TESTIMONIALS

As a 39 year veteran teacher in an American high school, I think reading in the content area is an important foreign language skill. Reading helps reinforce what is taught. Reading is also motivating. Unlike immersion learners, high school students can read at a higher level than their receptive skills of listening and speaking. I always searched for appropriate readers for high school students. Most readers that say they are written for beginning students are either boring or way above students’ reading level. I was delighted when I found Aquila books to be neither boring nor above level. I have used the Collection Lire books with 3rd year high school students and beginning college level students. Students particularly loved the fiction titles and the book Horreur. I added to my Aquila collection each year through department funds and grants and eventually had a library of books for my 3rd and 4th level class to choose from. Among them the series, Les Grand Défis de la nature, Récits-Légendes-Mystères and for the more advanced readers, Les chefs-d’œuvre illustrés. Aquila had added many easier lower level titles (Bandes Dessinées, Lectures Juniors, Lectures Jeunesse, Lectures Ados) since I started buying from them. I’ve only seen a few of these, but they were short, easy and fun. Aquila books really keep students interested and give them confidence in what they are learning. Annice Wetzel Hickman High School, Columbia, MO (retired) Coordinator of Elementary French University of Missouri

I purchased Aquila comic books for my Middle School in the hopes that they would provide an alternative way to improve reading. I was pleasantly surprised at how excited the students were to read them. I use the comic books as a break and a reward at the end of the block. Instead of having to write a vocab list on the board of words they do not know, the students are able to figure out the meaning of the words from the pictures and text on their own. The comic books are a huge success. Our Spanish teachers are waiting for the Spanish versions to come out, and my high school may use them for the upper levels. These are really cute books that make learning fun! Kim Hoyt, Tolland Middle School, Tolland, CT

I have been using the Récits-Légendes-Mystères series for my intermediate core classes. It is very difficult finding reading material that is interesting for students but core/grade level appropriate. The kids enjoy this series and get a lot of learning out of it! A win win situation!

I just purchased a few of the books & audio ebooks for our school. What a great way to cover all 4 strands of the curriculum using these books and audio-visual ebooks by Aquila. Students are engaged!!! They are using technology (which they love; whether the chrome books or computer lab) to access the ebooks. The new curriculum emphasizes the importance of oral communication within the French as a Second Language classroom. I see students using these ebooks to practice their oral French whether at home or at school. Students are getting a faster understanding of the story because they are seeing the story & listening at the same time. In turn, these resources save me time & make my job easier. Kids are finding French fun.

As a grade five extended French teacher, I have found that Aquila products are easy to access for students beginning in their study of their second language. The themes are engaging and easy for students to relate to, and the visuals and graphics help to scaffold the reading strategies that students need to build in order to become confident, independent readers.

I love using the Aquila Bandes Dessinées with my students because they are so accessible - even for novice-level learners. The pictures, simple dialogue, and extensive use of cognates create a highly comprehensible reader. I've had students who are brand new to the study of French find success when reading these high-interest comics. Nathan Lutz Primary School French Teacher Global Learning Coordinator Kent Place School, NJ