Trillium7
05-19-2011, 10:03 AM
Hello: I posted some of this at another thread, but am new to the Board and it didn't go where I wanted it to. I am bilingual in french, grew up speaking it at home in the US, studying it in school, later lived in Quebec for a time, but didn't really work at it at that time (go figure). Am teaching my daughter, just finishing 4th grade, and occ. my francophile american husband.
By accident, I ran across some engaging workbooks, targeted to French children (but also good for english children, still probably best used when a parent speaks french, which I do). Search www.amazon.ca (http://www.amazon.ca/) using author's name: Diane Boileau. The publisher is Trecarre... Mine are entitled "Les Aventures de Mollo" with a ladybug on the front, but the newer editions are a crocodile I think .... Less than $10 each, and really solid good stuff. Phonics, spelling, some grammar, reading/writing. I think anyone could use these. We are easing into writing and reading now, so my 4th grader is even starting with a 1st grade Cahier, and she thinks it's very fun.
BIG PRAISE: We just LOVE Henriette Major's CDs of french songs, very high quality, accompanied by hard-cover, engaging books with the lyrics, music, lovely artwork. (Editions Fides). We have 5 collections, they travel well, they are marvelous aids. Les Comptines are very funny and help with training ear and tongue to pronounce well.
For us, I am no longer going to bother with French curricula, whose audience is mostly non-French speakers, which are not used in French schools. Or picture books that are "noun" focussed. 1) I truly believe in the Gouin approach (pls. read of this in Charlotte Mason's works), where the VERB is the key, and learning to engage children using various verb tenses with french dialogues set to action, Gouin called these "series". Ex/ Teacher simply talks through a process - how do you open a door, step by step, and what happens. Repeat, memorize it.... works well. Change the tenses, do it again. 2) I dug out ancient "Voix et Images" picture books and some old recordings of the dialogues that went with them. We listen and repeat - no english explanation, figure it out by looking at pictures. 3) My fave resource right now cost me 25 cents. No kidding. "French Through Pictures" by I.A. Richards, M.H. Ilsley and C Gibson 1950 date of publication!! Have it in Spanish also, great to do a few pages in the evening as a family. 4) Play "Simon Dit" with your child. Mine lights up and giggles and really engages when we use French in PLAY!!
I have tried L'Art de Lire this year, but found it rather... easy. I won't continue with it. Our Latin language curriculum was far more challenging, and I really think French is easier to learn than Latin, surely? Anyway, those are my thoughts. Trillium7
By accident, I ran across some engaging workbooks, targeted to French children (but also good for english children, still probably best used when a parent speaks french, which I do). Search www.amazon.ca (http://www.amazon.ca/) using author's name: Diane Boileau. The publisher is Trecarre... Mine are entitled "Les Aventures de Mollo" with a ladybug on the front, but the newer editions are a crocodile I think .... Less than $10 each, and really solid good stuff. Phonics, spelling, some grammar, reading/writing. I think anyone could use these. We are easing into writing and reading now, so my 4th grader is even starting with a 1st grade Cahier, and she thinks it's very fun.
BIG PRAISE: We just LOVE Henriette Major's CDs of french songs, very high quality, accompanied by hard-cover, engaging books with the lyrics, music, lovely artwork. (Editions Fides). We have 5 collections, they travel well, they are marvelous aids. Les Comptines are very funny and help with training ear and tongue to pronounce well.
For us, I am no longer going to bother with French curricula, whose audience is mostly non-French speakers, which are not used in French schools. Or picture books that are "noun" focussed. 1) I truly believe in the Gouin approach (pls. read of this in Charlotte Mason's works), where the VERB is the key, and learning to engage children using various verb tenses with french dialogues set to action, Gouin called these "series". Ex/ Teacher simply talks through a process - how do you open a door, step by step, and what happens. Repeat, memorize it.... works well. Change the tenses, do it again. 2) I dug out ancient "Voix et Images" picture books and some old recordings of the dialogues that went with them. We listen and repeat - no english explanation, figure it out by looking at pictures. 3) My fave resource right now cost me 25 cents. No kidding. "French Through Pictures" by I.A. Richards, M.H. Ilsley and C Gibson 1950 date of publication!! Have it in Spanish also, great to do a few pages in the evening as a family. 4) Play "Simon Dit" with your child. Mine lights up and giggles and really engages when we use French in PLAY!!
I have tried L'Art de Lire this year, but found it rather... easy. I won't continue with it. Our Latin language curriculum was far more challenging, and I really think French is easier to learn than Latin, surely? Anyway, those are my thoughts. Trillium7