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Identifying attitudes, opinions and points of view

Intermediate level (GCSE/IGCSE) exam often feature questions in the reading comprehension paper which get students to identify attitudes, opinions and points of view in statements. You know the routine: students mark down P, N or PN, depending on whether the statement is positive, negative or presents a mixed view. We tell students to look out for words like "mais" or "par contre" if they are trying to spot mixed views.

I've written 100 such statements for the Y10-11 page of frenchteacher.net. They cover 16 different topics. If I were to use the resource I would simply get the class to go through them in about 20 minutes, then give answers. Students would have a percentage score - this usually provide an added motivation. The task provides lots of reading comprehension input. You could extend it by getting students to produce their own sets of opinions as a writing task.

Here are some samples from the resource:



1.        Les devoirs


1.         A mon avis les devoirs ne servent à rien. J’apprends tout ce qu’il faut en cours.

2.         Cela dépend des matières. Quelquefois c’est pratique, mais en français je trouve que c’est moins utile.

3.         Les devoirs vous aident à mémoriser et pratiquer ce qu’on a appris en cours.

4.         Les élèves de familles aisées ont un avantage, donc je trouve que ce n’est pas juste.

5.         Sans les devoirs je n’arriverais pas à comprendre les cours.

6.         Les devoirs c’est important pour les élèves plus âgés, moins pour les petits enfants qui ont besoin de jouer en famille.



3.         Les cigarettes électroniques


1.         Cela peut encourager les enfants à commencer à fumer.

2.         Les e cigs aident les fumeurs à abandonner leur mauvaise habitude.

3.         Je suis pour le « vapotage » mais pas dans les lieux publics.

4.         Je trouve que c’est la meilleure solution pour les fumeurs.

5.         C’est bien, mais on reste accro à la nicotine.

6.         Tout ce qui encourage la dépendance n’est pas souhaitable.


4.         La télé-réalité

1.         Je trouve ces émissions très divertissantes.

2.         Certaines émissions sont amusantes, d’autres complètement nulles.

3.         Ces émissions sont très populaires et les gens ont raison de les aimer.

4.         Je ne comprends pas du tout pourquoi les gens regardent des émissions comme ça.

5.         C’est la télé poubelle !

6.         Tout dépend de l’émission dont on parle.



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