LE+VERBATHON

VERBATHON

There comes a point when my students just need to know the spelling of all the subjects of all the verbs. We practice communicatively every day....but for this AP test there are many tenses, many subjects and many verbs used. So, a few years ago, I pulled out of the hat the 'ole verb-a-thon chart, form sheet, dice, 5-minute rule… The following verb tenses are typed up on a 1/2 sheet. This may be varied for lower levels such as L.2 or L.3. I do Verb-a-thon with L.4 and stop with AP who feel very proud of themselves because they know their verbs all throughout the year!

Example for F2H

Goal: To complete the conjugation of approx. 20-25 verbs with 100% accuracy. No errors in accents, letters, etc.

1st trial: I use as a small quiz; announce the verb ahead: 15 points. Most succeed. Every week students take a quiz with a __new -unannounced verb__- pass or fail; students can retake the quiz as many times as needed until they get the verb 100% correct. Students cannot retake the verbathon during the same period. Each verb quiz that is not passed will be marked as “mi” until successfully passed by the student. Several “mi” grades affect the student quiz/ test grade adversely, especially at the beginning of the marking period when fewer grades are posted.

At the end of the grading period, I make those 6 verbs a Test Grade, therefore, if a student has been working right along, he or she will get 100%.

Procedure:
 * At the beginning of the marking period, students are given a list of verbs and tenses. This will vary according to levels of French.
 * At the beginning of class, one student rolls the dice to determine the subject. Sometimes I determine the subject. (1= je/ 2=tu/ 3= il, elle, on/ 4= nous/ 5= vous/ 6= ils, elles)
 * Students take no more than 5 minutes to complete the verbathon.
 * The verbathon is pass/fail. Students either receive 100% or “mi” (=0).
 * Each verbathon counts as a quiz grade.
 * Students come on their own time to makeup the verbathon. They arrange a time with me.
 * The verbathon grade is changed from “mi” (0) to 100% in the grade book.
 * Students cannot makeup verbathons once the deadline has passed.

=LISTE DE VERBES (MP1)= flat 10.Avoir 11.Etre 12.Faire 13.Aller
 * 1) Chanter
 * 2) **Acheter (amener)**
 * 3) **Appeler**
 * 4) **Préférer (espérer)**
 * 5) **Payer (nettoyer/envoyer)**
 * 6) **Manger (nager/ voyager…)**
 * 7) **Commencer (placer)**
 * 8) Finir (choisir/ grossir/ maigrir/réussir)
 * 9) Entendre (attendre/ perdre/répondre/rendre visite à/vendre)

LES CONJUGAISONS :
 * 1) Présent (Appendix 3; R20 et plus)
 * 2) Impératif (3 formes) (Appendix 3 p R20 et plus)
 * 3) Passé-composé (être ou avoir) (p. 102+ 117+119+128)
 * 4) Futur proche (aller+ inf)/ (p. 66)
 * 5) Passé immédiat (venir de +inf) (p. 68)