.

Le Portail Linguistique du Canada (Language Portal of Canada) devotes an article to Easter. Among other things, it examines the origins of this religious feast and the customs that surround it. It also gives an explanation of the spelling of the word Pâque(s), the gender, number and articles associated with it. Finally, some French proverbs of this celebration are displayed on the page along with their meanings. In French only. http://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/bien-well/fra-eng/vocabulaire-vocabulary/paques-easter-fra.html

To increase awareness of French culture, the site LoveToKnow presents an article entitled “ How Do the French Celebrate Easter “ and offers an overview of the games, holidays, and customs surrounding the celebration, focusing on traditional dishes that are prepared and served at that time. In English only.

http://french.lovetoknow.com/How_Do_the_French_Celebrate_Easter

CLÉ (Le Centre Linguistique pour Étrangers de Tours, en France – Linguistic Centre for Foreigners of Tours, France) proposes a linguistic and cultural exercise for which the two preceding articles will have prepared you. This article is a fill-in-the-blank test about the traditions surrounding the feast of Easter in France. Multiple-choices for answers are presented with each statement to allow you to test your spelling and grammar knowledge while familiarizing yourself with this aspect of French culture.  http://www.cle.fr/centre_linguistique-fr-idm-105-n-Exercices-idh-71.html

Happy Easter !

This week, we present to you resources on French grammar developed by Hong Kong University’s French teaching team. They are recommended to early learners of French, but more advanced students can also find them useful.

Structures is an audio grammar aiming to help students to enhance their understanding of the basic language structures and to improve their accuracy in terms of communicative skills. The objective of this series of 12 tutorials is to summarize a range of essential grammatical aspects which play a central role in the early stages of the learning of French. The various cases are approached in a descriptive way, with an emphasis on illustrative examples rather than prescriptive rules.

http://www.hku.hk/french/starters/structures/structures_main.htm

French Grammar Online is a French grammar written in English whose visual presentation is nice and original. Click on the shopping street’s flags, lampposts or street signs to discover the general rules that apply to the domain of the verb, to the noun, the adverb, the adjective, the pronoun, the article, the preposition and the comparative.

http://www.hku.hk/french/grammar/grammar.swf

Hong Kong University also presents the Online Grammar Exercises, a beginner-level series of self-corrected activities which include notably articles, determinants, gender and number, adjectives, pronouns, the affirmative form, the interrogative form, the negative form, prepositions, verbs and the comparative. Requires Internet Explorer.

http://www.hku.hk/french/gramex/beg/

Have a nice week!

This article presents companion sites to methods for learning French. These four sites have several things in common : they are all intended for adult learners at the beginner level, they complete textbooks published by Pearson, and they offer a surprising number of resources and activities that will surely help you improve your French.

Here is a link to the online study guide of the textbook Chez nous: Branché sur le monde francophone. It contains 12 chapters and an introduction, each composed of three elements. « Audio Resources » lets you hear the lessons, their vocabulary and get the student activities manual audio. « Practice » lets you try auto-corrected activities, play with Flashcards or a Soccer Game to check your understanding of each lesson’s vocabulary and grammar presentation.

The « Web Resources » element is divided into four sections : first, the « Textbook and Student Activities Manual » exercises, followed by « Web-Based Activities » as Surfons sur Internet (let’sbrowse the Internet) that includes topics related to the chapter theme and Venez chez nous (come to our place) which explores the francophone web. The « Expansion Links » section is devoted to fun links. Finally, « General Resources » includes dictionaries, French directories and portals as well as the section Language and Culture Resources.

http://wps.prenhall.com/ml_valdman_cheznous_3/28/7358/1883708.cw/index.html

Let’s explore the study guide to the 12-chapters textbook Français-Monde: Connectez-vous à la francophonie. It includes the following resources: In-TextActivities Audio with 4 to 7 links divided into sections such as « Pour bien communiquer » (to communicate well) with phrases; « Écoutons! Voix francophones au présent » (Let’s listen to contemporary French Native speaker voices) which  presents a variety of native French regional accents; and « Pour bien prononcer » (To pronunce well).  The Student Activities Manual Audio are located at the bottom of the box;  it contains 8 to 16 audio files by chapter.

http://wps.prenhall.com/wl_ariew_francaismonde_1/178/45691/11696972.cw/index.html

Another extensive study guide is the one to Rond-Point: Une perspective actionnelle. For each of the 18 chapters, it offers the following resources : « Practice Exercises » which is divided into En contexte (in context)  for vocabulary,  Mémento for grammar auto-corrected activities, and Flashcards.

