Wednesday 24 January 2024

Francophone songs for teaching: an index

I love using songs when teaching French.  They help to introduce language and culture, they make a lesson memorable, and they can motivate learners to keep listening after the lesson.

TEACHING
Here's a sequence I can recommend:

  1. Listen to the song
  2. Follow a gap fill version - the gaps are all at the ends of the sentences, and the words needed are all listed alphabetically at the side
  3. Select the words to fill the gaps -  this could be done by guessing them in advance of hearing a second time
  4. Listen and perhaps pause at the end of each line
  5. Check answers against a version which has a translation
  6. Read aloud with a partner
  7. Only at the end - watch the video!  (This is the carrot!!)
  8. OPTIONAL: sing along / dance.
  9. IDEAL: Add to personal playlist and collect more from singers you like.

I find that this sequence works for all learners, and that comprehension of the words is not necessary to make it a worthwhile exercise.  Recognising sound/spelling is rewarding on its own.
Usually there is a natural desire to know what the words mean, but that can come later.

RESOURCES
I have created a section in my 'Miss Myers Learning French' Google site devoted to songs and on the home page of the section I have just published a link to a spreadsheet listing songs which I have used with my French classes. There are  more to come, including links to online exercises I have created using TeachVid and Textivate.  I have put examples below the spreadsheet.

The columns are as follows:
  • Artist  - usually full name
  • Title  - song title
  • Date  - approximate date (I found these in seconds via ChatGPT - they may not be totally accurate)
  • Topic  - my own judgement of topic - most of them are 'relationships' unsurprisingly!
  • Language  - if I have selected song for a specific language reason, I write it here
  • Resource link  - link to a document in my Google drive.  Usually (but not always) French / translation / gap-fill exercise 
  • Video  - usually referenced in document, but I hope to get around to putting direct link on the spreadsheet.
Hope someone finds this useful!  There are bound to be typos / mistakes, and I would welcome any corrections or advice.

I have written a separate blogpost with some ideas for other singers which may appeal to teachers and/or students here.

Thanks to Caroline Grant for inspiring me to do this!  All the best  to her  lucky students!

Tuesday 23 January 2024

Chat GPT finds dates of songs in seconds

I am putting together a list of songs I've used in my teaching.  I have written a list in an Excel spreadsheet.  I was painstakingly going through each one to find an approximate date of release.  Then I decided to try out ChatGPT.  Again, I am AMAZED at the speed with which it can come up with the information.

Of course there is  a caveat from ChatGPT: "Please note that some of these songs may have been released in different versions or as part of albums with different release years. The years provided are based on the most well-known or original releases."  I'm fine with that!

Here's a copy and paste of the first part.  It even copes with my many typos / mistakes!

Wow.  Just, wow.  

User:

When were these songs released? 

ChatGPT

I'm sorry, but you haven't provided a list of songs for me to check their release dates. Could you please provide the names of the songs you're interested in, and I'll do my best to provide their release dates?


User

Bori+B13:C105s Vian Le déserteur

Calogero Les feux d'artifice

C'est ma terre

Christophe Mae Belle demoiselle

Claude Nougaro Assez

Claude Nougaro Tu verras

Claudio Capéo Ça va

Corneille Seuk au monde

Corneille Le bon dieu est une femme

Desireless Voyage voyage

Diam's + Vitaa Confessions nocturnes

Eddt de Pretto Normal

Edith Piaf Je ne regrette rien

Edith Piaf Je ne regrette rien

Flight of the Conchords Foux de fa fa

Francis Cabrel Octobre

Francis Cabrel Petite Marie

Francis Cabrel Repondez-moi

Francis Cabrel L'encre de tes yeux

ChatGPT

Here are the release years for the songs you provided:


Boris Vian - "Le déserteur" - 1954

Calogero - "Les feux d'artifice" - 2014

Calogero - "C'est ma terre" - 2007

Christophe Maé - "Belle demoiselle" - 2008

Claude Nougaro - "Assez" - 1989

Claude Nougaro - "Tu verras" - 1995

Claudio Capéo - "Ça va" - 2016

Corneille - "Seul au monde" - 2003

Corneille - "Le bon dieu est une femme" - 2005

Désirless - "Voyage voyage" - 1986

Diam's + Vitaa - "Confessions nocturnes" - 2006

Eddy de Pretto - "Normal" - 2018

Édith Piaf - "Non, je ne regrette rien" - 1960

Édith Piaf - "Non, je ne regrette rien" - 1961

Flight of the Conchords - "Foux du fafa" - 2008

Francis Cabrel - "Octobre" - 1980

Francis Cabrel - "Petite Marie" - 1977

Francis Cabrel - "Répondez-moi" - 1994

Francis Cabrel - "L'encre de tes yeux" - 1979


ChatGPT recommendations: francophone song

 I have recently been asked for recommendations for francophone singers to use in the FLE classroom.

