I wrote a proposal in October to my school district around exploring the use of iPads in a primary French immersion classroom. In November I received my first iPad. It has taken me a long time researching applications to finally choose some to be uploaded to my iPad to use with my grade one French immersion students.
I came upon my first hurdle trying to find relevant and 'good' applications to use with my French class. Now I am a complete beginner using this technology so please forgive me if I make simple mistakes. I began by searching the apple store but quickly realized that this was not a very efficient way to go. Then I used the web to find other blogs and youtube videos with lists created by educators for educators. I found many great applications but not many in French. Then I stumbled upon these different search engines that allow you to view the most popular applications by country and therefore in the language of preference. I used one called "Countries top Apps!" Between this new search tool, blogs, and youtube, I quickly became overwhelmed by applications. After some trial and error with my own four year old, I chose a list of applications and began to upload them to my iPad.
Below is a 'working' list of the applications I am using with my students. I am sure I will add and substract applications from this list as I learn and explore.
General
App | Cost | Description |
google search | Free | An internet search engine |
chaîne météo | Free | Weather in France You can change the city but then it seems to default to English |
google translate | Free | Simple and very basic French to English or English to French translation tool It has an audio function to say the word out loud as well |
audiomemos | Free | To record audio (record child reading the story, or adult etc) You can send audio files as an email |
Radio Canada | Free | French radio |
Talking Tom | Free | Fun way to have a character repeat back what is said (audio recording) |
Make dice lite | Free | You can make a number of dice i.e. write topics for writing, questions such as who, what, where and when, or add numbers |
google earth | Free | Bird’s eye view of earth that you can zoom in and out of |
Petit Quotidien | free | French newspaper for kids ages 6 and up I have not figured out how to get the full version because you have to put in a phone number from France or something?? |
Time Timer | $6.99 | Custom settings |
La coccinelle By Gallimard Jeunesse | $3.99 | An amazing interactive app with beautiful ladybugs that move as the narrator shares information It is a very unique app (one of my personal favourites) |
Books
App | Cost | Description |
3 Petits cochons By Gallimard Jeunesse | $3.99 | A beautiful and interactive story When students touch the characters they speak (a personal favourite) |
Cendrillon by Gallimard Jeunesse | $5.99 | A beautiful and interactive story When students touch the characters they speak (a personal favourite) |
Le petit chaperon rouge (My first interactive Freanch book) | $1.99 | The words are highlighted as the story is read |
Boucle d’or et les trois ours (iPhone app) les contes classiques | $0.99 | The book can be read with or without text |
Les copains de la forêt | free | The story has a few interactive features such as breaking words into syllables, showing the vowels and the silent letters in French It is otherwise a basic French story |
Printing and letter names
App | Cost | Description |
abcTrace | $0.99 | Practice at tracing and writing the letters in French For the most part the directions are good but it does not follow the “Writing without tears” approach to letter formation |
ABC tracing | An excellent app for practicing writing but it is in English so turn off the volume | |
iAlphabet | It has 3 functions: letter names, printing practice (just ok), and choose the right letter Ok for very early primary letter recognition |
Puppets show and story creation
App | Cost | Description |
PuppetPals HD | Free | You can purchase the app to be able to import your own pictures Create puppet shows and record your own audio in French You can export to youtube or email the video |
Sock Puppets | Free |  You can export to youtube |
Our Story | Free | Upload photos and add text to create a meaningful story |
Comic Lite | Free | Create a comic strip with thought and speech bubbles Import pictures to create your story You can email completed comics There is a full version that allows you to do more You can create slideshows with the images to make a story or presentation |
Games
App | Cost | Description |
Famille Lite | Free | Fun quiz game for more intermediate students |
MotsMélés | Free | Crosswords have already been created and they are ok More for grade 3 and up |
TicTacToe Plus | Free | Simple tic tac toe game (English) |
Math
App | Cost | Description |
KIDpedia | Free | The free version only includes the shapes Students can create a shape picture and the shape audio is French Purchase the full version to learn more vocabulary |
Numberland | $4.99 | For early primary only because numbers are only to 10 Very interactive and fun |
Feed Me! | Free | Find the solution to very simple (early primary) math problems and feed them to the monster |
Calculator | Free | Simple calculator |
Photos
App | Cost | Description |
fotopedia | Free | Beautiful photos of Paris |
Animoto | Free | Very easy to create a video with music and photos that you take Full version allows more functions |
Art
App | Cost | Description |
Louvre | Free | a beautiful app create by the Louvre in Paris that includes works of art and descriptions but they are in English |
Cluny (iPhone app) | Free | Musée National du Moyen Age guided visits in French |
CultureClic (iPhone app) | Free | Images and art examples with French descriptions |
Drawing (all English)
App | Cost | Description |
HelloCrayons | Free | Drawing with crayons |
HelloPencilCrayons | Free | Drawing with pencil crayons |
Doodle Buddy | Free | Drawing application |
Whiteboard | Whiteboard drawing application that can be using with another iPad cooperatively | |
Doodle Kids | A neat drawing on a black background with rainbow colours and shpaes | |
TypeDrawing | Free | You type in words and then use the words to draw pictures |
Face iMake | Free | A very creative app where students can use different found objects to create funny faces |
