Each student in French 2 will research a Region of France in the following form adapted from a project Webquest/Cooperative Writing Project by Patrick David and Carol Siwinski at Germantown Academy, Pennsylvania:
You are a young American student your own age whose family (you will create a family and story line) is relocating to France for two years. During the next three months you will:
1. write three letters to Bonjour en Ligne a listserv set up for this purpose. The information to include with dates for writing each letter are listed below.
2. respond to two of the letters posted by your classmates. You will respond to the letters in the role of the personnage you have created.
THE TASK
1. Create your personnage. Tell about yourself, family members (give yourself siblings), why your family is spending two years in France (create a specific reason, identifying an organization/company/opportunity). This will form the basis for your letters.
2. Choose a specific region of France (its sites and cities) where you will live. This will form the basis for your letters.
3. You will write three letters in the personnage you have assumed to Bonjour en Ligne the listserv addressing the following issues. These will also be read by Madame Putnam and will be returned to your private email address with a grade.
LETTER ONE due by January 10, 1999
This first letter is to a specific hotel (found online) to reserve rooms for your family during a preliminary visit to a specific city in your region. You will write in French (for your parents)indicating dates, length of time and type of services desired.
LETTER TWO due by February, 1999
In this second letter, you will introduce yourself, explaining why you and family have relocated to the region of France; locate and describe your housing (apartment versus a house; price; description of your new residence; issues of furniture: (shipped/bought); transportation issues; where you attend school (international or local schools); weather this week; general overview of three specific activities planned for the next month etc.
LETTER THREE due by March, 1999
In this third letter, you will describe your new local. You will include information about activities for leisure time, about food, restaurants, newspapers and other press, cultural and other interesting highlights of the area. Give five specific reasons why your region is worth a visit in a given season then describe in detail (using the past tense: PC and imparfait), two specific guided tours, excursions or adventures.
4. You will respond to two one other in your class (pull out of a hat), using the personnage you have assumed, and selecting from the class listserv. Note the following due dates. Each response should have the name of the I>personnage and the word "response" in the subject area of the mesage heading. Each response letter should ask questions to seek aditional information (in the present, past and future)about the person, family, happenings and the region itself. It should also comment on various topics that has been discussed.
Response One due by January 20, 1999
Response Two due one week after February due date for Letter Two
response Three due one week after Due date for letter Three
select from among the following:
Yahoo France: Régions de la France the premier stop for information on all areas of France.
Tourisme en France: Regions de La France clickable map leads to further information on each region.
Annuaire: Tourisme en France if you know a city in your region, type in its name then scroll down to check off specific information requested (visites guidées; base de loisirs; gastronomie etc.).
Home Exchange International a key site to locate homes to exchange in countries throughout the world. Click on search listings then on France to find housing in your region of France.
Putnam's backround Information on trips to France scroll down for French TV Guides; for information on measurements, weather, schooling, currency and more.
Putnam's Simulated trips to regions of France scroll down for resources in French and English on each region of France including where to stay (rentals and hotels) and a wide range of backround information.
Yahoo France hébergement (lodging) select from the list of lodging options: click on hotels for 125 possibilities throughout France; foyers et auberges de jeunesse (hostels); chez l'habitant (Bed and breakfasts); scroll down for individual listings.