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Chapter 6: Conversation
A. Instructions, Strategies, and Tips
What Will Actually Happen?
You will hear and see the general instructions in both English and French. You will be given 1 minute to listen to and read these instructions.
You will have 1 minute to examine the introduction and outline.
Your partner on the recording will begin the conversation—you will hear a beep that signals you to begin your response and a second beep that signifies that your 20 seconds are over and you must stop speaking.
You will have the outline of the conversation in front of you.
You will be speaking into some type of microphone.
You will be expected to maintain and initiate interaction using appropriate vocabulary and idiomatic French.
You will have just one last section of the test remaining after you have completed this conversation.
Interpersonal Oral Communication Strategies and Tips
Tips for Success
Immerse yourself in this simulated conversation by playing the role described.
Refer to the outline that tells you what each part of the conversation needs to be. Take advantage of this great asset.
Answer each part of the conversation as thoroughly as possible.
Don’t panic if you are cut off by the second beep at the end of the 20 seconds. You are being evaluated on the quality of your response, not on your ability to speak for exactly 20 seconds.
Whenever possible, practice on the same equipment/software that you will use on exam day.
Speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard and understood.
Pay attention to time frames/tenses.
Always give a response, even if you do not completely comprehend the questions being posed. You have the script outline to give you a generic idea of what your response should be.
Should you catch yourself making a mistake (for example*, j’ai allé versus je suis allé*), correct yourself. The person evaluating your response will appreciate your effort and give you credit for your corrected response.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, this conversation will be conducted in the informal register. That means the person with whom you will be speaking will be someone who could be a friend, family member, or classmate. Using and staying in the informal register is critical. When you are addressing your partner, do not switch back and forth from tu to vous. Use tu consistently when addressing your conversation partner. Do not let yourself be distracted or confused by the fact that the instructions are given to you in the vous form.
Understanding and Interpreting Each Stimulus or Message
What was the nature of the comment or narrative?
What is the main idea?
What specific information was asked for in the question?
What type of reaction, reply, or follow-up does the message require?
What vocabulary from the stimulus (if any) can be used or modified in order to produce a response?
Responding
Before listening to the recording and before the interlocutor starts talking, read the conversation outline. What does it require you to do? You may need to express interest or surprise, agree or disagree, ask for details, and so on.
Answer fully by providing as much information as possible (agree, disagree, ask for more details, show surprise, show disappointment, act happy, and so on).
Paraphrase if you do not know the exact word for something. For instance, if you can’t think of the words “réunion” to talk about tomorrow’s club meeting, just say “quand on se verra demain” or “quand on se recontrera demain.”
Do not rack your brain trying to remember the irregular future form of voir as in “on se verra.” Since you are required to use the familiar register for this task, it is acceptable to use the near future “on va se voir” or even the present tense “on se voit.”
Ask for clarification as in “Tu veux que je vienne t’aider, c’est ça?”
Icing on the Cake
Use interjections and spontaneous phrases used in conversations in the familiar register such as “Cool,” “Ah non!,” “Ah bon!,” “Formidable,” “Mais oui,” “Quelle histoire!” “Dis donc,” “Pas possible!” “Tu blagues!” “Tu exagères!” and so on.
Use transitional phrases such as “et puis/et alors,” “en plus,” “de ma part,” “à mon avis,” “c’est pourquoi,” “mais quand même,” and so on.
Use a variety of descriptive adjectives as appropriate (“une longue journée,” “une bonne idée,” “de vrais amis”).
Use adverbs such as “généralement,” “certainement,” “souvent,” and “fréquemment,” with verbs.
Use the stress pronoun “moi/quant à moi” to contrast your own actions or opinions with those of others.
Try to use a variety of precise verbs above and beyond the basic “être,” “avoir,” and “faire.”
Try to use idioms, at least basic ones such as “Je n’en ai pas envie” and “Je fais du français depuis quatre ans.”
