Impington Village College

GCSELanguages

Revision tips

1. Little and Often

You can’t revise vocab for an hour. You can’t revise languages for 4 hours. It stops going in!

Plan your revision in 30 minute sessions, but make them often – languages need regular practice and reinforcement.eg 10 minutes Vocabulary

10 minutes Topic sentences 10 minutes verbs and grammar Be very focussed on what you want to learn in the

session.

2. The Tool Kit

Before you start any revision session or prepare for that last piece of speaking or writing coursework you need to have all your materials ready: textbook and exercise books and your “Tool Kit”. You need 6 different “boxes”, i.e. six different lists or six different sets of card.

Box 1: Frequently used VerbsFrench Spanish German

to do faire hacer machento speak/talk parler hablar sprechento work travailler trabajar arbeitento play jouer jugar spielento go aller ir gehen (on foot)/ fahren

to eat manger comer essento drink boire beber trinkento read lire leer lesento meet rencontrer encontrar treffen

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Box 2: Adjectives to be used for opinionsFrench Spanish German

interesting intéressant interesante interessantgreat génial estupendo tollcool cool genial coolsuper super fantástico superboring ennuyeux aburrido langweilighorrible horrible horrible / fatal schlechtLearn these adjectives and put them into opinion phrases!For example: That is + adjective / That was + adjective

Box 3: Names (and Places) which make your work personal and show cultural awareness

French Spanish Germanmy father mon père mi padre mein Vatermy mother ma mère mi madre meine Muttermy sister ma soeur mi hermana meine Schwestermy brother mon frère mi hermano mein Brudermy friend (m) mon ami mi amigo mein Freundmy friend (f) mon amie mi amiga meine FreundinHaving used one of the words above, at times substitute them with the names of these people. Also remember that these use the he/she endings of the verb.

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Box 4: High Frequency WordsEvery language has common words that come up a lot – but they won’t necessarily be on topic word lists. Here are a few:

French Spanish Germanand et y undbut mais pero aberif si si wennso donc así que alsofor pour para / por fürwith avec con mitwithout sans sin ohneof de de vonas / like comme como wieor ou o oderby par / en por vonall tout todo alle / allesthere là allí dorteach chaque cada jederother autre otro anderesmany beaucoup de mucho vieleabout sur/au sujet de sobre überthen / next puis luego dannmore plus más mehrless moins menos wenigpeople les gens la gente Leuteplease s’il vous plaît por favor bittethank you merci gracias danke

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Box 5: Question words English French Spanish GermanWhere? Où? ¿Dónde? Wo?When? Quand? ¿Cuándo? Wann?Who? Qui? ¿Quién? Wer?What? Que ¿Qué? Was?Why? Pourquoi? ¿Por qué? Warum?Which? Quel? ¿Cuál? Welcher?What time? A quelle heure? ¿A qué hora? Um wieviel

Uhr?How? Comment? ¿Cómo? Wie?With who? Avec qui? ¿Con quién? Mit wem?How much? Combien? ¿Cuánto? Wie viel?How many? Combien? ¿Cuántos? Wie viele?How far? Quelle distance? ¿Qué distancia? Wie weit?How long? Combien de temps? ¿Cuánto tiempo? Wie lange?What like? C’est comment? ¿Cómo es? Wie ist es?

Box 6: Topic vocabularyThe words for this box you will find in your textbook or vocab lists under the topic vocabulary for each unit.

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3. How to learn vocab

Little and often – keep trying to find 10 or 15 minute slots when you can tackle 20 or 30 words.

Beware – copying out words is not in itself learning them. The old Primary school technique of Look> Cover>Write>Check is much more effective.

Many words you can learn for understanding ie you need to recognise them but you don’t need to learn the spelling. You can often test yourself by covering the English and seeing if you remember what the word means.

Test yourself at the end of a short section. Or get someone else to test you.

Interact with the words – don’t just sit and look at them of read them through.

