Describes a method for teaching French that aims at developing students language skills using discipline-specific materials. The materials, designed by the Moroccan Bureau of Linguistic and Pedagogical Exchanges and the French Embassy in Morocco, are described, and examples of unit exercises are provided. (AG)

The relationship between television and education in France is discussed, with reference to the arguments of several detractors and a recent report suggesting that there may be a number of ways in which the two "largest institutions in France" can benefit from each other. (MSE)

The design of instructional and reference materials for French language teaching is discussed, focusing on design principles that facilitate individual, independent learning of vocabulary. (MSE)

The media interview is seen as a form of information exchange that is increasingly important and needs to be understood. Similarities and differences in written and oral interview reports are briefly examined, and interview objectives, forms (dialogue or narrative), and language functions are discussed. (MSE)

The problems and value of television as instructional material for the second-language classroom are discussed, and a new videocassette series produced by the journal "Francais dans le Monde" is described. Criteria for topic and segment selection are outlined, and suggestions are made for classroom use. (MSE)

An issue devoted to the use of science fiction in the French language classroom discusses such topics as the development of the genre, literary techniques, themes, imagery, sociolinguistic elements, and potential classroom activities. (MSE)

Discourse competence is made up of both communicative competence and textual competence. Since each literary genre has its own typological and textual style, the study of each will help to build diverse competencies in students. (MSE)

A rationale is presented for using humor as a French language teaching tool, and several class activities designed for different language skill levels and using humor as a central element are described. Some suggestions are offered for selecting appropriate instructional materials. (MSE)

Classroom French language learning exercises using travel brochures and guides are outlined and illustrated. The variety of materials available is discussed, and specific basic procedures and supplemental activities are described. Exercises focus on development of vocabulary relating to movement, expressions of comparison and evaluation, and…

Choice of texts for use in French language instruction is discussed. It is argued that the text's format (e.g., advertising, figurative poetry, journal article, play, prose, etc.) is instrumental in bringing attention to the language in it, and this has implications for the best uses of different text types. (MSE)

A method and activities for approaching textual analysis with language students and making it something other than an academic exercise is discussed and illustrated. The technique uses reading by a variety of methods, oral and quiet, for producing insight into the text. (MSE)

A discussion of the use of video as instructional material in the second-language classroom looks at the relationship between the visual and the verbal and offers a number of exercises using each, together and separately. (MSE)

A variety of exercises based on manipulation of a single text are described. The activities involve replacing words or phrases in the text with synonyms or opposites, transposing gender, changing tenses, filling in blanks, and answering multiple-choice questions about linguistic forms. Three brief sample texts are offered. (MSE)

A variety of authentic materials drawn from explanatory texts or offering instructions for performing some daily or common task are presented, and classroom activities for building foreign language competence based on the materials are outlined. (MSE)

Use of television as material for French second-language instruction is explored. It is proposed that, over the course of a three-year sequence, students can progress through three stages of listening comprehension skill development: discovery of the medium's unique characteristics; autonomy and mastery in its use; and familiarity. (MSE)