Includes index.

"The course you are about to begin is based on a method called the Natural Approach, which is designed to help you learn to speak, read, write, and understand French. You will be learning not only about the French language but also about French-speaking people and cultures all over the world: in Europe, North and West Africa, Quebec, the Caribbean , and elsewhere.

As you work with Deux mondes, keep in mind that you will be learning French in two very different but complementary ways. The first is experiential and mostly unconscious. It is the "feel" for the language that comes from hearing, reading, and speaking French in meaningful, everyday contexts. The second is a more deliberate and formal kind of learning, which comes from studying the rules of the French language, especially those of grammar and from doing written activities.

Both types of learning are necessary to become proficient in French. You need to hear and read authentic French in order to understand native speakers. You also need to think and express your ideas in French as much as possible. Exploring how the French language works by studying grammar can allow you to progress more rapidly. However, keep in mind that all learners inevitably make mistakes when they speak and write a new language. Your instructors and classmates will not expect you to speak "perfectly", and native speakers will appreciate your attempts to speak their language even if you do make some mistakes. Initially, then, you should concentrate on what you are saying rather than on how you are saying it. The experience of learning French should be enriching, stimulating, and fun.

During class, avoid translating the French you hear into your native language. You will acquire lasting proficiency by learning to understand French "from the inside," on its own terms. If you listen and watch carefully, you will discover that it is almost always possible to understand what is being conveyed without resorting to English." (The the student, xxiii)

Contents

To the Instructor - xi

To the Student - xxiii

Première Étape : Premières rencontres

Deuxième Étape : Le monde étudiant

Chapitre 1 : Ma famille et moi

Chapitre 2 : La vie quotidienne et les loisirs

Chapitre 3 : En ville

Chapitre 4 : La maison et le quartier

Escales Francophones : La France

Chapitre 5 : Dans le passé

Chapitre 6 : L'enfance et la jeunesse

Escales Francophones : Le Québec

Chapitre 7 : À table!

Chapitre 8 : Parlons de la Terre!

Escales Francophones : Le Sénégal

Chapitre 9 : L'enseignement, les carrières et l'avenir

Chapitre 10 : Les voyages

Escales Francophones : La Belgique

Chapitre 11 : Les moyens de communication

Chapitre 12 : La santé et les urgences

Escales Francophones : Les Antilles

Chapitre 13 : La famille et les valeurs en société

Chapitre 14 : Les enjeux du présent et de l'avenir