The bilingual advantage

I stumbled on this article recently on the benefits of speaking another language and I found it quite fascinating, so here it is here .

It is an interview with Dr Bialystok, a research professor at the University of Toronto, who has spent the last 40 years of her distinguished career studying the benefits of bilingualism.

In this article, she discusses some of the findings from her research.

To sum up, she found that learning, and speaking regularly, another language is good for you because:

• It boosts children's cognitive development and gives them an advantage in their learning and logical thinking
• It delays the symptoms of Alzheimer's in older adults
• It enables us to be better at multi-tasking
• It rewires the brain and makes it more efficient at resolving problems

In Dr Bialystok's words, bilingualism is brain exercise.
Now that's good news.

I encourage you to read the article and to see how bilingualism can benefit you and your family.
It is never too early or too late to start your language-learning journey. I offer classes for all ages and levels, starting with tots. Book a class and change your world!

Merci!

How to succeed French VCE and Avoid common VCE Errors

Ahh . . .  the dreaded VCE!

Are you completing Y12/VCE French this year? Are you ready for the French Oral?

Do you know what is expected of you? Are you sure?

The oral exam consists of seven minutes of general conversation, one minute presentation on your chosen topic ("the detailed study") and seven minutes of discussion on this topic.

If you think it is enough to learn key points to talk about yourself, and your chosen conversation topic, my friendly piece of advice is: think again.

The exam aims to assess your ability to sustain a mature conversation in French with a French speaker, in a natural manner.

Worried? Don't be.

Below are my tips of what to do and what NOT to do.

• ensure you have material to sustain a conversation for at least double the required time (this does not apply to the one-minute detailed study component, which needs to be well-rehearsed and strictly one minute - or you will be cut off)

• organise your key messages so that you can convey them during your conversation, no matter what

• having material for double the required time (that is, 14 minute of general conversation, 14 minute for discussion on your topic) will ensure that you have plenty to draw upon should you need to (for instance, if you speak faster that you have in mock exams, perhaps due to nerves, or if the assessors lead you to a different path than you expected). In my experience as tutor and mock examiner, students rarely have enough quality material to produce.

• when an assessor asks you a question, aim to respond with a minimum of three long answers.  It is very frustrating for an assessor to ask a question to prompt a student to show off their knowledge of the language, only for the student to be quite content with a brief sentence or paragraph response. This is not the aim of the exam. Imagine you are conversing in France with a French person.

• learn how to fill gaps in the conversation, and self-correct. One of the skills the assessors are looking for is repair strategies: i.e. if you make an error, do you self-correct immediately and keep going, or do you become stuck, unable to continue your train of thought, or worse, do you keep on going without correcting yourself?

• learn how to manage your nerves. Even if you feel you won't suffer from nerves during your exam, an unexpected question may make you lose your cool. What is your strategy for handling this?

Before their final oral exam, my VCE students and I discuss and practise tips on how to manage nerves and on repair strategies. If you are interested, contact me via the page above.

• be aware of the assessment criteria. If you are not clear about what is expected of you, it is very hard to meet this expectation and perform at your best.

• Remember. The assessors are assessing your ability to converse in French. These 15 minutes are your opportunity to shine and show them all that you have. Many times during tutoring sessions I discuss with students ways to expand on their responses, use rich and varied vocabulary and sentence structures, key words to organise their thoughts, link ideas, texts and support materials, etc. Often students will say they are aware of these strategies, synonyms, connecting words, etc. But are they using them? Sadly not often enough! Unless you use what you have learnt the assessors will not know the full extent of your knowledge.

• Death before rote! I really need to emphasise that learning by rote is not the answer. It is obvious to assessors when students have prepared for the exams by learning key words and paragraphs (sometimes quite lengthy slabs) by rote. First, by the tone in which the answers and given (more of a monologue than an actual conversation), then by the difficulty for the student to address unexpected questions or requests for clarification. Responding by using material learnt by rote is not engaging for anyone. French is a living language. make it yours and have fun using it (Yes, you can still have fun during your exam! But only if you are well prepared).

La Villette. A.Legrain

These points are not meant to make you anxious. They are simply a few of the observations I have made helping VCE students prepare for their oral exams for the last few years.

I hope these points will give you food for thought and have given you some simple and easily applicable tips to succeed.

To finish, how can you get to the required exam level?

• Tutoring (I suggest reading my posts on finding a tutor and making the most of your tutoring sessions, available on this blog). Please note I offer Skype tutoring if you are not able to join me face-to-face

• Immersing yourself in the language (again, please see my previous posts on how best to do so)

• Practising, practising, practising (and then practising some more). Practising with friends is great, but practising with a French teacher, or someone who has experience conducting exams, such as a reputable tutor, is best.