-cross out the ones you already know-say them out loud (especially if you are an auditory or kinaesthetic learner)-highlight the important ones you have trouble remembering-go back and check the ones you didn’t know.

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To save you typing in long Web links, there is an electronic copy of this booklet on the IVC Modern Languages Blog at http://www.ivcmodernlanguagesblog.typepad.com/ or via a link on the IVC website under ‘Curriculum’.

4. Web resources

There are some useful websites for revising languages. It can be a change of activity, but they may not be very focussed on GCSE or on your syllabus.

Spanish revision websiteshttp://www.asisehace.net/ Vocab practice and revision Reading and Listening exercises for all the GCSE topics. (See Nivel Intermedio section)http://oye.languageskills.co.uk/intermediate/year10/12813.html GCSE vocab and topic practice. No password needed outside school hours.http://www.languagesonline.org.uk/ The Vocabulary Units section has vocabulary exercises, and other related practice, sorted by topics.http://www.espanol-extra.co.uk/ Lots of practice materials in Years 7-11 Topics, Years 7-11 Grammar, and Resources for GCSE Controlled Assessments sections. The Vocabulary links on the side-bar are also excellent. Use the same log-in / password as you do in school (impington / village)http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/spanish/index.shtml All kinds of Spanish courses and learning videos. Not particularly aimed at GCSE, but some of it is fun.http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/spanish/ Mostly practice exercises in the four skills.www.linguastars.com (usual school log-on) Covers GCSE topics.www.linguascope.com (usual school log-on) for Foundation level and basics.http://languagesatnorthgate.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/spanish-grammar.doc grammar revision with attitude. Fun, though it may not appeal to everyone.http://www.spanishspanish.com/ The vocabulary lists and practice are pretty good – about the right level, though not aimed at GCSE. Sound files to practise pronunciation.

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http://www.digitaldialects.com/Spanish.htm Common vocab revision with nice graphics and games to practice, though not aimed specifically at GCSE.www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize Of course... Topics, grammar, practice ...www.zut.org.uk GCSE revision materials and games. Click on OYE on homepage.http://www.asisehace.net/ The intermediate section is for GCSE – revision, exercises, some listening activities.www.aprender.org.uk Lots of vocab activities by topics. Fun!

French revision websiteshttp://www.languagesonline.org.uk/ The Vocabulary Units section has vocabulary exercises, and other related practice, sorted by topics.http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/index.shtml All kinds of Spanish courses and learning videos. Not particularly aimed at GCSE, but some of it is fun.www.linguascope.com (usual school log-on) Intermediate level covers GCSE topics.http://www.revisionworld.co.uk/gcse/french Commercial, but some nice activities, including vocab revisionhttp://www.wildfrench.co.uk/ Good revision and practice for GCSE topics.http://www.s-cool.co.uk/ Good revision materials on topics, with tests to consolidate.http://www.langweb.co.uk/GCSEorals/FrGerGCSElink.htm lots of good revision materialswww.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize Of course... Topics, grammar, practice ...www.zut.org.uk GCSE revision materials and games.http://www.dulwich.org.uk/Intranet_French_Document_1.aspx?id=8:1110&id=1:29104&id=1:29103&id=8:1789 Various revision resourceshttp://www.wildfrench.co.uk/GCSEPapers/paperslist.htm lots of Reading practice with answers.

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German revision websiteshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/german/index.shtml All kinds of German courses and learning videos. Not particularly aimed at GCSE, but some of it is fun.www.linguascope.com (usual school log-on) Intermediate level covers GCSE topicshttp://www.langweb.co.uk/GCSEorals/FrGerGCSElink.htm www.zut.org.uk GCSE revision materials and games. Click on GUT on homepage.www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize Of course... Topics, grammar, practice ...http://www.targetlanguage.co.uk/contents.html Grammar, vocab and topic revision

5. Listening practice

The exam boards will have at least one practise listening paper at Foundation and Higher level, with a sound file you can download. There is no harm in trying the samples from other boards as well. There will be a mark scheme available too.

