Can you recommend me a French book for DS, 12, please?

[Ivegotthree]

DS is starting to learn French in Year 7 but wants to do more at home with me. I speak quite good French but would like to work with him from a textbook - can anyone recommend one please?

Thanks

[crumpet]

Can’t help with a text book but Asterix in french is always good

[Ivegotthree]

That's a great idea actually, thank you!

[FrederickCreeding]

Studio is quite good I think.

It might be worth finding out what textbook he uses at school. Some come with workbooks / online activity packages, so maybe you could get the one which accompanies his school textbook of you want to do extra practice at home?

Also apps like memrise, duolingo are good for extra language practice.

[TonTonMacoute]

Actually I found Astérix in French was pretty complicated, as there is so much punning and word play. I spent more time trying to explain the jokes than reading.

The Petit Nicolás books are great, very funny and although aimed at kids the humour appeals to all ages.

[Ivegotthree]

Thanks all, I shall look up Studio. And see what he uses at school. I want to make it fun so wasn't sure if I would bore him using the same one. I'll see what he says.

Apps are a great idea too - hadn't thought of them but obvs he's mad about his phone so that a vg idea.

Will also look up Petit Nicholas - merci bien! x

[olivo]

I wouldn't use the textbook he has at school, unless for revision. It can be frustrating as a teacher if a pupil has gone ahead in the book, as there may be different( and confusing) explanations given and it is tricky to see how much is understood rather than answers remembered when completing exercises, tests etc.
There are lots of good apps for languages and you may find that the school to a site like linguascope, which is a fun way of learning and revising.

[olivo]

Oh and online activity packages are really expensive and at be used by the school for homework and exams!

[birkenstok]

How about a subscription to a French magazine? This is very popular in France among kids. There are all styles and levels. e.g. e-bayard-jeunesse.com/magazines-11-ans-et-plus.html
milan-jeunesse.com/magazines-8-15-ans.html
(We use this and they deliver in the UK)
Also perharps these short educational videos? (1 jour 1 question) www.youtube.com/channel/UCLmlUMA_bGiMWWgfDwfNDgw

[MariaNovella]

Le Petit Nicolas

[TheLazyDuchess]

Could you get a french translation of something he's already read in English (Harry Potter and the philosophers stone?), so it's easier for him to follow the story/focus on the grammar differences etc?

[MariaNovella]

It’s not great to read in translation. The translations are not always good quality and there is no exposure to cultural difference.

[birkenstok]

oh an a couple of other thoughts:
French are BIG fans of comics, so check out FNAC or Amazon, you'll find marvellous things, lots of styles . e.g. Joann Sfar, CortoMalteze, La licorne ... there is SO much more than good old Asterix and Tintin :)
Also, if he wants shorter stories than le Petit Nicolas, check out "Mouche de l'ecole des loisirs". This edition house is a great reference in youth literature. There propose lots of short novels for 6+ children, but these early reader novels are often so great that they are nice to read for older kids and adults.

[birkenstok]

sorry: "Neuf de l'ecole des loisirs". www.ecoledesloisirs.fr/collection/neuf

[Ivegotthree]

Thank you Birkenstok!

[TonTonMacoute]

Also the Agrippine books by Claire Bretecher. They are in cartoon (BD) format, and are about the trials and tribulations of teenage life. Very funny!

[AMxx]

Strongly recommend cartoons in French.. I grew up in France and am bilingual thanks to a solid diet of French TV as a child ( there was no cable back then :-)) For a boy your DS age recommend Dragon Ball Z or Pokemon you can buy online - my brothers adored it, all 3 of them!

I learnt Italian the same way.. :-)

Agree with OP on le Petit Nicolas too.

[Ivegotthree]

Thanks all for all of these. Great TV and mag subscription ideas too!
Really appreciate your help. Speaking French is such a joy and I so want to help him learn it, too.

[OKBobble]

We have all the TinTin books in English and French. DS used to refer to the English ones if he got reallly stuck and couldn't work out what was being said from the context/pictures.