View Content #2001
| Contentid | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Content Type | 1 |
| Title | French songs for language structures |
| Body | Editor's Note: The following messages were in response to a query for French songs that could be used to "illustrate particular language structures." I use Jacques Brel's "Madeleine" after my students have learned the past and future tenses. I introduce the song by first asking them if they have ever been stood up by anyone, and how long they usually wait for a person with whom they are supposed to meet until they leave, if this person does not show up. Then, I introduce the situation in the song. I then distribute sheets with the song lyrics, in which I have blanked out all of the verbs, and we listen to the song -- I pause after verbs, and they fill out the blanks, and identify each verb form. Then we go over the song globally, I ask them questions (from basic facts to how the protagonist is feeling), and their reactions. For homework, they write a letter from the protagonist to Madeleine, asking her what the matter is and why she never shows up, and they also have to write Madeleine's response. I often get very funny stuff! A good song that uses a lot of conditionals is "Les Vieux Mariés" by Michel Sardou. I am not sure, though, that high school students could relate to this song. I also use Louise Attaque's song "Fatigante" for its accumulation of adjectives, and it's just a fun song. I also think that "Je suis de celles " by Benabar would be great because it's written practically entirely in the imperfect tense, but I don't think it could be used in high school (it's basically the ex high school "slut" who reminisces about her high school past, addressing a past [male] schoolmate whom she runs into several years later. I am definitely thinking about using it at the university level, though.) BTW, I also love the Rap song "35 heures" by Sniper, partly because of the way the song is structured (the end of each verse leads to the beginning of the next, which has a different narrator/protagonist). But, as is the case for most rap songs, it's loaded with a good number of profanities and, thus, inappropriate for use at least at the high school level. BTW, the lyrics to all of the songs I mentioned can be found on www.paroles.net. Donato, E. French songs for language structures. Foreign Language Teaching Forum listserv. FLTEACH@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU (30 Aug. 2004). Don't forget Francis Cabrel's Je T'aime, Je T'aimais, Je T'aimerai. Alli. Re: French songs for language structures]. Foreign Language Teaching Forum listserv. FLTEACH@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU (30 Aug. 2004). |
| Source | FLTEACH |
| Inputdate | 2004-09-03 00:01:00 |
| Lastmodifieddate | 2004-09-03 00:01:00 |
| Expdate | Not set |
| Publishdate | Not set |
| Displaydate | Not set |
| Active | 1 |
| Emailed | 1 |
| Isarchived | 1 |