« Web Activities and Resources » includes Internet Search Activities and  Regards Croisés which provides interactive culture-based activities, as well as additional resources such as online dictionaries. « Audio Resources » contains In Text Activities audio and, at the bottom of the box, the Workbook/LabManual audio.

http://wps.prenhall.com/wl_meyer_rondpoint_1/56/14567/3729232.cw/-/t/index.html

The online study guide to accompany Parallèles: Communication et culture includes for each of its preliminary and following 13 chapters the outcomes of each lesson, 4 learning steps (étapes) with practice exercises for vocabulary and structures as well as sections named: Voyage en Francophonie (Trip to the French-speaking world),  Cultures en parallèles (cultures in parallel), Le mot juste (the right word) with audio flashcards, Soccer Game, En Direct Audio, Cahier Audio and Resources, which is a repository of links to dictionaries, French directories and portals, translation tools as well as Language and Culture Resources.

http://wps.prenhall.com/ml_fouletier_paralleles_3/16/4245/1086934.cw/index.html

Good discovery!

To continue in somewhat the same vein as last week, we present a series of sites that complement the method ofTapis Volant (flying carpet), a fully integrated course in three stages written specifically for secondary school students learning French in Australia and New Zealand. Even without the books, the Tapis Volant website, with its abundance of interactive exercises remains very useful for all learners of French.

Tapis Volant 1 is intended for beginners. The site consists of 16 different units each of which includes several exercises. Each unit presents first the outcomes. The exercises are divided into multiple sections : Situation where you listen to the story and fill in the missing speech bubble or highlight a missing word; Manières de dire (ways of saying) where you match a picture with the appropriate label; Grammaire where you will find fun activities to practice your grammar;  Vocabulaire where you classify the words to test your vocabulary; and finally Lecture where you identify the missing word from the story. Finally, the Infos section allows you discover more through links to surf the web.

http://www.tapis.com.au/studentbook1/

Tapis Volant 2 is the companion site to the second textbook of the series and has 12 units meant for intermediate learners. After a short presentation of each lesson’s outcomes, we find the same sections as the previous site : Situation to listen to a story, Manières de dire (ways of saying), Grammaire (grammar) and Vocabulaire to improve your vocabulary by choosing the correct word. The Infos section is replaced with Document culture with links and suggestions of keywords to discover more through research on the Internet.

http://www.tapis.com.au/studentbook2/

Tapis Volant senior is the companion site of the last textbook of the series and was created for advanced learners. Under the Podcasts tab, you will discover a link leading to a site that allows you to watch or download ten different videos. Extra Material provides access to PDF documents containing some exercises that can be done without the manual. Finally, the Grammar Quiz tab offers two to four questionnaires for each of the ten units.

http://www.tapis.com.au/senior/

See you next week,

Your Bon Français team

This week, all of the posts of both this blog and GoFrenchGo will have the Allons-y! French teaching method for a central theme. This method is used in many English speaking countries and is meant for high-school and college students. The companion sites that the publisher Pearson has put online make it particularly interesting. Even in the absence of textbooks, most of the exercises found on these sites can be very useful for learners of French.