On D-Day, go in with a smile. Enjoy yourself. Nerves are natural. Be courteous. Show them what you've got!

Bonne chance!

Are you looking for French resources, such as picture books and CDs for your children? So you can share your passion of French and France perhaps, teach your children French and brush up yourself at the same time?

I have a few suggestions for you here. My philosophy when teaching French to children in my class Les Petits Croissants (a weekly class for 0 to 6-year-olds, more information is available by clicking the Classes tab above) is to use French-made, genuine resources which are designed for French children in France (or occasionally in French Canada and Belgium) and used in French schools and by French parents. This is to ensure that I not only provide the children with the best language source, but also to provide them a cultural experience, learning traditional rhymes, songs and games.

Now to the resources I recommend. These are my personal favourites, and are firm favourites with French teachers in France and the general public. They may give you a starting point. See if your children enjoy them too and please let me know your thoughts.

Books

• Petit Ours Brun. Petits Ours Brun, the Little Brown Bear is a timeless classic. If your children are starting to learn French, look for short stories. Petit Ours Brun stories have gained almost cult status because of the charming characters, adverntures children can relate to, and the cheekiness of its hero.

          The series is available on DVD to double the pleasure. CDs are also available.

•  Didou is another little "person" that children will take to instantly, whether they speak French or not. Didou will help children learn French effortlessly thanks to colourful illustrations. I have the book whose cover is included below, although the cover is long gone. I'd purchaed the book 10 years ago for my first daughter, who absolutely adored it. She has now passed it on to her brother and sister, who are equally obsessed by it. The author Yves Got is a renowed French illustrator.

• Last but not least, T'Choupi is another French creation by illustrator Thierry Courtin which is highly successful in France. the author is also

French children love these three little characters that get up to mischief and have everyday adventures just like they do.

• Elmer and Spot have also been successfully translated in French and are still classics and firm favourites.

Music

• Amipagaille's recent album Des Airs Plein les poches. Can be purchased and samples listened to  here on the site of la FNAC . Amipagaille is a duo who composes gorgeous music for kids, that parents are sure to enjoy to. Lyrics are appropriate for all ages, and the melodies are modern and engaging. The CD also comes with all the lyrics to help you learn French and sing along!

• Comptines à Chanter. A series of French modern, traditional, regional rhymes, songs and lullabides recorded with a modern twist. Each CD is accompanied by a book with illustrations and lyrics for each track.

• Tom Pouce et Ribambelle is another classic album for young children, with many appealing and catchy songs for little ones. It's by Agnès Chaumié and in fact I recommend any of her other albums too! They're fun, suitable for ages 0 to middle primary, and the songs are easy to memorise.

• Any album by popular French singer Henri Dès, who has been writing and performing songs for children for as long as I can remember

I hope this gives you a starting point for your French multimedia library.

If you have any questions on this post, or on my weekly French class for 0 to 6-year-olds Les Petits Croissants, please feel free to contact me by clicking on the Contact me page.

Merci!

Ways to improve your French

There are so many ways to improve your fluency in your target language, I thought I would share them with you. These are tried and tested by me not only as tutor, but also as a student of foreign languages myself, and by my students, who have benefited from these tips. So I will share them here, to benefit you, new and potential students.

If you have been following this blog, you will now that I am a native French speaker and French tutor, so I will refer to the French language. However these tips apply to any language you are learning.

nouvellesimages.com&camille soulayrol

Immersion is my preferred way of boosting your French intake, and it will give you results: a bit like a pumped-up vitamin pill!

Now, having said that, not everyone can afford the time and money to travel to France for extended periods and on a regular basis to immerse themselves in the language and culture. Here I list French-speaking countries, some of which closer to Australia. But still . . . How do you immerse yourself in the language on a daily basis, without leaving your life and commitments behind . . .

EASY!

• Think about all you do in French. Think in French as you go about your daily business

• Label everyday items around the house in French. Stock up on sticky labels and stick, stick, stick! NOTE: a common mistake is to write the French words WITHOUT the articles (un/une/des. le/la/les/l'). Add the articles otherwise how are you meant to remember that a table is feminine and a light switch masculine : ) This tip will help you learn vocabulary in no time.

• Make lists of words on certain topics based on your interest or need. You can compile your own word lists or as your tutor I can provide those to you or help you compile them

• Paste the word list on your fridge, the toilet door, the dry side of your shower screen (so you can read them when showering - in under 2 minutes of course, to save water!), on the glovebox of the car if you are a passenger, anywhere you will spend some time or see them repeatedly. You may even want to laminate your word lists so they last longer.

• When composing lists, be logical in your selection of words and phrases to compose your list, and in the way you order them. Add pictures and colours if it helps.

