RESOURCES FOR PRIMARY SCHOOLS

Primary Languages (UK). "The Primary Languages website is an online toolkit to develop primary languages teaching and learning. It offers users comprehensive access to professional development to support themselves, colleagues and peers in implementing the primary languages entitlement."

PrimaryFrench(UK) is a very good training resource, from CILT, with videos of teachers at work, interviews and links to schemes of work, plus much more. This is a must-see for primary school leaders and teachers.

French for beginners from the Welsh National Grid for Learning (NGFL Cymru) has a good range of tasks for all the skills. Sound files are in Quicktime format.

Teachertube has lovely short video clips, many of which can be used with beginners or near beginners.

Zut Junior (UK) is a free part of the Language Skills site. Catherine Murphy says: "In this site, you will find a list of topics ... and for each topic exercises for reading, writing and listening skills. We have followed the guidelines of the National Curriculum for MFL at KS2." You will find powerpoints and interactive exercises. The powerpoints incorporate sound and clear pictures. The ones I've looked at are good.

Learnbase is a recent initiative from Ben Creasey, from Baldock (UK) who aims to share a "coherent framework which is universally agreed, where everyone knows what is being done, so that we are all working towards a goal: a coherent, useful point of transfer to secondary school." Teachers are invited to contribute resources to this evolving site.

Bonjour les Amis(Can) has delightful animations with sound for use with the interactive board. A must see!

Languages Online from Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe(UK) has Hot Potato and Spellmaster exercises. Very clear, very usable. Click on the Primary section.

The Atantôt (UK) site is the best site for interactive board resources. You have to pay a small annual registration fee, but it is worth it. The visuals are striking and clear.

The QCA KS2 Scheme of Work shows examples of lesson units.

Nacell, an England and Wales DES initiative to promote language learning for young children, is a good starting point.

Talkabout Primary MFL> (UK) is an interactive network for MFL teachers at primary level.

The Mama Lisa site has lots of French songs for beginners with MP3 files to go with them.

The National Grid for Learning Cymru has lots of material.

The Camden Primary Languages (UK) Year 3 scheme of work has lots of material. (Part of the London Grid for Learning.)

Digital Dialects (UK) has some attractive, easy tasks focusing on easy vocabulary and a little grammar.

Hello-World (USA) has attractive interactive games, activities and songs which could also be used on an interactive whiteboard.

Tout le Monde (UK) is a commercial site from Heinemann for young learners, but it has some free samples.

The Grid (Hertfordshire Grid for Learning) (UK) has advice, links and some resources (e.g. phrases for wall display).

Staffordshire Learning Net (UK) has a good number of powerpoints and Word documents.

The Teacher Resource Exchange is a constantly evolving source of ideas, worksheets, powerpoint presentations and so on. The resources are produced by British language teachers.

Teachers' TV (UK) has 15 minute videos showing examples of good practice.

Le Club Français (UK) has resources (including some interactive) for young learners - very colourful.

Tomlitoo has animal alphabet posters to print.

The BBC has activities and links.

The Prescot School, Knowsley , UK has good tasks.

Teaching Ideas (UK) has a great list of classroom games.

This is a good list of activities for the primary classroom produced in the Medway towns (UK).

Primary Resources (UK) has some free worksheets and lesson tips for young learners.

MFL Sunderland (UK) has a good range of resources and lesson plans.

Taskmagic (UK) has free games and activities if you download the software.

The Northumberland Grid for Learning (UK) has animated recordings of simple stories.

La Maternelle de Moustache (Fr) is aimed at French nursery schools, but has some useful materials for us.

Try Primaryfrench.net (UK)