 I selected my Zaz/ISA CD album to listen to in the background (-yes, I still like having physical CDs!), and asked these 3 questions.  I am just SO impressed!

 User

Please list francophone singers who are popular with teachers

ChatGPT

Certainly! It's important to note that musical preferences can vary widely among individuals, including teachers. However, I can provide a list of francophone singers who have gained popularity and recognition across different audiences. Keep in mind that popularity may change over time, and new artists may have emerged since my last knowledge update in January 2022. Here are some francophone singers who have been well-received:

 Édith Piaf - Known for her iconic voice and timeless classics.

Charles Aznavour - A prolific singer-songwriter with a vast catalog of emotional and poetic songs.

Jacques Brel - A Belgian singer-songwriter whose work is highly regarded for its depth and storytelling.

Céline Dion - A global superstar with a powerful voice and numerous hits.

Johnny Hallyday - Often referred to as the "French Elvis," he was a rock and roll icon in the French-speaking world.

Zaz - A contemporary singer known for her unique voice and a mix of jazz, French chanson, and gypsy music.

Stromae - A Belgian artist who blends electronic music with insightful lyrics, gaining international acclaim.

Francis Cabrel - A singer-songwriter known for his poetic and introspective songs.

Mylène Farmer - An influential figure in French pop music, recognized for her artistic and theatrical performances.

Jean-Jacques Goldman - A highly successful songwriter and performer with a significant impact on French music.

These artists cover a range of genres and styles, so you might find something that resonates with different tastes. Keep in mind that music preferences are subjective, and teachers may have diverse tastes as well.

 User

Please list francophone singers who are popular with francophone teenagers

ChatGPT

As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, the popularity of singers among francophone teenagers can be dynamic and subject to change. New artists may have emerged, and trends may have shifted. However, here are some francophone singers who were popular with teenagers around that time:

 Angèle - A Belgian singer-songwriter known for her catchy pop songs and relatable lyrics.

Aya Nakamura - A French-Malian pop and R&B artist with energetic and danceable tracks.

Nekfeu - A French rapper and member of the group L'Entourage, appreciated for his thoughtful lyrics.

Orelsan - A French rapper and songwriter, known for his clever and humorous approach to storytelling.

Lomepal - A versatile artist blending rap and melodic elements in his music.

Ninho - A popular French rapper with a distinctive style and numerous hits.

Vitaa - A French R&B singer known for her collaborations with other artists and solo work.

Slimane - Winner of The Voice France, his soulful voice and pop-infused songs have gained popularity.

PNL - A French rap duo consisting of two brothers, known for their atmospheric and introspective style.

Aloïse Sauvage - A singer, rapper, and actress whose music often explores personal and social themes.

Remember that music trends can evolve quickly, and new artists may have risen to popularity since my last update. It's always a good idea to check current charts, social media, and streaming platforms for the latest information on popular francophone artists among teenagers.

 User

Could you give me ten more examples for each category?

ChatGPT

Certainly! Here are ten more examples of francophone singers who were popular around 2022, considering both general popularity and appeal to teenagers:

Popular with Teachers:

 Raphaël - A singer-songwriter known for his poetic and introspective songs.

Carla Bruni - An Italian-French singer-songwriter with a soothing and elegant style.

Benjamin Biolay - A singer and composer recognized for his sophisticated and melodic compositions.

Louane - A singer and actress who gained fame through The Voice France and her role in the film "La Famille Bélier."

Michel Sardou - A veteran singer with a vast repertoire of classic French chansons.

Vanessa Paradis - An actress and singer, known for her early hit "Joe le taxi" and later, more mature work.

Calogero - A pop-rock artist with a successful solo career and collaborations with other musicians.

Alain Souchon - A singer-songwriter celebrated for his witty and poetic compositions.

