Le français par la lecture: apprendre le vocabulaire en contexte by Miruna Bogdan (review)

has three vocabulary sets, focuses on four or five grammar structures, and includes one or two cultural points in short readings. This seems like a lot of information , but the book is designed to be used over two college semesters, so time can be given to allow students to engage with the material. With all of the activities to be done individually or in pairs—reading, writing, listening, speaking, and videos—students will have many opportunities to develop their understanding of the French language and Francophone cultures. The text is illustrated with upto -date pictures as well as full-color cartoon-style drawings. This ensures that the photos support the material being presented, thus contributing to higher student engagement and comprehension levels. Following every two chapters is a cultural interlude that allows students to discover various Francophone areas of the world. Written in French, these highlight artists, authors, singers, foods, and landmarks from each country or area. Every chapter offers a variety of reading, writing, and speaking activities for students to complete individually, in pairs or in small groups. The text is accompanied by an audio CD, featuring speakers from various Francophone backgrounds. The pacing is at a good tempo for beginning students and will allow them to successfully complete the comprehension exercises. Along with the textbook, the program includes a Student Activity Manual with more opportunities for practicing vocabulary and structures in writing, and it has additional listening activities as well on its own CD. The Student Activity Manual can be accessed online rather than in printed form, if that appeals to teachers and students. There is an engaging video component on DVD or online in which four Francophone students are roommates at an American University. This allows students to hear speakers with different accents in French using the vocabulary from the lessons in context. If mobile access to materials is preferred, students can instead use the ‘Premium Website’ which includes the text, Student Activity Manual, audio and video programs, quizzes, Web activities, and flashcards . Materials are also available online as an E-book through the Heinle iLrn Learning Center. These options allow teachers to tailor the resources to the needs of their students and school budgets. Overall, À vous! is a user-friendly, engaging text. It provides a strong foundation of French grammar and vocabulary as well as a broad exposure to the Francophone cultures found around the world. Carl Schurz High School, Chicago Samantha Godden-Chmielowicz BOGDAN, MIRUNA. Le français par la lecture: apprendre le vocabulaire en contexte. Montréal: Guérin, 2010. ISBN 978-2-7601-7097-1. Pp. 226. $20,95 Can. Primarily designed to build vocabulary, this intermediate-level book is also intended to function as a grammar review. Each unit includes an unannotated text, vocabulary-based exercises (matching, multiple-choice, true/false), and comprehension questions, followed by a grammar unit and exercises. An answer key is provided, as well as model business letters, and a list of québécois terms and expressions. While the book contains useful material for vocabulary building, it suffers from a number of weaknesses. The texts are characterized in the preface as “articles de presse,” but there is no attribution for any of them, nor is any copyright information included, leading the reader to conclude that these pieces have been manufactured for pedagogical purposes. While there may be some justification in this approach, one cannot help but wonder whether students 436 FRENCH REVIEW 86.2 would be better served and more challenged by exposure to authentic examples of current journalism. Furthermore, the text is unannotated, devoid of any pedagogical aids (boldface, italics, marginal notes, etc.) that would allow students to situate key vocabulary within the context of the article. The exercises, therefore, inevitably force students to spend an inordinate amount of time locating a particular word or expression in order to study the context. Some of the targeted vocabulary is far too specialized for the intermediate level—e.g., ruban à mesurer, papier de verre, rouleaux de papier peint (37). Another serious drawback is the lack of a glossary, an aid which would greatly facilitate the student’s reading, and would contribute toward the stated objective of the book...