AQA www.aqa.org.uk (Look under ‘Specimen Papers’)German Listening papers on http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/languages/new/german_materials.php?id=08&prev=08 French on:http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/languages/new/french_materials.php?id=08&prev=8 Spanish on:

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http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/languages/new/spanish_materials.php?id=08&prev=08 OCR www.ocr.org.uk (You may need to click on ‘View All Documents’)French Specimen listening papers on http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/gcse/languages/french/documents/index.html German onhttp://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/gcse/languages/german/documents/index.html Spanish onhttp://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/type/gcse/languages/spanish/documents/index.html

The Ashcombe School has video listening materials and exercises:French http://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/Curriculum/modlang/french/index_fr_video.htm Spanishhttp://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/Curriculum/modlang/spanish/index_sp_video.htm Germanhttp://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/Curriculum/modlang/german/index_de_video.htm

There are Listening activities on the Dulwich College site. French http://www.dulwich.org.uk/Intranet_French_Document_1.aspx?id=8:1521&id=1:29104&id=1:29103&id=8:240&id=1:29102 (The LCP practice materials have sound files and answers.)

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http://www.asisehace.net/ has some Spanish listening activities.

There are nice interactive listening activities and revision materials from the Welsh Board:http://www.ngfl-cymru.org.uk/vtc-home/vtc-ks4-home/vtc-ks4-spanish

6. Reading and SAM Learning

Sam Learning is mostly based on Reading comprehension, though there are some listening activities. It’s good for vocab and topic revision BUT....You must take the time to look up words you didn’t know.Getting 7 out of 10 on a test is only useful if you then look up the words you needed to get the other 3 right.One way to do this is by cutting and pasting into www.wordreference.com – keep this site open as well.

The exam boards have Specimen Reading Papers www.aqa.org.uk and www.ocr.org.uk See under 5. Listening Practice above for exact links.The AQA site has 3 more past papers from the old syllabus – the questions are in French/German/Spanish, but it is still good practice. No sound files for listening unfortunately.http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/newgcses/languages/new/spanish_old_materials.php?id=08&prev=08

The Welsh Board has Specimen GCSE Assessment materials – there is a Reading (Foundation and Higher) here and the

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answers are right at the end on the document. (No sound file for the listening unfortunately.)http://www.wjec.co.uk/index.php?subject=57&level=7

http://www.wildfrench.co.uk/GCSEPapers/paperslist.htm has lots of practice exercises with answers.

BBC Bitesize has Reading practice with answerswww.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize

7. NVQMost of the points in this booklet apply to NVQ as well.But specifically for NVQ:

• Get your assessments up to date. See which ones you have missed or need to re-do. Revise them and get them done.

• Practice your speaking – it’s the hardest skill to get at level 2. Try reading you notes out loud. Ask your teacher for a copy of the relevant sound files.

• Organise your folder. Know where to find your vocab revision sheets.

• Make sure you know the basics: they come up all the time!

numbers, days, months, times

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8. Learning Verbs and Tenses

Verbs are the nuts and bolts of a language. There is a verb in every sentence, and they tend to be a bit more complicated than English verbs.

Aiming for a C or better, you will need to know how to put verbs into the Present, Past and Future tenses:The verb chart is one way to revise these.

Aiming higher, you will need to know the ‘Real’ Future tense, and the Imperfect tense.

Tense by tenseYou can look at each tense in turn. Look at the regular verb endings. Then see which verbs are irregular. Test yourself!You will find these notes in your Note book, of in the text book (in the Grammar section at the back), or on Websites.

Verb by verbAnother way is to learn a single verb in its different tenses.eg Faire –to do Present Je fais Future Je vais faire Past J’ai faitFor this you can use the verb charts (see below), the verb tables in the back of the text book, or you could make your own revision cards. Then test yourself!

Keep learning and testing yourself – if you can do 20 verbs in the three main tenses, you are well on the way to a C.

