A balanced approach to culture and skill development engages students The authors'' integrative and process-oriented approach is consistent with the National Standards for Foreign Language Learning for the 21st Century, widely recognized as a set of desired outcomes for foreign language instruction. Rather than functioning as discrete and occasional influences on the text, the National Standards constitute an essential underlying principle of the program as a whole. The 5th Edition addresses specifically the "Five C''s," as defined by the National Standards, by: Emphasizing communication developed through authentic language samples and tasks Encouraging cultural comparisons Presenting a broad cross section of French-speaking communities Fostering connections by guiding students to explore disciplines including history, geography, art, and literature Promoting skill development within a distinctive cultural framework Student-oriented hallmark features distinguish this program from all others. An innovative treatment of grammar presents grammatical structures in the context of authentic communicative use of the language. Use of a cyclical syllabus facilitates language acquisition by allowing instructors to focus on simpler language features first. A process-oriented approach to skills development helps students gradually become confident and proficient at carrying out a wide variety of communicative tasks. Pervasive, nuanced treatment of culture leads students to a deeper analysis and understanding of the diverse cultures of France and the French-speaking world. Authentic texts and tasks form the basis for developing students'' language skills.
Throughout the program, practice of vocabulary and grammar is oriented toward real-world situations and authentic tasks. Presentations of authentic language and attention to language change ensure that students learn about the differences between formal and conversational French, and stay abreast of how use of the language continues to evolve. Fresh material and revisions throughout the text ensure an up-to-date learning experience Updated - The cyclical scope and sequence has been refined to enhance linguistic effectiveness and flexibility. Significant improvements include the following: Chapter-level coverage of interpersonal relationships falls later in the text (Chapitre 9). Additionally, this material has been extensively revised to allow students to acquire more useful vocabulary before encountering more abstract topics such as identity and values. The two chapters covering technology, the media, and the arts have been combined into a new final chapter (Chapitre 11). Technology and media, and the ways we interact with both, have changed dramatically over the past few years, and this new chapter reflects those changes with updated vocabulary, cultural notes, video, and readings. New and updated content reflects current language use and cultural realities.
Updated - Vocabulary presentations (Points de départ) feature new art and photos, carefully chosen vocabulary, and new themes. Revised coverage encourages students to express their ideas about key contemporary topics such as: family and other relationships education and the workplace health and well-being ecology and social engagement media, technology, and the arts Updated - Cultural notes (Vie et culture) include additional topics or updated information, offering a more nuanced picture of France and the French-speaking world. A new video clip in each chapter illustrates notions introduced through the cultural notes. Updated - Pronunciation practice (Sons et lettres) now begins with a discrimination activity, assignable and machine-graded, to ensure that students have heard and understood important distinctions. It continues with playful, culturally enriching elements such as poems, rhymes, proverbs, and tongue twisters. Updated - New to the 5th Edition, grammar charts and contextualized examples (Formes et fonctions) are recorded, further enriching the presentation of and emphasis on current, authentic spoken French. Updated - The text''s video program enriches the treatment of chapter themes, students'' understanding of cultural notions, practice of key vocabulary and grammar, and the development of functional skills in listening and speaking. Two or three new clips per chapter allow for further exploration of the lives of the video cast as well as a focus on new locations in Montpellier and Quebec.
Updated - Nearly all of the skill-building activities (Lisons, Écoutons, Observons, Parlons, Écrivons) are new or revised for this edition, introducing varied types of texts, video clips, and authentic tasks. Notably, 80 percent of the readings are new or significantly revised, including: infographics from government sources and periodicals travel guides social media postings menus excerpts from online news articles New - Art hotspots in each chapter highlight artistic works from the French-speaking world, including paintings, sculpture, architecture, textile art, music, and other types of performance art. This new feature invites students to examine a particular work of art in detail. An accompanying activity encourages students to deepen their knowledge of an artist, a movement, or a genre, and in some cases to make cross-cultural comparisons. Updated - The 5th Edition offers more opportunities for communicative practice in all three modes: interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational. While maintaining a careful progression from form-based to meaning-based practice, the text provides abundant new opportunities for interaction with authentic documents and tasks. Many new activities have been designed for individual out-of-class practice and collaborative in-class practice. New - The 5th Edition offers students a brand new, more user-friendly design that is both mobile-ready and device-neutral.
New, more abundant photos offer a richer depiction of the French-speaking world and combine with updated line art and new realia to enhance the contemporary focus, visual appeal, and pedagogical value of the book. Also available with MyLab French MyLab(tm) is the teaching and learning platform that empowers you to reach every student. By combining trusted author content with digital tools and a flexible platform, MyLab personalizes the learning experience and improves results for each student. Optional English Grammar Readiness Checks test students'' understanding of grammar topics in English and provide personalized remediation via animated tutorials. Point of Need Student Feedback including Feedback Bubbles give students instant hints on how to approach an activity and/or why a given answer is incorrect. When students try again, the "Need help?" feature links to specific sections in the eText and additional related resources to help students improve their performance. Synchronous Audio and Video Recording Tools enable instructors to easily facilitate oral practice outside the classroom. These tools let learners engage in online video and audio chats with other students in the class and record their conversations.
The recordings are sent to the grade book where instructors can review, leave feedback, and assign a grade. Learn more.