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| by
C. Blyth, K.Kelton, LMyers
C.Delyfer, Y.Munn, J. Lippman
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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Oct 23, 2007 by World Languages Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
Tex's French Grammar is a comprehensive online reference grammar authored at the University of Texas at Austin. It was conceived for use by students of French at UT Austin but is freely accessible to users everywhere. It is also used in conjunction with Le Français Interactif, UT Austin's complete first year French program on the web. |
| Learning Goals: |
Tex's French Grammar allows the student to gain a stronger understanding of French grammar through access to rules, use of the topic in context and self- correcting exercises. |
| Target Student Population: |
First year French students and second year students in need of review. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
Beginning students can benefit from this tool. |
| Type of Material: |
Tex's French Grammar is organized by part of speech and contains all the standard topics that one has come to expect in standard French courses. In addition to developed units on each grammar topic, it contains a verb practice tool and a conjugator with accompanying .pdfs |
| Recommended Uses: |
This grammar guide is best used for self-directed learning, for tutorial and for exam preparation. |
| Technical Requirements: |
Acrobat reader is necessary for the verb conjugation .pdfs. |
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| Strengths: |
This grammar is complete, clear with engaging exercises and activities. Each lesson contains a succinct grammatical explanation acoompanied by sound files of example sentences. The examples all feature a cast of Texan cartoon characters, such as Tex and Tammy the armadillos, Joe-Bob the squirrel and Bette the cat. The tongue in cheek dialogues between these characters make the grammar reference engaging and quite unlike the average textbook presentation. Each lesson has fill in the blank exercises with instant feedback for the user to check his or her comprehension.
In addition to these contextualized examples, the user can also download topic-related mp3s. |
| Concerns: |
no |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
Rating:  |
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| Strengths: |
Used as supplemental reference and practice material, this site makes an excellent enhancement to first year learning. It is an excellent resource that frees up precious class time for communication. It provides free access to the rules of French grammar from anywhere the students have web access. It can easily be consulted in conjunction with hybrid and online courses where a quick answer about grammar may be needed outside of class time.
Students will enjoy the ongoing dialogues of the characters and could even imagine their own versions of Tex scenarios. They can also download a .pdf version of the entire print grammar as well as lesson mp3's. In this way tex's french grammar honors different learning styles, offering visual and auditory formats. |
| Concerns: |
no |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
| Rating: |
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| Strengths: |
The site is clearly designed and easily navigable. Walter Moore's drawings of the Tex characters are very engaging can reduce the anxiety that some learners associate with learning French grammar.
The pages are clean with a consistent layout and format.The drop down menus that allow the user to move quickly from one topic to a related one are a welcome feature. It really is not possible to get lost in this comprehensive grammar reference. |
| Concerns: |
no |
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
no |
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