• Recite your list before going to bed each and every night

• Get friends and family to test you, and test you again

• Fold your list, origami-style, in an intricate brain-like pattern and place it under your pillow at night (Disclaimer: this probably won't work, but it will make my other points look much easier and accessible)

• Listen to French radio in your area of interest (see links to French radio stations on this blog), get podcasts to listen to at your preferred time, when in the car or train; watch French news bulletins on SBS. Do not despair if you are not able to understand all sentences or even words.  Use tools at your disposal to make out the general topic: the presenter's/interviewer's facial expressions, gestures, tone, the images presented alongside the news item, the context etc. Eventually you will pick out more and more words, then phrases and sentences. You will get exposure to the French accent (or generally the Parisian accent). If you are (semi-)fluent, have fun picking out accents depending on the speaker's region.

• Watch movies in French: hire them, watch them on SBS, get French TV delivered to your door through Le Bouquet Français.

• Borrow French resources such as books, CDs and DVDs from your local library. Libraries that stock French resources are listed here. Good-quality children picture books are ideal. The picture help with comprehension and the books often include every day vocabulary and phrasing in a rhyming pattern which can help with retention. Don't be embarrassed borrowing children's books! If you are, just say you're learning French with your young nephew . . . I'm sure the librarian will be impressed. Speak to your librarian if you need assistance locating French resources in your library.

•  Access French newspapers. While some good French newspapers now only make their articles available via subscription, you can still access great national and local newspapers online Libération , Le Monde , etc ( more links on the right hand side of this blog). If you are semi-fluent or fluent you will enjoy reading about France and world news from a French viewpoint. If you are beginning or find full articles too challenging, pick out a few large titles to work on, or some very brief articles. Daily news can be quite easy if you are aware of the news topic of the day. Entertainment and art news can also provide accessible titles.

• Subscribe to this blog using the button on the left-hand side. It's free and you will get regular updates on all things French to give you hints and tips and keep you motivated!

• Interested in getting your hands on your own French resources? La FNAC is my very favourite French store. It stores a large range of books, CDs, DVDs, and more that will be delivered straight to your door in no time. Look out for their specials (i.e. 5 DVDs for 30 euros at certain times). Be aware of postage costs. It pays to order in bulk to save on postage -  maybe you can join up with other interested friends or students and share the postage costs?)

• Finally, nothing beats learning and conversing with a native French speaker. Book your lesson today by contacting me and make speaking French your reality!

Happy learning!

How to get the most out of your tutoring lesson?

I strongly recommend reading this post in conjunction with my post "How to choose a tutor" available on this blog here

Why write a blog on how to get the most out of your tutoring session? Well, for a start, you have decided to engage a tutor for a specific goal, or set of goals. Besides, you are making an investment - or your parents are making an investment -, an investment in time and money.

Simply turning up to your tutoring class will not be enough for you to reach your goals!

Here are a few tips that will help you gain the most benefit from your tuition:

• Book your tutor early in the school year, or even better, before the end of the previous year or during the Summer break. A good tutor will be in demand and it's better to get in early to select your preferred time slot.

Occasionally I will get a VCE student who contacts me midway through the year, to practice their oral skills. While some tutoring is better than nothing, it is a shame if you do not give yourself the best chance of succeeding by booking a class a few months earlier. If you book a class early in the year, you will be able to steadily work on your proficiency and will be more likely to develop the confidence and skills required for the final exams. AND of course, VCE exams occur throughout the year via school-assessed coursework so booking early means you can get assistance with this too.

• Be clear about what your goals are. Are you looking at a certain VCE score? Are you looking at learning a few words to get by during an upcoming trip to France? Do you wish to become fully fluent?

• Make the most of your time with your tutor. Be fully present during class. Ask for clarification if anything appears unclear, as leaving the class with question marks in your head is unlikely to progress your learning.

• Take notes! Your tutor may write notes, scenarios and examples for you. It is best if you take notes in your own writing, in a way that you can relate to and understand. Do not feel rushed to do this. Taking your own notes means you can actively and constructively review the class once you are home and will help you retain what you have learnt.  

• Practice in between lessons. Find ways to utilise the newly learnt vocabulary, verb, grammar or sentence structure whenever you can.

• Link what you learn in class (if you are a school student) with what you practice with your tutor.

• Link what you hear on the news (particularly news of the French-speaking world if you are learning French) with what you practise with your tutor. Learning how to briefly outline topical news events in French can be very rewarding, particularly with (semi-)beginners (YES, it's easier than you think!). As news on a certain topic unfold, you will be able to add more to your repertoire, with your tutor's assistance.

• Have fun and enjoy it! When it gets tough (and it will get tough sometimes, when you get stuck on a new, unusual sentence structure, a word that refuses to imprint in your mind, etc) remember your goal and the reason you set it. And take a deep breath . . . !