Use the present tense, the passé composé, the imparfait, the near past, and/or the near future as accurately as possible.
Do not agonize over forming conditional sentences or irregular subjunctive forms. However, if they come naturally as in “Je viendrais si je pouvais, mais il faut que je finisse mes devoirs,” that’s beautiful. Just do not sacrifice spontaneity for the sake of elaborate grammatical structures unless you know them really well.
A Focus on the Three Elements of the Conversation
Remember that the conversation has a theme and an introduction. Read both very carefully.
Example Conversation Task:
Thème du cours: Esthétiq
Vous aurez 1 minute pour lire l’introduction.ue
Nicolas: Il vous parle d’un nouveau projet. |
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Vous: Exprimez votre intérêt. |
Nicolas: Il vous pose des questions. |
Vous: Répondez. |
Nicolas: Il vous parle d’un genre de film. |
Vous: Réagissez personnellement. |
Nicolas: Il propose certaines activités. |
Vous: Donnez et défendez votre opinion. |
Nicolas: Il promet de vous contacter avec des détails. |
Vous: Dites au revoir et assurez-le de votre intérêt. |
The creation of a ciné-club falls under the context of cinematographic arts and the theme of aesthetics. That’s the first clue found in the theme and introduction. You can already think of a vocabulary related to movies (i.e., Il y a tant de bons films en français; tous les ados adorent le cinéma).
A second clue is provided at the end of the introduction. You find out that your friend’s aim in this conversation is to invite you to participate in his new ciné-club. Now you can start thinking of responses, such as, “Ça me plairait beaucoup mais . . . .”
Remember to read the outline provided on the exam, which serves as a conversation preview.
While reading it, identify key instructional words or phrases, such as “Exprimez votre intérêt,” that appear in the following passage from the AP practice exam. You can already think forward with a phrase like “Ça m’intéresse énormément.”
The identified key words in the outline or preview will allow you to adhere to the intended aims of the conversation initiated by your interlocutor. Be sure to refer to the appropriate line in the outline each time you get ready for your interlocutor’s next stimulus.
In the outline or preview of the conversation, do not let the word “Vous,” which refers to you as a speaker, distract you from the fact that this task will always be set up as a conversation between you and a friend. You must use the familar voice (tu) when responding.
B. Useful Vocabulary for a Conversation
To Agree
D’accord. OK.
Je suis d’accord. I agree.
C’est vrai. It is true.
C’est certain. It is certain
Bien sûr. Of course.
Je veux bien. I am ok with that (I am willing/I don’t mind).
Je le crois. I believe it.
Je pense que oui. I think so.
Moi aussi. Me too.
Moi non plus. Me neither.
To Disagree
Non, pas du tout. Not at all.
Ah non, je ne suis pas d’accord. Oh no, I do not agree.
Ce n’est pas vrai. It is not true.
Ce n’est pas certain/sûr. It is not certain/sure.
Absolument pas. Absolutely not.
Je ne le crois pas. I do not believe it.
Je ne pense pas. I do not think so.
To Show Enthusiasm
Bravo! Bravo!
Sensationnel! Sensational!
Félicitations! Congratulations!
C’est intéressant! That’s interesting!
Quelle chance! What luck!
Raconte-moi! Tell me!
To Show Empathy
Que c’est triste! How sad!
Quelle horreur! How awful!
Quel malheur! What misfortune!
Quel dommage! Too bad!
C’est dommage! Too bad!
Dommage! Too bad!
Je suis désolé(e). I am sorry.
Je comprends. I understand.
To Show Happiness
Je suis content(e). I am happy.
Je suis heureux(-se). I am happy.
Que c’est bien! That’s cool!
Que c’est cool! That’s cool!
Formidable! Fantastic!
Sensationnel! Sensational!
Super! Super!
Vas-y! Go for it!
To Show Surprise
Quoi? What
Comment? What?
Tu plaisantes!? Tu blagues?! Are you kidding/joking?
Ce n’est pas possible! That’s not possible!