Christophe Maé - A pop and folk-influenced artist with a soulful voice and catchy melodies.

Julien Doré - A singer-songwriter with a charismatic and playful style.

 

Popular with Francophone Teenagers:

 Lous and The Yakuza - A Congolese-Belgian singer known for her unique blend of pop, R&B, and rap.

Koba LaD - A French rapper recognized for his energetic and streetwise style.

GIMS (Maitre Gims) - A singer and rapper who was part of the group Sexion d'Assaut and later pursued a successful solo career.

Claudio Capéo - A singer and accordionist known for his catchy and folk-influenced songs.

Dadju - A French singer and songwriter, part of the musical group The Shin Sekaï and successful solo artist.

Slimane & Vitaa - A collaboration between Slimane and Vitaa, combining their talents in the French music scene.

Lefa - A rapper and former member of Sexion d'Assaut, known for his solo work as well.

Hoshi - A singer-songwriter with a powerful voice and emotionally charged songs.

Bigflo & Oli - A hip-hop duo consisting of two brothers, known for their thoughtful and socially conscious lyrics.

Aloïse Sauvage - Repeated from the previous list, as she resonates well with both teenagers and a broader audience.

These artists represent a mix of genres and styles, reflecting the diverse musical landscape in the French-speaking world. Keep in mind that popularity can shift, so it's a good idea to check more recent sources for the latest trends.

 User

I recommend Souleymane Diamanka.  Do you know his work?

ChatGPT

As of my last knowledge update in January 2022, Souleymane Diamanka is a French rapper and slam poet. He is known for his engaging and thought-provoking lyrics, often exploring social issues, identity, and personal experiences. Diamanka's work is characterized by a poetic and intellectual approach to rap and slam poetry.

 However, the popularity of artists can change over time, and there may have been developments in Souleymane Diamanka's career since then. If there have been new releases or changes in his status within the music scene, I recommend checking more recent sources for the latest information on Souleymane Diamanka and his work.

User

Thank you.  You are amazing!

ChatGPT

You're very welcome! I'm glad I could assist you. If you have any more questions or if there's anything else I can help you with, feel free to ask. Enjoy exploring the world of francophone music!


Saturday 28 October 2023

Comments on posts: apologies from me!

 May I apologise to people who have kindly left comments on posts over the past nine years and who have not been acknowledged!  I was playing on the computer this morning an (re)discovered the 'comments' tab.  I think I have now 'approved' ones which seem to be non-spam!  Thank you for taking the time to write!  

Friday 27 October 2023

GCSE 2024 French: Formative assessment grids

As an Association for Learning Languages Volunteer, I have recently written an article about the new GCSE 2024 and included implications for our teaching.  In that article I suggested preparing formative assessment criteria and promised to share them here.

So...

I have prepared formative assessment grids to accompany the new GCSE 24 for AQA and Edexcel at Foundation and Higher along the lines of ones I have done for the current specification.

Why have done this and shared them?!

Well ....

  • This has helped me to get my head around the differences and will help for some forthcoming sessions I am doing with some schools and at the Language Show talk
  • They could inform the way you might adapt current KS3 internal assessment criteria. My next task is to put together composite grids for each of the skills which could be used in mixed ability settings. (Watch this space!).
I hope this document is of help to someone - they took a long time do! Any kindly worded suggestions and corrections are welcome! (Every time I check I find a mistake!) On Twitter I am  @HelenMyers 

It would also be great if you could join ALL if you are not already a member!

Thank you!

I have added them as numbers 9-12 on this blogpost which I am using as my 'GCSE Home page'.

I know, I must sort out a better system for sharing! I am meaning to set up a Google site .. and I shall do this one day!


Monday 21 August 2023

Grade boundaries in AL French German and Spanish June 2023

 This post about grade boundaries is in the context of Ofqual’s decision to return to 2019 grading in 2023.

There has been discussion on social media about the grade boundaries in AL Fr, Gn and Sp, and so David Blow, ALL Fellow, who has done much statistical analysis for the ML community has prepared the description below and this spreadsheet. (Stored on my Google Drive).

