Six-step instructional design

Each lesson is organized into color-coded strands that present new material in clear, comprehensible, and communicative ways. With a focus on authenticity, cultural immersion, and the seamless integration of text and technology, French-language learning comes to life in ways that are meaningful to each and every student.

1. Context

Provide students with a place to start. Let them share their own experiences with and about the chapter topic.

2. Vocabulary

Give students a new linguistic code to express what they already know and experience in the context of the chapter theme.

3. Media

Give students a new linguistic code to express what they already know and experience in the context of the chapter theme.

4. Culture

Bring students from their own language and culture to that of the target speakers.

5. Structure

The formal presentation of relevant grammar and scaffolded, personalized activities help students leverage grammar as a tool for building confidence, fluency, and accuracy.

6. Skill Synthesis

Pulling all their learning together, students integrate context, personal experience, communication tools, and cultural products, perspectives, and practices.

A communicative approach

Portails blends the underlying principles of the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines and the World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages with features and strategies tailored specifically to build students’ language and cultural competencies.

As Portails takes a communicative approach to the teaching and learning of French, the Communication goal is central to instruction. For example, the diverse formats used in Communication activities engage students in communicative exchanges, providing and obtaining information, and expressing feelings and emotions.

Student-centered learning

Unique organization of lesson content

The powerful learning progression in Portails allows students to move through the content in logical stages, ensuring that they remain connected to the curriculum. More importantly, it requires students to take a proactive approach in their learning by exploring and engaging in the target language.

In Explore and Learn, students move from the initial presentation of material to interactive learning. Activities provide low-stakes practice with credit for participation, not performance. Students are required to actively participate and take ownership of their learning.

Engaging activities for a rich student experience.

Vocabulary Tutorials feature a cyclical learning sequence that optimizes comprehension and retention:

Listen and Repeat
Match
Say It

Speech Recognition identifies student utterances in real time and determines whether a student knows the word.

Vocabulary Tools enables students to identify, practice, and retain individualized vocabulary for each lesson.

Students can print bilingual word lists and create personalized word lists. Interactive Flashcards featuring the French word or expression (with audio) and the English translation are available for review and practice.

A time-tested approach