Jamais de la vie! Never! It can’t be!
To Confirm
Ah! Tu veux dire que . . . Oh! You mean that . . .
Tu dis que . . . You are saying that . . .
Si je comprends bien, . . . If I understand you well, . . .
Je pense que tu veux dire que . . . I think you are saying . . .
Mais oui, c’est bien ça. Yes, that’s it.
Parfait. Perfect!
D’accord. Oui, ça marche. Okay. Yes, it works.
C. Example Conversation Task with Transcript of Audios and Suggested Responses
Thème du cours: Vie contemporaine
Note: In exemplary conversations, you will be exposed to accents from France, Africa, and Québec.
Conversation Preview
Marie: Elle parle de son nouveau poste. |
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Vous: Exprimez votre intérêt et indiquez une raison de votre intérêt. |
Marie: Elle vous pose des questions. |
Vous: Répondez à ces questions. |
Marie: Elle pose une question au sujet de la nature de votre participation. |
Vous: Indiquez votre choix avec une explication. |
Marie: Elle vous demande de rendre un service à cette organisation. |
Vous: Acceptez ou refusez avec une explication. |
Marie: Elle vous invite à une réunion et dit au revoir. |
Vous: Acceptez cette invitation et terminez votre conversation avec Marie. |
Conversation
Marie: Salut! Dis, maintenant, que je suis présidente de notre conseil de classe, j’aimerais bien que tu contribues à notre service communautaire qui consiste à nourrir les pauvres du quartier.
Vous: ____________________________
Marie: Formidable! C’est un effort qui exige pas mal d’heures de travail. Quand es-tu libre et combien de temps peux-tu y consacrer chaque semaine?
Vous: ____________________________
Marie: Bien! Quant au travail, préfères-tu préparer la nourriture à la cantine ici à l’école ou aller en ville pour aider à distribuer les repas?
Vous: ____________________________
Marie: Alors, je me demande si tu as du temps libre après l’école aujourd’hui pour nous aider à créer quelques affiches pour ce projet?
Vous: ____________________________
Marie: Je comprends. Nous aurons une réunion très importante jeudi prochain à 15 heures. Peux-tu y assister?
Vous: ____________________________
Suggested Responses
Vous: Félicitations, chère amie! Tu vas bien nous représenter! Oui, je m’intéresse beaucoup à cet effort car, comme tu sais, aider ceux qui sont sans ressources est quelque chose qui me tient à coeur. J’ai toujours pensé qu’il faut faire tout ce qu’on peut pour les autres.
This response satisfies the demand to indicate your interest and state why you are interested. It also includes a congratulations on your friend’s election.
Vous: Généralement, je suis libre juste après l’école pour quelques heures sauf quand il y a un examen le lendemain. De plus, le vendredi, j’ai l’habitude de passer quelques heures chez ma grand-mère pour l’aider avec le ménage. J’ai un peu de temps samedi matin aussi.
You clearly state your availability with some details.
Vous: Je pense que je voudrais travailler à la cantine parce que, depuis mon enfance, j’ai toujours aimé faire la cuisine. Tu le sais bien! Combien de repas incroyables est-ce que je t’ai préparés? Je connais énormément de bonnes recettes de toutes sortes. Donc je peux être le plus utile à la cuisine.
You state your preference with supporting information.
Vous: Je serais ravi(e) de t’aider après l’école aujourd’hui. Même si je ne suis pas un(e) grand(e) artiste, je ferai de mon mieux pour aider à créer des affiches. Tu te souviens de nos jours à l’école primaire où je ne réussissais jamais à faire de dessins que les gens comprenaient.
You accept this invitation and maintain the exchange by adding details to substantiate your response.
Vous: Eh bien, Marie, j’y serai! Je me réjouis de faire la connaissance des autres membres de ce groupe. J’espère faire une bonne impression et contribuer activement. Bon, à tout à l’heure!
You agree to attend the meeting, supply additional information, and bid your friend farewell.