Wikis,+Voicethread,+Google+Docs+–+Making+Connections+beyond+the+Classroom,

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MARIE-LAURE HOFFMANN
WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, WESTFIELD, NJ CO-PRESIDENT, AATF/ CHAPITRE DE NEW JERSEY

= EDUCATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE FRENCH AND THE AMERICAN SYSTEMS. = This unit was developped for my French 5 classes. In this units, students are able to identify similarities and differences in the French and the US education systems and draw inferences and conclusions for today's society and the future of society.

STEPS: I.Introduce the vocabulary. II. FL Teach Web Site: Read and compare/ contrast the French and the US. III. Reading assignment: French students perspectives. IV. Discussion V. Select on the following films for study and discussion: VI. Recapitulation and conclusions.
 * Etre et Avoir: a documentary on a one-room schoolhouse in rural France.
 * Les Choristes. A film about a boys boarding school right after WWII.
 * Entre les Murs. A film about a parisian middle-school in an immigrant neighborhood.
 * L'Argent de Poche. A Truffaut classic. The daily life of middle school children.
 * L'Auberge Espagnole. A film which portrays the lives of students from a variety of nationalities sharing an apartment and attending university in Barcelona, Spain.

I. LE VOCABULAIRE
Word documents are uploaded to the WIKI very easily. Click on "Edit" and "File".

**II. RECHERCHE SUR INTERNET**
Creating links to websites is quite easy: Click on "Edit" and "Link".

[|www.cortland.edu/flteach/civ]. Students read the text and the questions. The questions below were cut and __pasted onto the WIKI__ from a Word document.


 * 1) Combien y-a-til de différentes écoles?
 * 2) A quel « grade » correspond le lycée (seconde, première, terminale). En quelle classe seriez-vous si vous habitiez en France ?
 * 3) A partir de quel âge peut-on aller à l’école gratuitement ? Quelle est la différence avec les Etats-Unis ?
 * 4) En quoi diffèrent les examens en France et aux Etats-Unis ?
 * 5) Combien y-a-t-il de baccalauréats différents ? Lequel choisiriez-vous si vous étiez élève en France ?
 * 6) Regardez l’emploi du temps d’une étudiante à Nantes. Quelles diférences voyez-vous ?
 * 7) Quels cours existent au lycée en France, mais pas aux Etats-Unis ? Par contre, quels cours/ activités existent au lycée aux Etats-Unis, mais pas en France ?
 * 8) A quel âge peut-on quitter le lycée et choisir une formation professionnelle ? A quel âge peut-on le faire aux Etats-Unis ?
 * 9) Comment s’appellent les écoles universitaires les plus prestigieuses en France ? Comment y est-on admis ?
 * 10) Combien coûte l’université en France ?
 * 11) Citez deux différences entre la vie universitaire en France et aux Etats-Unis ? Laquelle préféreriez-vous ? Pourquoi ?
 * 12) Citez 4 différences entre la vie au lycée en France et aux Etats-Unis. Quel système préféreriez-vous ? Pourquoi ?

III. LECTURE SUPPLEMENTAIRE:
PDF files are uploaded just like Word documents, and photos. LE SYSTEME SCOLAIRE: REACTIONS D'ELEVES ETRANGERS.

**LE SYSTÈME ÉDUCATIF FRANÇAIS**
This table was __pasted__ here from the French Ministry of Education website..


 * [[image:mmehoffmann:SYSTME~1.JPG caption="SYSTME~1.JPG"]] ||


 * SYSTME~1.JPG ||

.

IV. DISCUSSION:
Debate on the differences and the issues raised in the readings. Other possibility: set up a discussion via __Web cam__ (Skype) with a class from a francophone country.

VOICETHREAD: This free software (at [|www.voicethread.com]) allows teachers and students to share documents, images, and videos. Voicethreads and videos are embedded using the "widget"button above and pasting the embed code from the voicethread. In this example, I use Voicethread as an oral assessment. media type="custom" key="5795425"

V. LE FILM "ETRE ET AVOIR


ORAL ASSESSMENT ON THE FILM: VOICETHREAD: =media type="custom" key="5796761"=

**VI. EXTRAPOLATION AND CONCLUSIONS**
Skits: Students can design their own skits inspired by situations in the movie. A __digital camera__ can be used and the film uploaded onto You Tube. __Google Docs__ is used to collaborate in the writing of the script. (Example of Google docs in the next section: "Immigration

= **IMMIGRATION: FRANCE AND THE UNITED STATES** =

The objective of this unit is to familiarize students with the immigration issue as it is framed in France and in the United States. STEPS 1. Introduction of the vocabulary related to immigration. 2. Development and completion of a student questionnaire on the immigration issue. 3. The French immigration issue: Power Point presentation. 4. The film: "Entre les Murs". The memoir of a French teacher in an underprivilgedd Parisian middle school. = = = =

__I. LE VOCABULAIRE DE L'IMMIGRATION:__
[|VOCAB DE L'IMMIGRATION.docx]

= =

__II. LE QUESTIONNAIRE SUR L'IMMIGRATION:__
We used "Google Docs" to develop, publish, and tabulate the qustionnaire. To create a "Google Docs" form, go to [|http://docs.google.com] and click on "Create New" and then "Form". Here is the original form:

media type="custom" key="5797781"

LES REPONSES:

[|Cliquez ici]

LE RESUME DES REPONSES: [|Cliquez ici]

__III. LE POWER POINT SUR L'IMMIGRATION__:
You can also uopload Power Presentations onto your WIKI. Click on "Edit" and then on "File"/ "Upload File". [|L’IMMIGRATION EN FRANCE.pptx]

= =

__**IV. LE FILM: ENTRE LES MURS**__
The TV 5 website has a great site on the movie. You can create a link to the site.(Click on "Edit", then "Link") [|Cliquez ICI]

We can also upload Word documents created about the movie
 * [[image:http://www.wikispaces.com/i/mime/32/empty.png width="32" height="32" link="http://flenj2010-frenchimmersion.wikispaces.com/file/view/ENTRE+LES+MURS+TV5.doc"]] [|ENTRE LES MURS TV5.doc]

= =

__V. DEBATS ET RECAPITULATION:__
Conduct debates, complete essays, and lead discussions on the following questions:

Other essay/ discussion themes: Critique the teaching techniques in the movie. Describe the ideal teacher/ lesson.
 * Assimilation or integration?
 * A national ID card? Why / Why not?
 * A wall between two countries? Why / Why not?
 * Is immigration necessary? Why / Why not?
 * Separation of church and state: French or US model?

Voicethread: Orally describe your favorite scene. Skit: Create a new scene to the movie.