Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for French

Understanding Grammar in Language Teaching

Grammar is often misunderstood in the language teaching field. Instead of viewing grammar as a static system of arbitrary rules, it should be seen as a rational, dynamic system comprised of structures characterized by the three dimensions of form and use.

Myths About Grammar

Grammar is acquired naturally; it need not be taught.

It is true that some learners acquire second language grammar naturally without instruction. For example, there are immigrants to the United States who acquire proficiency in English on their own. Chomsky showed that native English speakers were still in the process of acquiring certain grammatical structures in English well into adolescence.

Grammar is boring.

This myth is derived... Continue reading "Understanding Grammar in Language Teaching: Key Concepts" »

Vocabulary: Places and People in the City (En Ville)

City Locations and Shops

• La pharmacie: The pharmacy
• La banque: The bank
• Le supermarché: The supermarket
• Le bureau de poste: The post office / Mail
• Le jardin public: The public garden
• Un immeuble: A building / Apartment block
• La boulangerie-pâtisserie: The bakery-pastry shop
• La boucherie-charcuterie: The butcher shop
• La poissonnerie: The fishmonger's shop
• Le bureau de tabac: The tobacconist's shop
• Le bus: The bus

Professions and People

• Le jardinier: The gardener
• Le facteur: The postman
• La caissière: The cashier
• L'employé(e) de banque: The bank employee
• Le médecin: The doctor
• L'infirmier / L'infirmière: The nurse
• Le buraliste: The tobacconist (person)
• Le poissonnier: The fishmonger (person)
• Le boucher-charcutier:

The Spanish Noun: Characteristics and Functions

The noun is characterized by its ability to receive gender and number inflectional morphemes. Its primary function is to act as the core of a nominal phrase. The noun admits certain modifiers, such as determiners, adjectival phrases, and nominal sentences, which function as nominal complements.

The Nominal Adjective

The nominal adjective is a class that receives gender and number inflections, allowing for agreement with the noun. The fundamental degrees of the adjective are categorized by semantic features:

• Synthetic or morphological: Formed through the addition of affixes (prefixes or suffixes).
• Analytic: Formed through adverbs that modify the adjective, creating a phrase where the adverb acts as

Fundamentals of Communication

Key Elements of the Communication Process

• Issuer (Sender): Transmitting the information element (person, corporate body, alarm).
• Receiver: The element that receives and interprets information (individual and collective).
• Message: The information being transmitted. This must be taken into account, along with CE IH [Contextual Elements / Information Handling].
• Channel: The natural or man-made vehicle for transmitting the message (natural or artificial physical environment). Artificial channels retain the information and save time by overcoming spatial barriers.
• Code: The set of signs and rules of combination that enables the development of the message.

Types of Communication Flow

Given the transmitter-receiver relationship,... Continue reading "Word Classes and Communication Elements in Spanish Grammar" »

Topic 3: Travel and Adventure

International Integration: NATO and Europe

During the transition period, domestic politics predominated over foreign affairs. In reality, for the majority of Spaniards, democratization was synonymous with Europeanization and Western integration. During the transition and the Socialist government, there was essential continuity in foreign policy planning.

Foreign Policy Under Arias Navarro

Under Arias Navarro, the relevance of foreign policy was minimal. However, the King's trips to Europe and the USA helped fuel expectations and had a positive effect on important internal policy initiatives. A significant foreign policy decision was the King's resignation of the privilege of intervention in the appointment of bishops, a long-standing request from... Continue reading "Spain's International Integration: NATO and European Accession" »

Literary Devices and Language Registers

Figures of Speech: Definitions and Examples

• Simile (Comparison)

  The comparison of two distinct elements based on a shared feature, often using connecting words like "as" or "like."

  Example: His life was as short as one minute.

• Metaphor

  The replacement of one element (noun) with another by virtue of their shared properties, implying a direct equivalence.

  Example: His life was one minute.

• Extended Metaphor (Image)

  A metaphor that is sustained or developed across two or more lines or throughout a passage.

  Example: His life was blessed one minute
  Among so many dead hours.

• Anaphora

  The repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive verses or similar clauses.

• Antithesis (Contrast)

  The juxtaposition of two contrasting

Vocabulary Unit 2: Relationships

• Rowed: Discutir
• Finished with: Acabar amb una relació
• Dating: Quedar (cita)
• Fancy: T’agrada algú
• Flirt with: Tontejar amb
• Kiss: Petó
• Keep in touch: Mantenir el contacte
• Have a lot in common: Tenir molt en comú
• Make a good impression: Donar una bona impressió

Negative Prefixes

• Compatible: Incompatible
• Honesty: Dishonesty
• Legal: Illegal
• Possible: Impossible
• Responsible: Irresponsible
• Usual: Unusual
• Approve: Disapprove
• Comfortable: Uncomfortable
• Legible: Illegible
• Loyalty: Disloyalty
• Mature: Immature
• Polite: Impolite
• Rational: Irrational

Extreme Adjectives

• Angry: Furious (enfadat - furiós)
• Upset: Devastated (molest - molt molest)
• Attractive: Gorgeous (atractiu - molt guapo)
• Ugly: Hideous (lleig - molt lleig)
• Pleased: Delighted (encantat

Mastering Reported Speech

Tense Changes in Reported Speech

• Present Simple --- Past Simple (did, -ed, saw,...)
• Present Continuous --- Past Continuous (was/were +ing)
• Past Simple --- Past Perfect Simple (had studied)
• Present Perfect Simple (have seen) --- Past Perfect Simple
• Will --- Would
• Can --- Could
• May --- Might
• Must / Have to --- Had to

Word Changes in Reported Speech

• Now --- Then
• Today --- That day
• Yesterday --- The day before
• Tonight --- That night
• Tomorrow --- The next day
• Two months ago --- Two months before
• Last week --- The previous week
• Next year --- The following year

Reported Statements

Subject + reporting verb + (that) + subject + verb

He said (that) he was planning to take a gap year after university.

Reported Questions (Yes/No Questions)

Subject +... Continue reading "Mastering Reported Speech and Travel Vocabulary" »

Geography Quiz Challenge

Mike: Here's a geography quiz in the paper.

Wendy: Oh, I love geography! Ask me the questions.

Mike: Sure. First question: Which country is larger, China or Canada?

Wendy: I know! Canada is larger than China.

Mike: Okay, next. What's the longest river in the Americas?

Wendy: Hmm, I think it's the Mississippi.

Mike: Here's a hard one. Which country is more crowded, Monaco or Singapore?

Wendy: I'm not sure. I think Monaco is more crowded.

Mike: Okay, one more. Which South American capital city is the highest: La Paz, Quito, or Bogotá?

Wendy: Oh, that's easy. Bogotá is the highest.

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

1. Adding -er and -est to Short Adjectives

For short adjectives (one or sometimes two syllables), add -er for the... Continue reading "Geography Quiz Challenge: Test Your Knowledge" »