Getting started with Languages Online

Finding the activity you want

Activities in Languages Online can be accessed in any order.

Activities are grouped by topics, and can be selected from the 'Topics' page for each language.

• From the home page select the language. This will take you to the topics page.
• From the topics page select the topic you want. This will take you too the index page for that topic.
• From the index page select the Online activity or the Print activity you want.

In addition to the Online and Print activities available for that topic, the index page also lists some other resources:

• All index pages have two sets of Answers and Translations, one for the Online activities and the other for the Print activities.
• For sections 1 - 24 a set of printable Flashcards is provided. These include the key vocabulary for that topic.
• On the index pages for sections 25 - 33 there is a link to a Languages Focus page. This lists the key vocabulary, language points and cultural points of the topic.

How to use online activities in Sections 1 - 24

Along the top of each activity are a range of standard buttons to help you complete the activity.

• The 'Help' button reveals instructions for the task.
• The 'Check' button appears on some activities and automatically corrects students' answers. Where students are required to type in an answer where punctuation is already provided, the typing of punctuation will result in the check button marking the response as incorrect. When students provide an answer without capitalisation when it is required, their response is marked as correct and a capital letter automatically appears as a correction.
• The 'Hint' button is provided in activities requiring independent writing. It offers a correct spelling model for students but does not remain on-screen whilst the student is writing.
• The 'Play' button is used to begin each song and tongue twister
• The 'English words' button appears at the end of each song/tongue twister. It reveals the English translation.
• The 'Start' button is used to begin games and other activities.
• The 'Reset' button clears games so they may be played again.
• The 'Key Strokes' (in Sections 1 - 24) or 'Accent keys' (in Sections 25 - 33) * button appears in French, German and Italian when accented characters are required. When clicked it reveals the keys needed to type in accented characters that do not appear on the key board. Note that the numbers required in this function must be entered using the numeric key pad on the right hand site of most keyboards. The Numbers Lock (Num Lock) button must not be on to use the numeric keypad.

* The key strokes provided will work with standard character sets, keyboards and operating systems. Other key strokes are commonly used to generate special characters and may work in Languages Online. If using a laptop or other keyboard that does not have a numeric key pad, refer to the computer's help files to find how to activate the numeric keypad.

How to use online activities in Sections 25 - 33

Along the top of each activity are a range of standard buttons to help you complete the activity.

• The 'Start' button is used to begin games and other activities.
• Once clicked the 'Start' button becomes the 'Reset' button. When clicked it clears the activity so it may be played again.
• The 'Instructions' button reveals instructions for the task.
• The 'Check' button appears on some activities and automatically corrects students' answers. Where students are required to type in an answer where punctuation is already provided, the typing of punctuation will result in the check button marking the response as incorrect. When students provide an answer without capitalisation when it is required, their response is marked as correct and a capital letter automatically appears as a correction.
• The 'Glossary' provides keywords used in the activity and an English translation.
• The 'Hint' button contains a brief explanation of a particular grammar or language point relevant to the activity. They are a reminder to students.
• The 'Accent keys' button appears in French, German and Italian when accented characters are required. When clicked it reveals the keys needed to type in accented characters that do not appear on the key board. Note that the numbers required in this function must be entered using the numeric key pad on the right hand site of most keyboards. The Numbers Lock (Num Lock) button must not be on to use the numeric keypad.
  
  NOTE: The key strokes provided will work with standard character sets, keyboards and operating systems. Other key strokes are commonly used to generate special characters and may work in Languages Online. If using a laptop or other keyboard that does not have a numeric key pad, refer to the computer's help files to find how to activate the numeric keypad.