Didactique du français langue étrangère par la pratique théâtrale éd. par Christophe Alix, et al

Abstract

origins of the rules, to language teachers in search of more effective and palatable ways of presenting these rules to students, and to advanced students themselves. Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis A. Kate Miller Methods and Materials edited by Frédérique Grim Alix, Christophe, Dominique Lagorgette, et Ève-Marie Rollinat-Levasseur, éd. Didactique du français langue étrangère par la pratique théâtrale. Chambéry: PU de Savoie, 2013. ISBN 978-2-919732-03-6. Pp. 310. 20 a. This volume explores the role of ‘theatrical’ and dramatic activities and their relationship to foreign language pedagogy from a variety of theoretical and practical perspectives. Activities such as plays, skits, role plays, dramatic readings and scripted dialogues have long been part of communicative language teaching to some degree, as a means of promoting language development and creative expression by learners in a variety of contexts. However, as the editors note in the introduction, the focus is placed on the learner and the creative process itself rather than on the many genres potentially represented by the term ‘theater.’ The twenty-four articles thus address a wide range of topics, grouped into four sections: Exploration didactique des pratiques théâtrales, Méthodes et mise en action, Pratiques théâtrales/pratiques langagières, and De nouvelles pistes à explorer: écritures et pratiques théâtrales contemporaines. The first section addresses theoretical questions related to the use of theater as a pedagogical tool: historical usage, the effects of mimesis on learning, and the dynamic and evolving nature of the relationship between the actor’s body/voice and the text in the dramatic process. The articles of the second section offer a series of case studies focusing on the procedures and effects of the use of theater. The authors discuss the development of learner autonomy,self-confidence,cultural understanding,and the difficulties inherent in working with groups of learners of different language abilities or cultural backgrounds , in using difficult texts and in working in experimental contexts. In Pratiques théâtrales/pratiques langagières, the focus is on the role of the theatrical in language development. The six articles of this section consider diverse topics such as the use of phonetics, the role of first-language interference, the use of transcriptions of texts and comic sketches to teach pronunciation, and the role of language variation. The final section (De nouvelles pistes à explorer) discusses experimental approaches involving the use of contemporary texts and the innovative pedagogical practices necessitated by their use. Overall, specialists in pedagogy and those involved in pedagogical research may find this volume useful as a reference and as a source of new ideas for scholarly inquiry. Classroom teachers, for their part, may find some of the articles rather 244 FRENCH REVIEW 88.4 Reviews 245 theoretical and difficult to apply in practical terms. However, there is enough of the practical to provide educators with new ideas for the use of the theatrical in their teaching, or the inspiration to begin to do so. The diversity of approaches and topics represented in this volume demonstrates that the role and use of theater in second language teaching is a complex, varied topic, one of great potential usefulness to teachers and learners, and one that clearly merits greater scholarly and practical attention. Texas Tech University Joseph Edward Price Fandel, Nicole. La maison d’Oncle Max.Yarmouth, ME: Wayside, 2012. ISBN 978-1877 -653-32-2. Pp. 97. $22.50. Workbook: $18.50. This text is designed for beginning French students who want to have a successful experience reading a complete story in French. The story of Max and his five friends during summer vacation takes them to the South of France to visit Max’s uncle. Once they arrive, however, they find that Oncle Max is missing and that they must follow his clues to determine where he is and why. The text has three primary goals: to facilitate reading, to relate cultural information, and to entertain. Stories like this should be in great demand because many current textbooks do not provide the kind of coherent, interesting stories that would encourage language learners to interact with the target language for fun.However,writing entertaining,accessible texts can also...