Intermediate French I, II, III: Workbook by Catherine Ploye (review)
Buy Issue for $25 at JHUP- Intermediate French I, II, III: Workbook by Catherine Ploye
The purpose of these workbooks is straightforward. They are designed to support the intermediate-level sequence of French courses at the author's university. Absolutely key to the use of the workbooks is the analysis of texts and films that provide the framework for comprehension exercises, grammar review, and oral and written exercises. The texts themselves are not included, so the student would need to have them available. Each text is introduced by a brief level-appropriate biography of its author and its historical or cultural context. Vocabulary pertinent to the text is presented with definitions in French rather than translations. Grammar reviews are brief, with copious examples, and their corresponding exercises range from filling in blanks to manipulating tenses, combining sentences, and translating sentences from English [End Page 256] to French. There are oral exercises, but they are grammar-driven rather than conversational. In fact, all input that drives student language production is in the register of formal language, with a clear preference for using inversion in forming questions. One example: "Te plairait-il de déjeuner dehors aujourd'hui?" (II, 21). True to workbook style, space is provided to answer questions on the literal understanding of the texts as well as to express personal reactions and opinions. Prompts guide students through a spectrum of activities, ranging from providing simple facts to analyzing characters and writing open-ended imaginary scenarios. Important guidance is provided with vocabulary pertinent to discussing texts in general and theater, films, and bandes dessinées in particular. Of special use is guidance given on writing an exposé, a résumé, an analyse de texte, and a compte rendu. There is a wide scope of genres including animated film, short stories, bande dessinée, drama, and novel. Cultures represented include Quebec, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Belgium, France, and Algeria. These workbooks would be of use to the instructor desiring to treat any of the aforementioned texts within a framework of using language appropriate for literary analysis.
