Los hermanos Grimm (GCSE Spanish resources)

See the resources below based on a short text about the Grimm brothers and Cinderella.

14 x pdf files: 11 based on the text (8 tiles; 15 tiles; 24 tiles; 1in3; gapfill; spaceinsert; anagrams; contextgaps; grammargaps; findspanish; longgaps) and 3 based on the vocab (matching; write; dominoes).

Also look out for links to the following below...
1 x TaskMagic3 Mix&Gap file (mtx3)
1 x TaskMagic3 TextMatch file (mdl3)
These both require TaskMagic3. The Mix&Gap one provides access to 19 interactive exercises based on the text, WITH AUDIO.
The TextMatch file contains 20 or so interactive games and exercises - it is automatically generated based on the matching expressions used for the Find it! exercise of the Mix&Gap file.

La ley de Murphy (lots of KS4 Spanish pdf resources)

See the resources below based on a short text about Murphy's Law in Spanish (la ley de Murphy).

14 x pdf files: 11 based on the text (8 tiles; 15 tiles; 24 tiles; 1in3; gapfill; spaceinsert; anagrams; contextgaps; grammargaps; findspanish; longgaps) and 3 based on the vocab (matching; write; dominoes).

Also...
1 x TaskMagic3 Mix&Gap file (mtx3 - this is quite big as it has embedded audio)
1 x TaskMagic3 TextMatch file (mdl3)
These both require TaskMagic3. The Mix&Gap one provides access to 19 interactive exercises based on the text, WITH AUDIO.
The TextMatch file contains 20 or so interactive games and exercises - it is automatically generated based on the matching expressions used for the Find it! exercise of the Mix&Gap file.

SPANISH: "Paso adelante para el matrimonio gay"

Lots of pdf files below based on a news article on the British parliament's vote on 5th February 2013 on whether or not to allow same-sex marriage in England and Wales.
 
The pdfs are all printed from one TaskMagic3 Mix&Gap file, which is also included (mtx3 file below).
 

"Depardieu reçoit son passeport russe" - lots of resources

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

There are 11 pdf files in all, all printed using dopdf - http://www.dopdf.com

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).

French AS/A2 resources: "Interdisez les bouteilles !"

The resources in this post are based on a French text about the environment suitable for AS/A2 - on a US town's decision to ban the sale of bottles of water smaller than 1 litre. Here's the original article: http://www.20minutes.fr/article/1072899/ville-americaine-interdit-petites-bouteilles-eau-plastique

Holiday postcard - camping (French) - lots of resources

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...)

French resources: "Licencié pour avoir... sauvé une vie!"

These French resources are based on a story about a lifeguard who was fired for saving a drowning man outside his allotted area of the beach.   

The TaskMagic3 file (mtx3) provides access to 18 interactive exercises and requires TaskMagic3.

Spanish "desempleo" resources (based on BBC Mundo article)

These resources are based on a short news story on BBC Mundo about Spain's unemployment statistics: 
 
The TaskMagic3 file (mtx3) provides access to 18 interactive exercises and requires TaskMagic3.
 
The image shows the Mix & Gap front page for the file in TaskMagic3, with the little screen thumbnails showing links to the various interactive exercises.

Exploiting texts to maximum effect (UPDATED)

1. Type or paste in a text into the Mix and Gap editor screen

You can type or paste in any text of up to 500 words.

There are various sources of texts:
- The internet; news feeds; short articles etc.
- Your text book: this allows you to create resources based specifically on the book that your students are using in class.
- Past exam papers.
- Letters, songs, poems, etc.
- Your imagination :o)
- Students can type or paste in their own corrected written work, which can then be use to help them to learn their text, or shared with other students for extended text manipulation practice.