How can we give pupils earworms in order to ensure that the French they learn will be remembered forever?

Before we look at how, it’s probably better to look at what. What is an earworm? And how can they possibly ensure that the French our pupils learn will be remembered forever?

Well the good news is that it is not a parasite or a disease, or any other medical condition for that matter, although scientists do appear to be to blame for inventing the term.

So let us define…

Earworms (revealed by Dr Williamson, a memory expert at Goldsmith’s College in London) is the term scientists commonly use to describe, quite simply, a song that gets stuck in our head. Other phrases used to describe an earworm include stuck-song syndrome, sticky music and cognitive itch.

So again, I ask the question: How can we give pupils earworms in order to ensure that the French they learn will be remembered forever?

Now the answer seems to be fairly obvious – learning French through song. And not just any song but songs that are relevant to the learning agenda and as catchy as they can possibly be.

With this in mind we have developed Chantez Plus Fort! (Book & CDs) which contains 20 easy-to-learn French songs written specifically to help children to learn French.

They are linked to some of the KS2 programmes of study for modern foreign languages, introducing and reinforcing key vocabulary for popular topics, from greetings and days of the week to family and classroom items, whilst honing listening skills and pronunciation.

All 20 songs on CD 1 are sung by French children, and the CD also contains mini-dialogues which can be readily used for listening comprehension. CD 2 contains instrumental tracks for 16 of the original songs so pupils can really put their memory to the test.

The accompanying book contains teachers’ notes, illustrated song sheets, music sheets (including guitar chords), scripts for the mini dialogues, and English translations of all the songs.

You can order the Chantez Plus Fort! resource in any of these ways:

On our website
By phone on 01449 766629
By fax on 01449 767122
By email to orders@tradecounter.co.uk
Or By post to Brilliant Publications, Mendlesham Industrial Estate, Norwich Road, Mendlesham, Suffolk, IP14 5ND.

Brilliant Publications,
Mendlesham Industrial Estate,
Norwich Road,
Mendlesham,
Suffolk,
IP14 5ND.

website: www.brilliantpublications.co.uk
email: orders@tradecounter.co.uk

phone: 01449 766629
fax: 01449 767122