modern language learning resources for secondary (or primary) kids?

[breadandbutterfly]

Following on from my thread of a few weeks' ago, where I described my dd's experiences of starting to learn French in year 7, and of my shock at how low the standard was and how little she appeared to have learned/understood esp grammatically, I wondered if anyone could recommend any language learning CDs/books/packages/software/games, or online resources, etc?

When the kids were little we tried Spanish Muzzy as we go to Spain quite frequently - it seemed fairly pants and not worth the money (even though we got it second hand). I've recently bought my dd a book and CDs off Amazon, just really to get her to listen to the sounds of the language as her accent was so horrible - too early days yet to say if that works... had a quick look at reviews for Rosetta Stone but, huge cost aside, it doesn't sound very good.

So - anyone else? I'm looking specifically at French at secondary level, but if anyone can recommend stuff for German or Spanish at primary or secondary level, too, I'd be very interested.

Thanks.

[ohmygosh123]

Just marking my place incase anyone has any good ideas. I agree Muzzy wasn't great. Rosetta Stone isn't bad, but is horrifically expensive.

[Bonsoir]

You could use the workbooks that French parents use to supplement the crap primary school teaching in France - they are rather good and quite cheap.

Chouette

There are loads of them.

[Tinuviel]

Galore Park is good, although the CDs are expensive. However, you don't specifically need them if you are focussing on grammar.

[breadandbutterfly]

Thanks - i think it's the sound of the language I need, along with logical presentation (which I imagine would include some grammar).

Are there any online courses aimed at kids? Video clips/programmes would be good. Free would be nice but I don't mind paying if it's worth it.

Books on their own wouldn't work for us as her accent is so bad and mine not much better...

[randomfennel]

I've been looking round for similar items, and currently this is going down well with my yr7 - a ds French tutor/game aimed at this age group:

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000XD4R26/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I also got this- a "revision guide" for yr7 French, it gives me some idea of what dd should have been covering at school - dd is a bit vague on what they've done but it doesn't seem enough to me.
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1843155567/ref=oh_details_o06_s00_i00?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I've been more concerned about general grammar/competency rather than spoken French so I haven't focused on the audio resources, but the ds game does include telling you how to pronounce words and phrases. dd likes it.

[breadandbutterfly]

Thanks random - don't have a ds though so though that sounds good not sure it's worth getting a ds just for this (and other language versions).