Allons-y ! 1 is the first book in the series and has eight chapters. By clicking on each you will also have access to a 5 question Quick Quiz, to the Review Questions section that includes 38 to 40 statements, to the Technology Applications section where there are exercises on grammar and vocabulary and to the Web Destinations section that offers links to many sites on culture, Francophonie and French language.

http ://wps.pearsoned.com.au/allonsy1/32/8203/2100105.cw/index.html

Allons-y ! 2 follows the previous manual and also has 8 chapters. Although the formula is reminiscent of Allons-y  1, there are some differences. The introduction provides a sample of questions and presents the main characters of the book. Each Quick Quiz has 10 questions and 15 to 30 Review Questions. Each lesson is supplemented with 5 audio exercises. The grammar and vocabulary exercises in are in the Drag & Drop Activities. As for Web destinations, they always have interesting links leading to cultural and other resources.

http://wps.pearsoned.com.au/allonsy2/13/3533/904541.cw/index.html

Allons-y ! 3 & 4 concludes the series. Like the two previous books, it is divided into eight chapters and offers a similar format: 5 question Quick Quiz, 15 Review Questions, and an Audio Questions section which offers four to five listening exercises. The Web Destinations section offers links on the multi-faceted culture of the French-speaking world.

http://wps.pearsoned.com.au/allonsy34/

See you next week

The study of grammar is to language what the memorization of dates is to History, that is to say something often dull, yet inevitable. Recognizing this, we have chosen for you high quality grammars, pleasant to read and filled with exercises that allow you to monitor your understanding of the material as you go along. We sincerely hope that you enjoy exploring them.

Pomme, an initiative of the University of Alberta, is a completely free site dedicated to French grammar. It provides 400 rules and 400 exercises classified by degree of difficulty where 1 indicates the beginner level and 5 the most advanced one. ABC of French Grammar is an English simplified version of French grammar and can be found in the index. The Conjugaison component provides access to the conjugation of all verbs in all tenses. A registrant will receive an individualized program of rules and exercises through the online diagnostic test. Learners can even take personal notes with the notebook available online. http://www.pomme.ualberta.ca/pomme/

Both French grammars of Glenunga International High School in Australia are written in English and also include exercises. The first is designed for learners of all levels. The topics are: verbs, nouns and articles, prepositions, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, days, months, seasons and  weather as well as numbers, time and quantity. http://www.gihs.sa.edu.au/loteweb/Grammar/

The second link takes you to an advanced grammar about  verbs, adjectives, problem words and pronouns:

http://www.gihs.sa.edu.au/loteweb/grammar_advanced/index.html

See you soon,

Your Bon Français Team

Portals or directories, each of the several sites that we present today are worth a long detour. Whether you are looking for a complete course or just want to check a specific point of grammar, you will surely find what you need there.

Charity begins at home, the proverb  goes. Well, we start our nomenclature with our own FSLall directory, searchable in  English as well as in French. It includes  over 1400 free online resources for French learning and teaching, carefully divided by levels and categories.  One of these categories is devoted to business French and is designed specifically for those who must write or speak French at work. http://www.fslall.com/

Le point du FLE: This site lists and organizes high-quality free resources, relevant and useful in the fields of French as a second, foreign or native language. Its main sections are: activities, grammar, tenses of the indicative and other moods, French for specific audiences, general resources and a special section for teachers. It offers French dictionaries, audio exercises, humor, vocabulary, FFL courses online and news. There are also writing tips, software downloads, and resources for French teaching. For all levels. http://www.lepointdufle.net/

ClicNet is dedicated to French as a second or foreign language. Although this site is not regularly updated anymore, it remains of high value. The many educational resources there are directly usable in a French course and are classified by subjects. Each one shows a description and the language level required. (Level 1 = beginners and false beginners;  Level 2 = intermediate and advanced ; Level 3 = high advanced). http://clicnet.swarthmore.edu/fle.html

In conclusion, we would be remiss to ignore the excellent Français Facile website which contains thousands of French resources and of which we made an extensive reference to in our last article.

Good surfing,

The Bon Français team

The goal of the three sites presented today is to provide support to pupils of  primary, secondary and college levels. Through a series of games, exercises and explanations, they enable the refinement and practice of French lessons studied in class. In our opinion these activities, chosen with care by professional instructors, will be useful to those who are learning French independently.

