Controverses by Larbi Oukada, Didier Bertrand, and Janet L. Solberg (review)

passage, and as a means to introduce more reading or culture to the course. It is crucial to keep the reason for mastering grammar in mind: successful communication in French, both oral and written, both productive and receptive. “Les activités de brise-glace” allow students to interact with excerpts from literature in French while concentrating on the grammar. In summary, this text is well organized, thorough, and of use to learners, instructors, and scholars of French at all levels. It is an appropriate text for advanced grammar studies or as a reference text for other courses or to simply be on the shelf for anyone using the French language. Purdue University (IN) Jessica L. Sturm Oukada, Larbi, Didier Bertrand, and Janet L. Solberg. Controverses. 3rd ed. Boston: Cengage, 2016. ISBN 978-1-305-39098-0. Pp. 293. This intermediate-level text can be summarized as offering relevant, compelling, and contextualized content built on a pedagogically sound, communicative framework that is aligned with the National Standards. Controverses provides a foundation for improving written and oral expression as well as for an introduction into contemporary cultural debates. The text’s approach offers opportunities for self-expression, exploration of French cultural perspectives, consideration of the structure of the French language, as well as for extension of the material to other disciplines.Although the text could be adapted to other contexts,its content is most appropriate for universitylevel and other adult learners. This adult-focused content represents one of its major advantages over many competing intermediate texts, in that the material covered is more compelling input for university-level learners. The text is thematically organized by chapter, treating social issues such as education, friendship and social networks, technology,gender equality,collectivity versus individuality,globalization,immigration, and the global status of the French language.Within each chapter, a brief introduction to the theme is first provided. This introduction is followed by relevant vocabulary and grammatical items, as well as questions to begin a dialogue about students’ personal experiences with the topic. Moving beyond students’existent knowledge, two contrasting points of view are then presented, each accompanied with comprehension and extension questions.Within each chapter, there is also a liens socioculturels section, which uses a variety of texts ranging from data tables to quotes, in order to invite students to engage in cultural comparisons. A liens interdisciplinaires section in each chapter serves to extend the thematic discussions to other disciplines via a variety of literary pieces and texts from the social sciences. A synthesis section is then provided to help guide students in their reflection upon the material. Each chapter concludes with a liens communautaires section that invites the student to engage in additional independent research and a rédaction guidée section, which accompanies students through the process of developing and presenting an argument related to the chapter’s 236 FRENCH REVIEW 91.4 Reviews 237 theme. For instructors desiring more guided practice, a student activities manual is available on the text’s premium website. This website also offers mp3s, audio scripts, auto-graded quizzes, cultural web-based activities, flashcards, podcasts, and grammar tutorials, among other materials. Although its paperback price may be prohibitive to some, Cengage offers a more financially accessible e-book version at $24.49. The one aspect of this text that may be seen negatively by some instructors is its nearly exclusive emphasis on France and the United States.Although the final chapter treats the French language in multiple contexts including Senegal, Tunisia, and Quebec, the other chapters are focused heavily on France and the United States. This limitation could be overcome with the inclusion of supplementary material by the instructor. In summary, Controverses is a socio-culturally engaged, relevant, and pedagogically-sound textbook option for intermediate-level adult language learners that addresses both linguistic and intercultural competencies. University of South Dakota Kris Aric Knisely Potier, Alexandra. L’île aux géants + audio en ligne. Niveau A1. Beyrouth: Samir, 2016. ISBN 978-9953-31-877-6. Pp. 24. . Mystère au zoo de Karapo + audio en ligne. Niveau A1. Beyrouth: Samir, 2016. ISBN 978-9953-31-878-3. Pp. 24. . Une baleine dans la Seine + audio en ligne. Niveau A2...