The resources in this post are based on a French text about Gérard Depardieu's decision to accept Putin's offer of Russian citizenship. There are lots of past tenses in the article, which is probably suitable for use with AS/A2. Here's the original article: http://www.sudouest.fr/2013/01/06/depardieu-dans-sa-nouvelle-patrie-926235-4778.php
The pdfs are based on a Mix and Gap file containing the text of the article, which is also included (mtx3). This file provides access to a wide variety of interactive exercises for use with PCs or with an interactive whiteboard. It requires TaskMagic3. If you haven't got TaskMagic3, you can download a 30-day trial from the TaskMagic website (doesn't require registration or anything - just download and install it).
You may be aware that since March 2012 there has been a demo - available to download completely free - of a "GCSE French Writing Focus" program made up of TaskMagic3 files (but which does NOT require you to have TaskMagic3).
I've been thinking about vocabulary test formats and have come up with several, depending on the ability levels of the students. Examples in this post are based on the French vocab for car journeys / breakdowns (apart from the 2nd multi-choice example, clearly...):
1. English to TL: tests production. They have to think of the word for themselves, and know how to spell it, plus possibly gender etc. Most challenging option. Made less challenging if you provide a word shape (e.g. spaces per letter) and even less so if you provide an anagram (e.g. dog = enhic). Here's an example with word shapes provided:
For the past few years we've run a "TaskMagic3PGCE extended trial", where TaskMagic has worked with university PGCE tutors to provide trainees with a free version of the TaskMagic software.
We're doing it again this year :0)
The scheme allows trainee teachers / PGCE students to download a special extended trial version of TaskMagic3 for use on their own computers or laptops, which works until the end of July 2013.
TaskMagic3PGCE, as with all TaskMagic3 programs, only works on Windows (2000 - Win7 inclusive). So please don't ask for a Mac version...
Also note that TaskMagic works with roman script only (so not with languages such as Arabic, Chinese, Japanese etc)
Teacher trainees can use the TaskMagic3PGCE program in a number of ways:
1. If on placement at a school which uses TaskMagic3, they can use their own version at home to create engaging interactive games and exercises for use at school.
2. If they install TaskMagic3PGCE on their own laptop, and their placement school has no objection, they can take their laptop into school and connect it to an interactive whiteboard.
3. They can use TaskMagic3PGCE to print worksheets for use at school or for homework.
TaskMagic3PGCE must NOT be installed on any school computers.
In order for trainee teacher to participate in the TaskMagicPGCE scheme, their PGCE subject tutors must contact us to request to take part, and they must provide a list of trainees on their course for us to check against.
These resources are based on a short holiday postcard text in French, from someone [with a strange voice] on a camping holiday in the countryside. Good practice of present tense and also likes and dislikes (+ infinitive).
The image shows the Mix&Gap front screen in TaskMagic3 (the screen thumbnails represent the available interactive exercises).
The TaskMagic3 file (mtx3 - requires TaskMagic3) provides access to multiple interactive exercises, as well as loads of worksheets. It has an embedded audio file so students can listen as they complete the exercises. (Some strange sound effects on the audio...)