WildFrench : This site is intended to assist both teachers and learners of French by making available a range of online resources that complement several of the courses actually in use in British schools. The material is designed for students of the late primary to the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GSCE). Click on the image of the textbook of your choice for a range of extra activities to help improve your progress and have some fun. http://www.wildfrench.co.uk/

Languages Online : This website’s aim is to provide an interactive format through which pupils can practice the language they learn in a variety of exercise styles. All resources provided on this site were initially designed for use by classes. Many units come with explanations, but it is assumed that learners should have been taught the material covered prior to attempting a unit. The site also includes games to play online or to download, and listening activities. http://www.languagesonline.org.uk/

Nourrir son français : Marie-Josée Caron’s website is intended for students of French as a Second Language (FSL) or as a Foreign Language(FFL), but also for all those who feel the need to self assess or to practice the rules of the French language. It contains many links listed by categories leading to exercises or to online documents about the French language. Click on “Ingrédients” to complete activities online or on the button “Recettes” (recipes) to go to grammars or dictionaries. To learn how to guide your study efficiently, click on “Projet”. http://www.er.uqam.ca/nobel/m205160/

See you soon

We have selected for you two magazines and a blog maintained by specialized teachers of  French as a second or foreign language. They put at your disposal a large quantity of varied, enjoyable, stimulating  educational ressources, for you to enjoy as you improve your language skills. The activities and explanations contained therein will surely captivate you.

Bonjour de France.com : This great webzine is written by FSL/ FFL teachers and features free educational exercises, tests and games to learn French as well as worksheets for teachers. It includes topics such as understanding (with exercises for all levels of learning), grammar, vocabulary, teaching, idioms, business French, simulation exercises in context (mises en situation), world news, discoveries and games for all. Something for everyone. http://www.bonjourdefrance.com/bonjour.htm

La gazette Lingua franca d’alpha.b : Here is the ezine of alpha.b, a language institute specialized in teaching French as a foreign language. The entries therein are of great interest for learners of French, notably « Le français dans tous ses états » (French in all its forms), which examines proverbs, idioms, false friends and anglicisms. “Leçons et exercices de français » (Lessons and French exercises) includes activities classified by level of knowledge, from A1 to C2. There is even humor in the « Lingua Franca vous met sur le coup » (Lingua Franca puts you on the spot) to discover. http://gazette.alpha-b.fr/

Moddou FLE -Estudio de Frances : This blog is sure to please. The author, Marc Oddou, offers a fine collection of activities of all kinds, many with audio files as well as clear and concise explanations. You’ll find the following sections: grammar, with a subfolder conjugation, vocabulary and games, phonetics, TBI (for « tableau blanc interactif » – interactive whiteboard), which contains activities with very interesting options. Must see. http://www.estudiodefrances.com/

Have fun!

Bon Français Team.

As we know, punctuation clarifies the meaning of the sentence, and indicates pauses and inflections of the voice in reading. But the punctuation rules of French and English are somewhat different. They are generally stricter in French. Therefore, we selected sites and pages that will teach you the use of punctuation and of capital letters as well as exercises to strengthen your newly acquired skills.

La-ponctuation.com : Developed by a small team of web professionals and enthusiasts of the French language, this reliable, easy to use website is accessible to everyone and allows you to find the rules and uses of the signs of punctuation and capital letters. In French only.http://www.la-ponctuation.com/index.html

However, this useful page of Oxford Language Dictionaries’ website offers a short summary in English about main French punctuation rules including several examples:

http://www.oxfordlanguagedictionaries.com/Public/PublicResources.html?direction=b-fr-en&sp=S/oldo/resources/fr/punctuation.html

LanguageGuide.com : Here is a fun and useful page designed to help you hear, learn and recognize the names and the spelling of all the punctuation marks. Simply drag your mouse over each one to listen to and repeat  its pronunciation. http://www.languageguide.org/im/punctuation/fr/

What is theory without practice, if not something quickly forgotten? Fortunately, the Centre collégial de développement de matériel didactique (CCDMD) offers six drag-and-drop exercise modules, each of which includes 20 different sentences to punctuate. After submitting your choice, the model answer shows explanatory tooltips to help you understand your mistakes.       http://www.ccdmd.qc.ca/fr/jeux_pedagogiques/?id=1082&action=animer

Good Work!

The Bon français team