La littérature dans l’enseignement du FLE éd. par Anne Godard

Abstract

Reviews 209 Godard,Anne, éd. La littérature dans l’enseignement du FLE. Paris: Didier, 2015. ISBN 978-2-278-07613-0. Pp. 338. 14 a. What role does literature play in the effective teaching of French as a foreign language? La littérature dans l’enseignement du FLE attempts to address this question, as well as others pertaining to the use of literature—“La littérature est-elle reservée à certains publics? À certains niveaux?”—and, most interesting from a cultural point of view: “Comment permet-elle un enrichissement linguistique et culturel et conduitelle à une modification du regard sur la langue et la culture?” (6). In seven chapters, this insightful collection of essays traces the development of literature in the FLE curriculum and explains how its importance came into question. Finally, the authors present strong arguments for the focused, deliberate inclusion of literature as an effective means of facilitating successful language acquisition. The first chapter, “La littérature dans la didactique du français et des langues: histoire et théories,” traces various stages in the evolution of French language teaching from the second half of the nineteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Godard explains how historical periods and developments, such as French colonial expansion, the First World War and the Cold War, either privileged or set aside the use of literature in teaching French. Chapter Five, entitled “Le rôle de la littérature dans les apprentissages langagiers: de l’écriture creative à la conscience de la langue,”addresses the challenge of using literary texts in a language course, which often presents texts too challenging for students still developing their language skills. This chapter explains how the use of literature, along with creative writing exercises led by professional writers, have assisted students at all levels to develop a more subjective, personal use of French as they negotiate levels of interlanguage.“L’alterité dans la langue: ouverture au plurilinguisme par la littérature,” addresses the use of French literature in teaching the diversity of French culture. This seventh chapter explores how the careful study of Francophone texts both enriches the vocabulary of the language learner and provides opportunities to explore how various Francophone writers used the versatility of the French language to demonstrate cultural differences in the Francophone world. La littérature dans l’enseignement du FLE is an engaging and informative work that makes a strong argument for the active use of French literature in order to increase linguistic competence. This collection of essays assumes that the reader has a thorough familiarity with various language teaching methodologies; therefore, readers without a background in second-language acquisition may find certain parts of this book challenging.An excellent bibliography of recent scholarship on the teaching of French literature is included.Graduate students in linguistics, coordinators of French language programs, and departments looking for practical guidance on how to incorporate literature into a French program will find this book a valuable source of information. Jackson State University (MS) Tomaz Cunningham ...