Cinephile: French Language and Culture through Film (French Edition) [Hardcover]

Kerri Conditto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 19, 2007

The book will be printed in full color. Cinéphile: French Language and Culture through Film is a college-level French textbook for two semesters of the second year of college level courses. This text is designed for use in those courses that are taught immediately following a complete first year, where the student needs to review the linguistic concepts in the context of the whole language as well as to expand vocabulary and gain facility with listening, speaking, writing and reading French in real world situations. The textbook integrates the study of French language and culture with the study of films drawing on French language films not only for their ability to generate high interest among students but also for their range of cultural experiences, idiomatic expressions, interesting and real world situations, as well as, of course, having films themselves as important reflections of modern French artistic endeavors in their own right. The textbook is comprised of nine chapters, with each chapter centered around a different film. The films vary in content and genre (animated film, dramatic comedy, farce, romantic comedy, thriller, drama, adventure, etc.) and feature well known French filmmakers and actors. Films provide the springboard for the review of grammar and the expansion of vocabulary skills, as well as to provide content for French culture in the context of the four language skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Of course the films provide real world language models as well as high interest. The selected films thus mirror the progressive nature of developing linguistic proficiency and become more sophisticated in language and cultural content as the student progresses through the text. Each chapter also includes short authentic readings in support of the grammar and cultural issues as well as a multiplicity of exercises.

Editorial Reviews

Review

We've been using Cinéphile in accelerated second year courses and in third year courses at Andover for three years now. It's hard to find an original and interesting approach for intermediate French courses and Cinéphile fills that niche remarkably well. It combines accessibility and authentic cultural content, and it integrates  vocabulary and grammar with the study of a variety of French movies

- Natalie G Schorr, Phillips Andover Academy, Andover M

From the Back Cover

Designed for the full second year course in French which draws on film to motivate students as well as provide culture, a source of real spoken French, and topics for discussion. Also appropriate for the fourth year of high school French in prep and other private schools and AP French language courses.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Focus Publishing/R. Pullins Co. (February 19, 2007)
• Language: French
• ISBN-10: 158510258X
• ISBN-13: 978-1585102587
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #336,125 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works for high school textbook, too!, July 27, 2008

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Mlle H (Fort Mill, SC USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Cinephile: French Language and Culture through Film (French Edition) (Hardcover)

Conditto has defied the rules of textbooks. She actually has fun and engaging activities for each chapter! It is so rare to find suggestions for communicative activities that have been well thought-out and are interesting. Her vocabulary is also extremely high-frequency, which is rarely found in foreign language textbooks. Finally, she provides so many readings, activities, and grammar resources from which to pick and choose. Most books don't give nearly enough practice and the grammar exercises usually have nothing to do with the theme of the chapter.

This book has saved my colleague and me loads of time making up our own themed lessons from scratch. We are using this for a Level IV high school class, and although not all the movies are appropriate for this level (notably L'Auberge Espagnole), we're finding that it should work very well. The movies are well chosen and illustrate a wide range of genres. Unlike some of the other texts we looked at, there is background on each film, tons of related activities and readings, and before and after viewing suggestions. The grammar works nicely as a review/fill in the gaps sequence for a Level IV class.

My only request is for Conditto to do the same for our Level III culture and history class!