This document provides tips and resources for motivating able, gifted, and talented linguists in Key Stage 4 to take languages at A-Level. It includes ideas for revision activities, using authentic resources, videos, websites, and clubs to inspire students and build their language skills and confidence.

1. MOTIVATING ABLE GIFTED &
TALENTED LINGUISTS AT KS4
Inspiring them
to take up languages at A-Level
Jon Meier jon.meier@verulam.herts.sch.uk

2. 6 TWEET IT
Write a paragraph about
today’s topic using appropriate
keywords
Now summarise the paragraph
in a tweet (140 characters –
that includes spaces)
5 PICTURE THIS
Draw a picture or diagram to
illustrate one of the concepts
you have been learning about
4) MISCONCEPTIONS
Think back over today’s topic
What are the
pitfalls, minefields, traps or danger
areas where you might make a
mistake or lose marks?
3 QUESTION DESIGN
Based on today’s lesson, write a
challenging question.
How many marks would it be
worth?
Write a mark scheme
Now add a twist to make it even
harder
What might catch someone out?
2) LINKING
Think about the topic and language
you have covered today. What other
language topics could it link to?
Give examples of how you could use
any of today’s material in other topics
you have done?
Are there links to other subjects at
school?
1‘HIGH FIVE’
SAY / LIST 5 THINGS YOU’VE LEARNT
TODAY
ORDER THE POINTS IN DIFFERENT &
INTERESTING WAYS
e.g. step by step / difficulty /
chronological
Put the 5 points into a song, rap,
limerick or poem
The AG&T cube

3. Match the Harry Potter Names
Fang
Sorting hat
Hogwarts
Slytherin
Diagon Alley
Muggle
Wood
Daily Prophet
Crocdur
Choixpeau
Poudlard
Serpentard
Chemin de Traverse
Moldu
Dubois
La Gazette du Sorcier
La Gazette du Sorcier
Chemin de Traverse
Poudlard
Choixpeau
Serpentard
Dubois
Moldu
Crockdur

4. The GCSE exam itself
From Year 10 build up a relentless insistence on ‘WOW’ phrases for
Controlled Assessments - see handout
False friends – handout
Synonyms
aussi = également
Mais= par contre, pourtant
Parceque = car, puisque
Auch = ebenfalls
Aber = jedoch, dennoch
Weil= denn
Word families–rouge rougirRuhe, ruhig, sichausruhen
Taboo cards are good for practising synonyms – word & definition
(Quizlet etc)

5. AVOCADO
Adjectives
Verbs
Opinions & Justification
Connectives
Adverbs
Descriptions
Originality & Interest
(+ qualifiers & intensifiers)
(Variety, tenses)
(conjunctions)
(time expressions, frequency & sequencing)
(adj endings/ agreement,
SACLAD -size, appearance, character, likes, activities, dislikes)

6. Fun & Creative Controlled
Assessments
Mon école idéale
Il y aurait un gymnase
Le prof de physique serait Stephen Hawking
La prof de musique serait Beyoncé
Nous aurions un cinéma IMAX au sous-sol
Le maquillage serait autorisé
On aurait le droit d’utiliser les portables dans les cours
On aurait un McDonalds à sa disposition dans la cantine
toute la journée
On pourrait porter des chaussures de tennis
Do presentations as
prep work
Ma ville de rêve
Il y aurait un parc d’attractions tout près de chez moi (et
l’entrée serait gratuite pour les jeunes qui y habitent)
Nous aurions également un parc de skate, des terrains de
volley, un centre de sport tout neuf
Il y aurait des pistes cyclables partout
Lots of
for/against
practice

7. Talking points Google: ‘unusual
pictures’; check
before use!

8. Il s’agitd’unecampagne….
a) Pour la protection des
poissons
b) Contre le tabagisme
c) Contrel’énergienucléaire
Bridging the gap

9. Popplet
http://popplet.com/app/index.php#/460907
Easy
diagram
creator
You can
include
youtube
videos

10. It’s all about you…
Drip feed other A-Level ‘nuggets’
Des amuse-bouches
Run lunchtime A/A* support clubs
After school revision
Quiz buzzers
Active Teach texts
Use GCSE texts from other boards
From Feb/ March – lots of L & R practice
French revision.co.uk
Show them AS papers

11. ‘virtual exchanges’
‘speed dating with another school
‘Languages Live’
Skype link
Virtual exchange - Google streetview – 360 degree

12. Exploit a text in different ways
AQA GCSE reading
Pupils can make up questions
True/ false statements in Eng/French
Turn into a gap-fill
Make a revision dictionary
Read aloud round the class (popcorn)
Translate round the class
Teacher makes deliberate mistake
Put through easyprompter.com
put through ‘zap’ reader
Put into wordle.net
Jump up & say - Allocate a word per
pupil
Grammar analysis

13. AS Level sample
Paraphrase
Synonyms
True/false
Gap-fill
Top & tail
Paragraph headline
Who says what?

14. GCSE revision Websites & Resources
http://www.frenchexams.org/ click ‘intermediate’ for lots of
interactive exam question practice
Active Teach (Edexcel’s online Textbook)
Use bits of past papers, different exam boards, AS level samples
http://www.wildfrench.co.uk/GCSEPapers/
http://www.spanishrevision.co.uk/http://www.frenchrevision.co.uk
BBC Bitesize
http://www.languagesonline.org.uk/ zut, gut oyé,
Ashcombe school mfl
– Video quizzes
?

15. L & R Revision

16. ‘Making it Real’
using Authentic Resources
Menus
Pizzas àemporter
Cinéma + (Calais) + programme
La grille des programmes
Musée du chocolat
Senfmuseum
Greenpeace.fr
Greenpeace.de

19. Google: Espace paintball

20. Les clés de l’actualité (1 jour1)
http://1jour1actu.com/
GCSE to AS: Bridging the Gap
Also: News4 Kids – Nachrichtenfür Kinder http://news4kids.de/

21. Yahoo.fr- Actualités - Insolite

22. Using video
Evian VivonsJeunehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmxjW3CBH2g
Evian Roller Babies
Mr Bean
HB Maennchen
Avez-vous déjà vu (M6):e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxaCezLJfQw
Use tubechop for selecting bits of youtube clips
Keepvid.com is a good youtube downloader

23. Other AGT MFL grabbers
Use the FLA
Lunchtime / after school clubs
Songs e.g. Téléphone un autre Monde
Die Toten Hosen – MeineStadt
Films e.g. – Bienvenue chez les Ch’tis,
Amélie, La Maison du Bonheur, Les Visiteurs, Dîner de cons, Micmacs
JPM’sCinépages - activity booklets
Bits of French News – France 24
MFL Storybirds
Help younger pupils in language class and clubs

25. jon.meier@verulam.herts.sch.uk
Hopefully
this has given
you….