• Trust your tutor, even if some of the activities they offer you do not seem to fit neatly with your goal. If you are unsure, ask them why they believe this will benefit you.

• Communicate with your tutor about your goals, not only when contacting your tutor for the first time, but throughout the program. Revise your goals as necessary.  But do not be too quick to downgrade them! Trust yourself. Your development needs (the areas you decided you wished to focus on when you first started)  may have changed.

For LOTE tutoring specifically (and as I mentioned in a previous post, I will inevitably revert to using French as an example: that's what I do and that's my passion!):

• immerse yourself in the spoken language: listen to radio programs in the target language, watch the local news (on SBS or online), watch movies (on SBS1 and 2, at the cinema or online), listen to French music.

• if you keep a personal journal, write a few lines each night in French. Then every night, increase by another line. If you don't keep a personal journal, start now! This will expand your skills and get you thinking in French.

• go to the French film festival if it is held in your city.

• do not despair if you watch the news and cannot understand fully. Pick out words, context, tones. Little by little you will pick out a bit more. The aim is not to make out each word at this stage.

Happy learning to you!

How to choose a tutor?

How do I choose a tutor? Family and friends often ask me this question, particularly at this time of year when returning to the routine of school terms, homework, and the like.

Whether you are an adult looking for tuition for yourself, for fun or travel, or a VCE student wanting support in your oh-so-important final school year, a tutor is an investment in time and money.

If you are committed to your studies, chances are that you will be spending time with your tutor on a regular basis, and I suggest not rushing through the selection process.

sarkozynews.canalblog.com

I would suggest you consider the following questions when selecting a potential tutor, to ensure your investment is best targeted to achieve maximum results (as you will  see, some of the questions directly relate to VCE level. The rest applies to all levels, and can apply to any subject, although I will mostly refer to LOTE - French . . . because that's what I do!):

• What is your knowledge of VCE requirements?
• Have you worked with VCE students in secondary schools? Which schools and for how long?
• What is your level of expertise in the language?
• Are you a native speaker of the language?
• Have you lived in France? If so, for how long?
• Do you live in an area serviced by public transport? VCE students have enough to juggle in their final year without having to travel long distances every week (and the same applies to their parents/carers!).
• Do you talk to students in French only during the lesson? In my view, the whole tutoring lesson needs to be conducted in the target language. This will assist the student to "think" in the language and will very quickly boost their oral comprehension and speech. Remember, at exam time, the student will be expected to sustain a conversation with a French-speaking panel. They will never have met the panel, and as such will not be used to their accent, tone and other language idiosyncracies.
• How will you develop a tutoring program for me/my child? This needs to be done in consultation with the student, and potentially their parent/teacher. A good tutor will evaluate the program regularly based on the student's performance and update it throughout the year.
• Are you available for the full school year? Beware of visitors offering tutoring lessons while holidaying. It would be a shame to part ways before the student had taken their VCE exams, or if you are an adult student, before you have achieved your goals.
• Are you available for phone or Skype tutoring?
• Do you provide assistance in between classes?

I am a bit wary of large tuition companies -  some pay tutors low rates and who would agree to tutor for little? I reserve my judgment of tutors who advertise their services for several subjects. My view is that it's better to get an expert in the field.

Finally, is the tutor someone your child and yourself can relate to, and can they clearly communicate with you on progress? Are they approchable and friendly? Do you "connect"?

Often you will hear of a reputable and reliable tutor from word-of-mouth. Ask your child's teacher or friends if they know of a tutor they would be comfortable referring to you. And keep your eyes and ears open for tutors in your area.

A good tutor will take you or your child out of your comfort zone (gently), and challenge you step-by-step till you reach your goal. After all, if you're not challenged, are you really getting the benefit?
At what the French Tutoring, you get tuition from a native French speaker with many years' experience tutoring adults and school students.

A word on "word-of-mouth":
If you are happy with my services, please tell others. If you are not, please tell ME! My aim is to give you a value-for-money, effective and enjoyable French tutoring experience.

Why study French and where do I practice my French?

Why study French? 

listverse.com lists French as the 10th most spoken language in the world -  not only is it one of the most spoken languages, it is also spoken all around the world: on the North American, South American, African, European continents and more. Click on this link to see the French-speaking world map. Carte de la Francophonie Quite impressive . . . And below is the map showing member states of l'Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.

ladocumentationfrançaise.fr

Have a look at my list of Tourism Offices on the right: you don't have to go half-way around the world to France to practise your French and experience French culture (although a trip to Europe would be nice).

New Caledonia and French Polynesia are two destinations that are closer and may be more affordable than a Grand European Tour. Contact me to discuss learning basic French for travel, or to brush up on your French before your trip! It's easier than you think . . .