Interaction by Susan St. Onge, et al

Abstract

Reviews 197 favor: rich cultural content, extensive exposure to actual Francophone speakers, and a thorough review of grammatical structures with an emphasis on goal-oriented, meaningful student communication. Texas Tech University Joseph Edward Price St. Onge, Susan, Ronald St. Onge, and Scott Powers. Interaction. 9th ed. Boston: Heinle Cengage, 2013. ISBN 978-1-285-48083-1. Pp. 457. Book + CD-ROM: $142.49. Kindle: $127.99. This new edition offers a systematic grammar program coupled with a broad range of visual, auditory, and reading supports in a one-book format for the study of French and Francophone culture, literature, and language. Each of the ten theme-based units encourages student to expand linguistic and cultural knowledge through readings and varied communicative activities. An added value is the array of language-learning technologies including a video and audio iLrn program available in this all-in-one course. A Learning Center and premium website make this approach the ideal tool for the development of the five skills recommended by the profession at the intermediate level and beyond.Although the goals and chapter format of the previous edition were retained, significant revisions address the changing needs of today’s classroom and enhance the progression of skills development within each of the ten chapters. Each chapter first links its theme to manifestations of Francophone culture beyond France, showcasing French as a global language. The second section of each chapter presents three grammatical structures and functions in a concise and clear fashion to allow each discrete point to be discussed in class or assigned for self-review.Specialized vocabulary pertinent to each chapter, grouped thematically, appears in the Vocabulaire actif and is recycled and reinforced throughout the chapter. Creative open-ended activities synthesize the linguistic and cultural content of the chapter in the Synthèse and Interactions sections.The third portion of each chapter presents the rubric À Lire and affords the choice between a text of contemporary culture or a literary excerpt. The fourth section of each chapter,Interaction cinéma,consists of a recent court-métrage.This newlyadded Activité vidéo gives students a visual glimpse into elements of Francophone culture. The accompanying activities help build listening skills and promote lively discussions in the classroom using a medium of high appeal to today’s students. Designed to develop aural comprehension, the Pour s’exprimer section offers an interview (Francophones en direct) with activities to build listening comprehension, as well as practical strategies for managing conversations in the À vous la parole segment. The Situations écrites and Situations orales components provide a variety of realistic contexts for oral and written language production. A complete suite of ancillaries that work seamlessly with one another offer a variety of accompanying activities (both in print and online) that are designed to enrich classroom experiences.A new feature includes a more comprehensive integration of Francophone culture and authentic sources of cultural material. Francophones en direct, recorded unscripted interviews with a variety of French-speaking people, represents a wide range of ages, ethnic, and social backgrounds and presents perspectives on the chapters’themes. Revised activities designed to act as a spring board for small-group and pair work have been enhanced to provide a systematic recycling of structures and cultural content throughout the text. Kutztown University of Pennsylvania S. Pascale Dewey Szlamowicz, Jean. Outils pour traduire, français-anglais: versions et thèmes traduits et commentés pour comprendre et s’exercer. Paris: Ophrys, 2012. ISBN 978-2-70801346 -9. Pp. 237. 19 a. Quinze versions et cinq thèmes, suivis de commentaires particulièrement détaillés: Szlamowicz a fourni un outil de travail d’une grande utilité pratique aux enseignants et étudiants de cours de traduction. Dans sa courte introduction, il précise les défis auxquels est confronté tout traducteur:“Quand on lit une traduction, il faut bien avoir conscience d’un paradoxe: pas un seul mot de l’ouvrage que l’on lit n’a été écrit par son auteur! La traduction doit donc plutôt s’envisager en termes de correspondances et d’équivalences” (8–9). Les mots n’ayant de sens que dans un contexte particulier (culturel, grammatical, etc.), l’entreprise hasardeuse qui consiste...