Ed-Pax

This company is another which provides materials for the interactive whiteboard and for the non-specialist primary language teacher. I do worry, I’m afraid, on this reliance on technology to replace specialism and from what I can see from the sample of this product, the technology is not being as widely exploited as it might be, as it is tending to replicate the old analogue way of doing things.
Still, this product does cover a lot of ground.
Disk 1 contains:
• All About Me
• Alphabet
• Colours
• Days of the Week
• Family
• How We Look
• Months of the Year
• Numbers 0 - 12
• Numbers 13 - 39
• Numbers 40 - 69
• Pets
• The Seasons
• Weather
• Zoo Animals
Disk 2 follows with:
• The House
• Classroom Language
• Classroom Objects
• Free-time
• Jobs
• Countries
• Nationality
• Numbers 70 - 1000
• Shopping
• Shops
• Time
• The Body
• The Town
• The Village
As the web site quite rightly boasts, it can be used alongside an existing course or as a stand alone.
The packs – also available in Spanish and German, includes planning and evaluation sheets for teachers, though I’m not sure what the point of providing those for the interactive whiteboard is.
However, the pictures which accompany these materials are colourful and motivating and represent good practice in both primary learning and interactive whiteboard usage.
The prices for the materials are reasonable:
French Disk 1 £189
French Disk 2 £189
French Disk 1 and 2 £350
French Workbook £24.99
*All prices exclusive of VAT. A postage & packaging charge of £4.95 applies.
This may be a package worth investing in for the primary teacher.

Language Colleges

I’ve recently done an Internet search on “Language Colleges”. There are a lot of them. I’m trying to do some focussed marketing of “Manuel”, a Spanish reading resource my small publihsing company, Bridge House, has produced. I have to admit, the whole idea Language Colleges makes me feel a little uneasy. I’m a great believer that every child should learn at least two languages at school, preferably starting at primary school. There should be diversification in the language taught, so that we produce a population which can communicate with a variety of other people. Languages should include a balance community ones, European and world wide languages. There will be a shortage of teachers but we should and we can address that.
But Language Colleges? Only offer excellent opportunities to a few and not necessarily to those learners who have an aptitude for languages?
I’m not sure that anything about the specialist school system is particularly healthy, anyway.
All schools should strive for excellence in everything they teach.
The main tool needed for success at language learning is correct motivation. Learners need to know why they need to learn languages. Then learning becomes easy.

Magic French Verb Cards by Advance Materials

These are great fun an almost a reaction to this high-tech age of interactive whiteboards and sophisticated interactive computer technology. A simple piece of red plastic prevents the learner form seeing the yellow conjugated verb on the prompt sheet. Remove the red plastic and the verb part is miraculously revealed.
The full set covers avoir, aller, aimer, finir,vendre, prendre, connaître, devoir, être, faire, se coucher, choisir, attendre, partir, savoir, pouvoir
Magic Verb cards are available in French, German and Spanish. Each card contains eight verb parts and eight amusing patterns.
They are certainly a very effective tool for encouraging independent learning.

The Language Factory

The Language Factory is a fun resource for teacher of primary languages. It is available in French, German and Spanish, and there will soon also be a resource for teachers of English as a Foreign Language. The audio CD “Français! Français” won the CILT European Award for languages. The Language Factory teaches through song, rap and rhyme. A full colour book accompanies each CD. In addition, a new resource for French has just been produced. It is for use with the interactive whiteboard, using Promethean Activprimary or Activstudio software. It contains over 150 flipcharts. A version for Smartboard comes out soon.
This is an extremely enjoyable resource for learners. It emphasises fun. Learners will learn despite themselves. It makes full and good use of the available technology. An excellent use for Curriculum On-line credits.
It is an exciting resource for primary students. It is easy also for the non-specialist teacher to use with confidence. However, it is also a very valuable resource for use with learners of any age.

Nod Off In … Language Learning Resources from The Publishing Cupboard

Nod Off In … Language Learning Resources from The Publishing Cupboard
These CDs and accompanying booklets are available in French, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish. There’s even one about grammar and punctuation. They are all about learning in a relaxed way. You listen to a CD which gets you into a relaxed frame of mind to start with. The booklet reinforces the learning process.
Everyone, of course, has different learning styles. These courses will suit some people. Others they will suit less well. But however much the “Nod off” system coincides with your learning style or not, it is another tool and worth trying. See what I have said in “The Complete Guide to Learning a Language” about using CDs and also about mixing and matching methods.
Do visit the Publishing Cupboard’s web site. The whole method is based on The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga, as presented by Deepak Chopra and David Simon. In fact, the whole business ethic of The Publishing Company is based on the Seven Spiritual Laws. The “About” page makes interesting reading.
Even if this is a little too New Age for you, it’s still worth looking at the site. It’s a very attractive site, with loads of useful information and hints and tips – and a good deal of sense about language learning.

Càlédöñíâ Languages

This company is extremely brave and enterprising in the variety of different language courses they offer.
You can choose from:
• conventional language courses for all levels and ages
• activity holidays
• school study trips
• tailor-made gap years
• teachers’ refresher courses (approved by the British Council)
• language courses linked with learning other skills – for example, dance
In addition, they are specialists for language courses within Cuba. In that context, they even offer special arrangements for honeymooners.
Sample prices are:
• 15 individual lessons per week plus homestay in Santiago , 2 weeks from £545
• 20 group lessons per week plus homestay in Havana, 2 weeks from £700
There are some one-off specials – for example, a salsa weekend in Blackpool and a dance and trekking holiday.
This company takes your breath away. Well done them for offering customers such a choice with such enthusiasm. Their web site is as exciting and as colourful as they are.