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French verb chartEnglish Infinitive Present

tensePast tense(Perfect)

Future tense

Means to do, etc I do (now / usually)

I did I’m going to do

Present tense endings

J’ai ....or Je suis....

Je vais + infinitive

to do faire Je fais J’ai fait Je vais faireto visit visiter Je visite J’ai visité Je vais visiterto play jouer Je joue J’ai joué Je vais jouerto go aller Je vais Je suis allé Je vais allerto watch regarder Je regarde J’ai regardé Je vais regarderto eat manger Je mange J’ai mangé Je vais mangerto drink boire Je bois J’ai bu Je vais boireto see voir Je vois J’ai vu Je vais voirto work travailler Je travaille J’ai travaillé Je vais travaillerto study étudier J’étudie J’ai étudié Je vais étudierto arrive arriver J’arrive Je suis arrivé Je vais arriverto go out sortir Je sors Je suis sorti Je vais sortirto listen écouter J’écoute J’ai écouté Je vais écouterto read lire Je lis J’ai lu Je vais lireto stay rester Je reste Je suis resté Je vais resterto travel voyager Je voyage J’ai voyagé Je vais voyagerto take prendre Je prends J’ai pris Je vais prendreto be être Je suis J’ai été Je vais êtreto write écrire J’écris J’ai écrit Je vais écrireto speak parler Je parle J’ai parlé Je vais parlerto buy acheter J’achète J’ai acheté Je vais acheterto return rentrer Je rentre Je suis rentré Je vais rentrer

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Spanish verb chartEnglish Infinitive Present

tensePast tense(Preterite)

Future tense

Means > to do, etc I do (now / usually)

I did I’m going to do

Present tense endings

-ar -er/-ir é -í

Voy a + infinitive

to do hacer hago hice Voy a hacerto visit visitar visito visité Voy a visitarto play jugar juego jugué Voy a jugarto go ir voy fui Voy a irto watch mirar miro miré Voy a mirarto eat comer como comí Voy a comerto drink beber bebo bebí Voy a beberto see ver veo vi Voy a verto work trabajar trabajo trabajé Voy a trabajarto study estudiar estudio estudié Voy a estudiarto arrive llegar llego llegué Voy a llegarto go out salir salgo salí Voy a salirto listen escuchar ecucho escuché Voy a escucharto read leer leo leí Voy a leerto stay quedars

eme quedo me quedé Voy a quedarme

to travel viajar viajo viajé Voy a viajarto take tomar tomo tomé Voy a tomarto be ser soy fui Voy a serto write escribir escribo escribí Voy a escribirto speak hablar hablo hablé Voy a hablarto buy comprar compro compré Voy a comprarto return volver vuelvo volví Voy a volver

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German verb chartEnglish Infinitive Present tense Past tense

(Perfect)Means to do, etc I do (now /

usually)I did

Present tense endings

Ich habe ...or Ich bin ....(ge-form at the end!)

to do machen Ich mache Ich habe gemachtto visit besuchen Ich besuche Ich habe besuchtto play spielen Ich spiele Ich habe gespieltto go (on foot) gehen Ich gehe Ich bin gegangento go fahren Ich fahre Ich bin gefahrento eat essen Ich esse Ich habe gegessento drink trinken Ich trinke Ich habe getrunkento see sehen Ich sehe Ich habe gesehento work arbeiten Ich arbeite Ich habe gearbeitetto study lernen Ich lerne Ich habe gelerntto arrive ankommen Ich komme … an Ich bin angekommento go out ausgehen Ich gehe … aus Ich bin ausgegangento listen hören Ich höre Ich habe gehörtto read lesen Ich lese Ich habe gelesento stay bleiben Ich bleibe Ich bin gebliebento meet treffen Ich treffe Ich habe getroffento write schreiben Ich schreibe Ich habe geschriebento buy kaufen Ich kaufe Ich habe gekauft

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Bonne chance!

¡Suerte!

Viel Glück!