There is often much confusion in the media about grade boundaries and standards and the number of grades awarded, and how “comparable outcomes” works in practice to ensure that there is consistency from one year to the next in each subject.  It should be normal for there to be variations from year to year in grade boundaries to reflect the increase or decrease in difficulty of particular exam papers depending on the precise questions which happen to have been set that year.  It is important to stress that this is nothing to do with “severe grading”.  The latter is whereby in subjects such GCSE ML, systematically, arising from a historical anomaly, students on average get half a grade lower in their GCSE ML compared with their other EBacc subjects, leading to a false perception that they are not as good at ML as other subjects.  This is explained more fully on the ALL London site here.

2023 saw the return to "normal" i.e. pre-pandemic grading at both AL and GCSE.

 Ofqual on grade boundaries

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/guide-to-as-and-a-level-results-for-england-summer-2023

Ofqual has said: “Exam boards have set grade boundaries this summer based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative evidence. As in previous years when exams took place, there has been an important role for examiner judgement in reviewing the quality of students’ work.

 Grade boundaries typically change each exam series to reflect any differences in the difficulty of the assessments. This means that some grade boundaries are lower than 2019, while others are higher. The approach to grading this summer has protection built into the grading process so, irrespective of the grade boundaries, students can be confident that the disruption they have faced has been taken into account.”

 Situation in AL Fr, Gn, Sp

In all three subjects, there was a higher percentage of "top" (A* & A) grades awarded in 2023 than 2019.  The FFT Datalab analysis

https://ffteducationdatalab.org.uk/2023/08/a-level-and-other-level-3-results-2023-the-main-trends-in-grades-and-entries/

on the second page as a graphic shows for all subjects how the percentage of top grades has varied since 2019, and how they have all returned close to 2019.

I've produced a spreadsheet where I've drawn together the relevant information from AQA, Edexcel and JCQ websites regarding the A-level exams in French, German and Spanish.  You'll see from the figures in the spreadsheet just how complex the situation is.

The spreadsheet can be downloaded here

Screenshots from each tab are pasted below the commentary for each one.

 tab - "JCQ nos" - this gives the cumulative percentages for each grade in French, German and Spanish. You can see that for all the subjects, there was a higher percentage of "top" (A* & A) grades awarded in 2023 than 2019.    Therefore if the top grade boundaries had been lower, then there would have been additional top grades which would have put Fr, Gn, Sp out of line with other subjects.


 tab - "Edexcel" - this gives the grade boundaries for Fr, Gn Sp and the notional component boundaries. You can see that although the percentages getting top grades in each subject are all just up from 2019, there are marked variations in the grade boundary movements between the subjects, with French having significant movement upwards, and German and Spanish also going up but by less.  It also highlights that it is Paper 1 in French which has seen the biggest increase.
















 tab - "AQA" - this gives the grade boundaries for Fr, Gn Sp and the notional component boundaries. Note the way AQA give both raw marks and notional component scores in italics and smaller font.  In AQA, the top grade boundaries in French have risen a little and C downards have dropped; German sees a big swing in both directions, and Spanish rises for most grades.




 





 



Saturday 15 July 2023

GCSE 2024 FGS Update

 Please follow this  link to this post for new and updated content relating to the new GCSE 2024

I've spent ages comparing 2016+2024 GCSE French German and Spanish specs + specifically AQA and Edexcel French SAMs. My updated blogpost (please follow link) has links to docs which may help people-including very informal, unrefined YouTube videos! (If you watch them, I recommend setting the speed to at least x1.5!) .  As always, please tell me if I have to remove / edit / add anything. My main recommendations: don't panic, take your time, and seriously consider what (if anything) you need to change for KS3. Schools are still bound to deliver the National Curriculum or a similarly ambitious curriculum for KS3.


There are some helpful aspects from the perspective of the pupil experience in the new GCSE assessment:
- comprehension questions in English + speaking and writing tasks set in English (so valid + reliable results and more authentic tasks)
defined grammatical elements (so, not blanket terms such as 'irregular verbs' - the irregularities are defined);
no surprise words (just such a scandal that exam boards were forced to select from such an unrepresentative corpus of so-called High Frequency words, despite complaints from an extremely wide range of professional associations and many teachers)
- a continuation of being able to talk and write about their OWN experience with equal credit for words outside the list. (At least that battle was won, thanks to overwhelming response to the consultation).

As ever, one of the dilemmas for teachers is that what might be an 'easier' exam nevertheless, because of comparable outcomes, needs to have similar grades and, as a result, there can be clustering of marks/lack of discrimination. However, something like the comprehension questions in English, does make it a more valid test.