Pratique révision B1 by Jugurta Bentifraouine, et Philippe Liria

Abstract

Reviewed by: Pratique révision B1 by Jugurta Bentifraouine, et Philippe Liria Jessica L. Sturm Bentifraouine, Jugurta, et Philippe Liria. Pratique révision B1. Clé International, 2022. ISBN 978-209-038995-1. Pp. 272. The greatest strength of Pratique révision B1 is its presentation and treatment of vocabulary. Organized around 13 parties thématiques, vocabulary is presented with relevant, visually appealing images, entirely in French. For example, in partie thématique 1, “Un corps en liberté,” the authors provide a list of parts of the face, followed by three images, which students are to label with the appropriate words. This presentation is followed by a list of idiomatic expressions involving parts of the face (e.g., passez sous le nez). Partie thématique 5, “Une actualité agitée,” begins with a crossword puzzle of words pertaining to media and communication. Vocabulary exercises include fill-in-the-blank, listening (with accompanying audio online), matching, unscrambling words, and labeling pictures. They are interspersed with inset boxes providing further information about the unit’s topic. For example, in partie thématique 6, “Des saveurs de partout,” students learn the correct terms for the level of doneness of a steak. In partie thématique 9, “La famille d’aujourd’hui et les relations sociales,” these inset boxes feature information about the PACS and about stages of life. Each partie thématique includes several sets of vocabulary and grammatical functions. For instance, “Un temps pour tout” (#2), provides more body parts, along with vocabulary for sports, games, and le bricolage/le jardinage, combined with prepositions of time; adverbs and adverbial phrases for time; frequency; indefinite phrases, impersonal forms, and the passive present. This combination encourages students to talk about sports and leisure, along with how often they might do a given activity. In this way, students can communicate effectively about how they spend their free time. Grammar exercises are fairly mechanical-to-meaningful, without much room to create in the language. However, the parties thématiques do provide a jumping-off point for constructing more communicative activities. The images are diverse in some sections, representing a variety of French-speaking peoples. Notably, though, and regrettably, all the people in photos practicing a profession are white. Family vocabulary is overall heteronormative, although “plusieurs autres modèles de familles” are acknowledged and articulated. In general, this book provides an excellent revision of vocabulary and grammar at the intermediate level, and could accompany another intermediate text or serve the ambitious student who simply wants more practice. [End Page 238] Jessica L. Sturm Purdue University (IN) Copyright © 2022 American Association of Teachers of French