Chapter 10: Presentational Speaking: Cultural Comparison

Exam Section II, Task 4

Comparing Cultures

• Fast-paced exercise- only takes 6 minutes
• It will allow you to use language to convey a cultural and authentic message based on products, practices, and perspectives, using what you have learned about the French-speaking world.
• To get a 5 in this category, you need to be culturally savvy and able to compare without judging.

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Product, Practice, Perspective

• The Three Ps will help you organize your response and make a valid and interesting comparison

• An example- Tou are asked about the use of coffee in the US and France:

  • The Product is coffee
  • The Practice- in the US it is consumed in the mornings (in your home, in the car…), there are different flavors- add details
  • compare the different cultures- accentuate the french way of living
  • The Perspective- what do these practices tell us about cultures?- you could add negative and positive points

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}}The comparisons are derived from the 6 themes of the curriculum:}}

• }}Families in Different Societies}}
• }}The Influence of Language and Culture on Identity}}
• }}Influences of Beauty and Art}}
• }}How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives}}
• }}Factors That Impact the Quality of Life}}
• }}Environmental, Political, and Societal Challenges}}

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Strategies and Tips

Get beyond the Superficial

• Explain what the practice tells you about the people
• Do not assume that your listeners know a lot about the topic
• Be explicit- use examples, think about the research that you have done already

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Jot Down Your Ideas

• You have 4 minutes to create a ^^draft^^
• DO NOT make a list for each culture- It is not a comparison unless you specifically say how they differ and how they are similar
• Fill out the chart given to you on page 326

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Step A: The Introduction

• 15 seconds max (out of 2 mins)
• Specify the two communities you are going to compare
• Use these sentences:

}}L’idée du/de la/de l’___ est vue similairement en/au ___ et en/au.}}

}}Le thème du/de la/de l’ est vu différemment en/au _ et en/au.}}

}}Je vais vous parler du/de la/de l’ en/au + name of country et dans ma communauté des États-Unis.}}

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Step B: The Comparison

• 1 min 30 seconds

• The comparison has to be well balanced

• You should be talking and advancing your argument- elaborate and be explicit

• Explain what the cultural perspective demonstrates

• Use the words of tranisition (same or different comparison)

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Step C: The Conclusion

• 15 seconds

• Add anything you forgot to say and then wrap up.

• Examples of a concluding sentence:

  • Et donc, je voulais dire que la grande différence entre ___ et ___ c’est ___.
  • Et donc, on remarque qu’en fait en/au ___ et en/au __, c’est pareil au niveau de ____.

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Scoring Guidelines: [https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/pdf/ap19-sg-french-language.pdf]()

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