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IB Recommended Reading: French Ab Initio & French B

These links should be useful for many topics

French Ab Initio: Recommended reading

When starting to read in French, it is best to try something easy, even something you might have read in English, such as the Adventures of Tintin or Asterix and Obelix - all these books are available in the Secondary library. Take up the challenge and improve your French by reading at least one easy book per month!

Students are expected to build up a portfolio of the basic language. These should include numbers up to 100, days months, countries, nationalities, pets, family and basic adjectives like colours; and simple verbs.

Astérix gladiateur

We have many books available in this series, in the Secondary Library

Le rythme de la rue

Available in the Secondary Library

Hubert Le Chat Vert

Available in the Secondary Library

Tintin en Amerique

Available in the Secondary Library, with more in the series.

Capitaine Bobette

Available in the Secondary Library - with others in the series.

Babar et le Professeur Grifaton

Available in the Secondary Library, with others in the series

Ras le Pompon

Available in the Secondary Library - with similarly leveled books in the series

Careers for Foreign Language Aficionados and Other Multilingual Types

Discusses career opportunities available for people who have a way with words, providing advice from professionals in a variety of related fields, including volunteer and service organizations, commerce and business, entertainment, and others; and includes a list of related professional associations.

Movies for French B students

The following movies will support your language learning skills. 

  • Les 400 coups François Truffaut (1959) 
  • Au revoir les enfants Louis Malle (1987) 
  • La Haine Mathieu Kassovitz (1995) 
  • L’auberge espagnole Cédric Klapisch (2002) 
  • Un long dimanche de fiançailles Jean-Pierre Jeunet (2004) 
  • Entre les murs Laurent Cantet (2008) 

Recommended links for independent learning

Obviously, there is an inexhaustible list of websites for learning French - these are just some of the ones recommended by your teachers. If you find any issues or broken links - please send an email to the librarian.

Très BienTrès Bien app - free grammar and vocabulary lessons and practice.

 

 

 

A Verb Trainer with hundreds of verbs that are instantly conjugated for you.

 

 

 

 MindSnacks - and excellent app that has been around for a while. Lots of learning and fun games to practice your French.

 

 

  Online news, 24/7 - updates the latest headlines.

 

 

 

   DuoLingo - another well-known and trusted language learning course, free.

 

 

 L'Obs, le magazine - try reading a popular magazine, again, all free to help you improve your grades.

French B

Students are expected to revise and practise bacis French using the present, past, future, conditional and imperfect tenses. Students should be exposed to French as much as possible.

Below are some books that would be good to read that are available in the library: