Peer Review

Cuisiner en ligne

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Aug 15, 2016 by World Languages

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This site is ideal for planning task-based French listening and speaking activities. It can be used for multimedia cultural projects as well as for teaching vocabulary and grammar: students can watch the preparation of a dish, discuss the ingredients used and describe the dish.

Task(example):

What food items are you going to need?
What utensils will you be using?
What are you going to do first?
What will you do next?
How long will each step take?

In this blog, the French chef Stéphane Riss presents dishes, restaurants, cooking techniques and chefs that he likes. The website mainly contains videos (with very short texts) from the author and other chefs, as well as a list of news (eg. restaurant openings and awards) related to cooking. Due to the technical vocabulary and speakers’ diction, this learning material is most suited for high intermediate to advanced French courses, in particular for listening and speaking activities. It can be used to practice vocabulary related to food and the imperative form, as well as to generate discussions on tastes and personal experiences with food

Type of Material:

Drill and Practice

Recommended Uses:

• Homework (watching videos and answering questions) • In-class discussions

Technical Requirements:

Internet and plug-ins to watch videos

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Watching and listening to reputable chefs preparing meals will help French language learners: • expand their vocabulary • review grammar concepts in context as a follow-up to classroom instruction • encourage them to communicate orally about French cuisine • improve their ability to listen attentively to instructions in French • prepare a class or online discussion about specific recipes • prepare a written project on French cuisine

Target Student Population:

• Intermediate to advanced language courses • Advanced French courses on food

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

Cuisiner en ligne is best used with intermediate and advanced French language courses which integrate culture. The material features a number of recipes that will encourage learners to practice their vocabulary, reading and writing skills while they look at a menu from a French restaurant. Basic computer and web navigating skills are needed.Vocabulary related to ingredients, food preparation and tastes.

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:: This authentic document is ideal for classroom use because of its short segments and predictable step-by-step structure which directs learners to pay attention to the names of French food, drink, preparation instructions and recipes introduced by each chef. Conceived as a blog allowing visitors to leave comments or contact Stephane Riss, the creator of the website, the resource can help students focus on developing general listening, comprehension and speaking skills. As a social networking service, it will encourage learners to create their own blogs in French.
Concerns:: Additonal information regarding each dish presented in the videos would be helpful. A written list of ingredients and accompanying methods of preparation could help students create written follow-up activities based on the content already presented.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: Each video presented in this site is an authentic teaching tool that encourages students to express personal reactions or write down notes to be discussed in a small group. A list of the dishes presented and background information about specific French restaurants, table manners and related cultural content could be embedded in an instructional unit to be explored after viewing the website. Creating shopping lists and ordering food from a restaurant are some of the follow-up activities that can also enhance the study of the French language and help students make cultural connections.
Concerns:: A teacher-created vocabulary index will facilitate comprehension of French language used in this site and allow students with various fluency levels to explore it at their own pace.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:: The authenticity of the material is a key point. The names of the dishes and their images are clearly presented in each video and the site is easy to navigate. Advanced students can review the site independently. • Visually pleasing • Easy to navigate (does not require any technological knowledge to use)
Concerns:: Intermediate learners and students with special needs will require additional support before viewing the material: listening comprehension tips, vocabulary lists, follow-up activities.

Other Issues and Comments:: Cuisiner en ligne provides unscripted and spontaneous material which could motivate intermediate and advanced level students to become engaged in real-life discussions about French cooking. Navigation is easy and the videos can be integrated in a larger unit or in manageable learning segments for intermediate students.
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