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 Ratings
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| Reviewed: |
Dec 15, 2009 by World Languages Editorial Board |
| Overview: |
The Franc-parler website is a resource of the World Community of Teachers of French. Its dossiers encompass a large variety of pedagogical topics including Web 2.0 tools, FLES, and tools to teach language through theatre, media, music and much more. There is a comprehensive directory of external links on pedagogy topics, developed lesson plans on language, culture and French for Specific Purposes,ready to use activity sheets with language levels specified according to the Common European Framework and an active forum where teachers can share teaching ideas and ask questions about language and pedagogy.It links the viewer to many features such as interviews by French educators, games and instructional strategies to integrate music, films, literature and technology in the French classroom. It could be used from primary to high school and to college students and teachers for basic skills acquisition to advanced proficiency in French language. Users can subscribe to a monthly letter by e-mail detailing updates to the site. |
| Learning Goals: |
Students will
• Recognize and identify the diversity of Francophonie through the diversity of cultural expressions ( music, tales),
•Gain insight into various instructional practices related to the integration of music, films, literature, games and technology in the French classroom,
•Recognize and appreciate a multicultural approach of language studies
•Model and practice French language through a variety of written and oral activities.
The activities found in Franc-parler feature all skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing French. Teachers can also upgrade their technology skills here. |
| Target Student Population: |
This material will be useful for students from primary grades to high school and college at all level interested French language and culture. Graduate sudents who are specializing in French or foreign language education will benefit from instructional strategies for integrating music, films, literature, games and technology in the French classroom. It can be used by pre-service and in-service language educators. |
| Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills: |
Reading and comprehension skills in French are needed to better understand the material. Three to four years of French studies would be desirable to fully appreciate all the material. |
| Type of Material: |
Resource site |
| Recommended Uses: |
This material can be used as a resource in a course that focuses on language and francophone culture. Face-to-face and online instructors can use the material to engage and motivate students. Its activities can be assigned as homework. This site can be profitably be used as a faculty development resource and a way for instructors of French to share resources, regardless of their geographic whereabouts. |
| Technical Requirements: |
browser, media player ( audio, video) |
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| Strengths: |
Franc-parler has enjoyed great longevity on the web and it is very well organized and comprehensive. Its major strength is providing free access to authentic teaching materials to teachers worldwide. Teachers who are trying to motivate their students by providing them with timely, engaging, modern materials will make good use of the dossiers on this site. There is a truly multi-sensory collection of materials featured- music, theatre, art, press, cinema and language topics. It is also a place for teachers to connect and discuss effective teaching. The forum is well-moderated and the exchanges are interesting and lively.
This website offers a lot of practical teaching ideas for teachers and a variety of interactive and engaging activities for students. The content is valid and accurate and up to date. |
| Concerns: |
The overall objectives of the site are not explicitly stated from the beginning. An "About Us" section would be helpful. It takes patience on the part of the viewer to discover the depth of the site as he/she clicks link after link. |
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Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool |
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| Strengths: |
•The material published on this site can be used in primary through higher education to teach from basic French skills to more advanced proficiency at the graduate level.
•It can be used for many purposes such as learning and practicing French language both online or face-face-to face, explaining and demonstrating how to teach and integrate various linguistic products ( music, poetry, film,drama...) in foreign language instruction.
• The material engages multiples senses through audio, video, images and text.
• Some activities are interactive and provide immediate audio and visual feedback
•There are a lot of examples of teaching materials related to foreign language instruction.
• There are engaging games and activities incorporating maths and critical thinking skills.
• The material on this site can be easily adapted for use in other laguages. Some material offers the opportunity to work on the English version.
This site gives teachers the opportunity to try something new in the classroom and come back and talk to peers about it. Using the ideas on the site a teacher could transform a teacher-centered classroom into astudent-centered one. There is such a wealth of good materials on Franc-parler, and it is always growing, that a teacher can return with confidence that he or she will find new ideas. |
| Concerns: |
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Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty |
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| Strengths: |
• The material is easy to navigate.
• There are no major broken links ( some video links are not working)
• The material is user-friendly through pictures, sound and animation
• When interactive, the material provides feedback both visual and audio |
| Concerns: |
• A user guide would help to insure a full exploration of the wealth and the depth of this material. |
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| Other Issues and Comments: |
no |
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