1. French Creative Theatre in a Course for Beginners: The Case of 'Finissez vos phrases!' by Jean Tardieu
- Author
-
Crahay, Géraldine
- Abstract
This article discusses the benefits of theatrical texts in language courses for beginners. These original, fun, and yet challenging materials help learners develop linguistic and intercultural competencies and transferable skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and cooperation. Specifically, this article examines the use of Jean Tardieu's (2000/1955) short comedy "Finissez vos phrases!" in a French course for beginners at university level. The particularities of this play are its brevity and the incompleteness of its dialogues. I argue that studying Tardieu's (2000/1955) comedy allows learners to develop their communication skills by reading the whole play, watching a performance of the play, completing the dialogues, and performing their new version in front of the class. Moreover, "Finissez vos phrases!" familiarises learners with French conversational conventions and encourages them to think about the effectiveness of language. It also enhances their cooperative skills, lets them express their creativity and, ultimately, offers them a playful approach to learning French. [For the complete volume, "Literature in Language Learning: New Approaches," see ED608008.]
- Published
- 2020