An Interview with Carole Fredericks: Guide, Transcription, and DVD (review)

terms (pronouns, conjunctions, etc.). The remaining ten chapters range in topic and difficulty from articles and determiners to the subjunctive and relative clauses . The final chapter concludes with grammar topics that fall beyond the scope of one of the previous chapters, such as the use of c’est for emphasis. The chapters conclude with a “Test Your Knowledge” section that evaluates the student’s understanding of the grammar concept and then an “Apply Your Knowledge section ” where students can practice each grammar form through written exercises. Throughout the handbook, Bourns includes special notes (“La langue parlée”) about how the usage of a grammar item may differ in written and spoken French. She also offers mnemonic devices to assist in the memorization of certain patterns or rules that exist in French grammar. Additionally, the handbook contains pronunciation discussions related to specific grammar topics. The “Rappel” notes in each chapter feature explanations of challenging grammar topics. Finally, a “Pour aller plus loin” section appears in certain chapters to provide additional explanations of the more complicated grammar topics for interested intermediate and advanced students. The greatest strength of this handbook is the selection and presentation of the grammar topics. Bourns has chosen those pesky grammatical forms and expressions that have proven to be the most challenging for students, and she explains them in a conversational way that is accessible to varying learning levels. One of the ways this is achieved is through the organization of the book. Each chapter is divided into sections that are represented by questions: When do you use quel? What are stress pronouns? What is the faire causatif? Students can easily identify their particular grammar concern in the table of contents and read about it without having to page through unrelated explanations. The layout of this handbook is user-friendly; a mix of paragraph explanations, boxes, and charts will appeal to visual learners. Additionally, the focus on contextualization will help students understand that there is not necessarily a universal application of the grammar rule. Learning about a grammar form’s context(s) will help students appreciate the distinctions between oral and written communication in French. While this reviewer values the clear and succinct grammar explanations, these are presented entirely in English, which may limit the use of this handbook in French language-only classrooms. Furthermore, although the written exercises at the end of every chapter are well constructed, students do not engage in any oral practice of the grammar item. Instructors may want to offer additional communicative exercises to ensure that students are able to apply the rules orally. That said, this handbook is not a substitute for a traditional classroom textbook. When used as intended, the student and instructor editions of this handbook offer an outstanding resource for students struggling with complex grammar items and also for instructors attempting to explain them. Ohio State University Kelly Campbell An Interview with Carole Fredericks: Guide, Transcription, and DVD. Canandaigua, NY: Carole D. Fredericks Foundation, 2010. Pp. 34. $45. . This is the perfect complement to any music video, DVD, or educational package on Fredericks’s music (such as Tant qu’elle chante elle vit and Couleurs et 622 FRENCH REVIEW 86.3 parfums). It will appeal to students of French at a variety of levels. For those among us who enjoy Fredericks’s music and use it to inspire our students, this interview allows us to follow her journey from performing in a French restaurant in California to her courageous move to France to work with Jean-Jacques Goldman and Michael Jones. Her vivacious personality is immediately felt in the 41-minute DVD, and because of this, the viewer is not bothered by the occasional video or audio flaws that could not be removed from the original 1999 film footage. In fact, these flaws enhance the DVD as they are a clear indication of how authentic and historic the interview is. The original interview took place in November 1999 at a friend’s home in the village of Chatou (just outside of Paris) and was done by JLR Productions with the intention of documenting Fredericks’s life (her career aspirations, friendships, family, and success as a solo artist). The documentary...