Key Idea: Part 1 is your 3–4 minute presentation of the extract. Then come two conversations: Part 2 on the extract, and Part 3 on the wider course themes.
| Part | What you say | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Introduction | Title, genre, where the extract comes, your plan | about 30 s |
| 2. Summary | What happens, in two sentences | about 20 s |
| 3. Characters and setting | Who they are and how they feel, with quotations | about 1 min |
| 4. Themes and ideas | Idea, quotation, effect | about 1 min 30 |
| 5. Link and conclusion | Its place in the whole work, and why it matters | about 30 s |
The conversation
- Answer the question you were asked, not a speech you learned by heart.
- Give proof: a quotation in Part 2, a real example in Part 3.
- Unsure? Ask: «Vous voulez dire… ?»
- Stuck? Never stop at «Je ne sais pas». Say «C'est une question difficile, mais je dirais que…».
| Job | En français | In English |
|---|---|---|
| Present | Cet extrait est tiré de… | This extract comes from… |
| Quote or describe | Comme le montre l'expression « … » | As the phrase «…» shows |
| Give an opinion | Il me semble que… | It seems to me that… |
| Link | Passons maintenant à… | Let's now move on to… |
| Buy time | C'est une bonne question… | That's a good question… |
Comment, don't retell: say what the words show, not just what happens.
«Gaspard est un caractère fier.» What is wrong? Say «un personnage». «Un caractère» means a personality.
«Cette idée est supportée par la citation.» Fix it. «appuyée par». «Supporter» means to put up with.
Which part of the presentation is the longest? Themes and ideas: about a minute and a half.
Instead of «c'est intéressant», what can you say? A verb that names the effect: «Cela souligne…», «suggère», «révèle».