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WEEK of January 28, 2008
@BFS! archives

A New Accent on French in the Upper School

by Roxanne Zazzaro, Head of Upper School

The notion of learning French while watching a movie may seem a bit unusual and possibly non-academic However, Upper School French Teacher Tracy Marie Bucci doesn't see it that way. Tracy has been piloting a new textbook this year in her French III class that uses a special film to introduce and reinforce the skills required for the level III course.

The new intermediate French textbook, Bien vu, bien dit, has been specifically designed to accompany the feature-length film, Le Chemin du retour. Set in various locations in France and in Morocco, the film tells an engaging story of a TV journalist and her quest for the truth about her grandfather's disappearance during World War II. As the journalist embarks on her quest she encounters a variety of people and cultures that show the diversity of France, the French, as well as the Moroccan culture. The film allows the students to hear a variety of accents and to gain confidence in their ability to understand authentic, spoken French.

Besides engaging students with an interesting storyline and compelling characters, the textbook chapters are constructed to support the corresponding episode of the film. It is from each episode that the vocabulary, grammar and cultural themes of each chapter flow.

According to Tracy, the textbook “supports the principles of a communicative approach to the teaching of foreign languages.” She further explained that the film “seems to be one of the best pedagogical tools for this method of teaching.”

Junior Kristen Schrijver likes the new textbook, adding that the structure and the way the lessons are introduced are better. “Last year's textbook seem too simplistic in comparison to Bien vu, bien dit,” she added. “The use of the textbook with the film is more challenging, but I'm getting more out of learning French this year.”

Fabian Kaupert, sophomore, said that the use of the film has “allowed the class to explore the language more.” “The book and film are modern. The cultural lessons are current and up to date, “ he further stated.

“I like the use of the film,” shared sophomore Marlene Dominquez, “It allows us to hear and learn the other dialects of spoken French.”

The textbook program is meant to motivate students and engage them in the study of French, challenging them and giving them the linguistic tools that they need to communicate about what interests them. “The film presents to students the spoken language in a cultural context,” Tracy Marie points out. She sees this textbook and the film as a way for foreign language teachers to create “a dynamic and authentic atmosphere of stimulation or immersion in the French language and culture.”