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Objective
The objective of this program is to create an environment which,
through the double process of immersion and interaction, is as close to the
natural one as possible: where language takes back its primary function, as a
tool for communication, and where the language learning process becomes
experiential.
The specific goal is to develop the users' understanding of authentic spoken
French by motivating them to understand what they see, hear and read.
Problem
Usually, students have a hard time understanding authentic spoken
French as it is fast-paced, difficult to comprehend and the context is often
unclear. Plus they lack intrinsic motivation in trying to understand, as there
usually is nothing at stake.
Here, students are motivated to understand as, in the process of searching for
an apartment, they may uncover information that will help them with their task.
Subject
"A la rencontre de Philippe" is an interactive fiction, filmed in Paris, which puts learners in the middle of a story, of which they become the central character. The story branches out in different ways, depending upon what
students do, which in turn depends on what they understand.
In the process of involving students in a story, "A la rencontre de Philippe" also involves them in the language learning process.
Context
This is the story of a young freelance journalist who has many
problems: money problems, job problems and problems with his girlfriend.
Indeed,
when the film begins, we find out that Elisabeth has just thrown him out of the
apartment they have been sharing for the last three months.
Philippe quickly needs to find himself another place to stay and enlists the
student's help in locating one.
Thus enters the student.
In the process of helping Philippe, students wander through Paris, and with the help of a map,
a newspaper, an answering machine, a telephone and a dossier,
will try to find a solution to Philippe's problems.
Delivery
This program takes a fundamentally different approach from
the traditional one: it first immerses the user in a linguistically and
culturally authentic world and then provides them with two sets of tools: tools
to understand what people are saying, and also (and this is what makes this
program unique) tools to function within the story.
The tools enabling the user to understand include: the ability to stop the
video on demand, to repeat segments, to access key words, a transcription, a
glossary, a second audio track, self-test quizzes, etc...
In this environment, students try to understand not for the sake of
understanding, but in order to accomplish a task: that of finding an apartment
for Philippe. Here, students are constantly and actively engaged and the
learning is exploratory. There are no right or wrong answers, only consequences
to what they do or do not do.
The story and the game quality of the program act as powerful motivators.
Other features
The fiction constitutes the core of the program, but other auxiliary features
also exist, that can be used independently. They are:
- the MFI (Multiple Index Functions) which is an instantaneously accessible
database of images and video segments arranged according to different
categories. This MFI is modifiable by the teacher.
- a video album which allows students to edit the film and create their own
collection of images.
- a Visite d'appartements which provides access to eleven different apartment
that can be visited and explored.
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A la rencontre de Philippe
Meeting Philippe
- Gilberte Furstenberg,
- Principal author
- Ayshe Farman-Farmaian,
- Interactive video producer
- Stuart Malone,
- Software designer
- Janet H. Murray,
- Project director
- Carmen Compte,
- Design consultant in Paris
- Sophie Tatischeff,
- Film director in Paris
- Laurent Benegui,
- Scriptwriter in Paris
Sponsors
Major funding is provided by The Annenberg/CPB Project.
Special thanks
- Sophie Tatischeff, the film maker, for making a beautiful film and for daring a new type of interactive cinema.
- Laurent Benegui, for writing the script and giving the characters flesh, irony and sarcasm.
- Carmen Compte, for contributing her talent at designing an interactive scenario
Direct all inquires to
Gilberte Furstenberg for information about the design and the pedagogical uses of the program.
Yale University Press for information about ordering.
Availability
The program is published by Yale University Press. A package includes
the videodisc, the software and a Teacher's manual. The students' manual is
available separately.
Audience
The primary audience is high school and college students.
Learners of different levels can use the program as they are provided with a
large array of comprehension tools which they can use according to their own
level of proficiency and their own learning style. A minimum knowledge of one
year of French is suggested.
The different auxiliary programs allow the materials to be used with many
different levels of students, including complete beginners.
"A la rencontre de Philippe" has been designed for use both in the language lab
and in the classroom. It can be used in a self-instructional mode, but it is
best used with students first working with the program in the language lab and
then participating in the classroom, in collaborative activities which build
upon their individual work.
Supporting materials have been written both for the teacher and the student.
Format
Besides the Mac computer, it requires an NTSC laserdisc player, and an NTSC video monitor, as the program uses a two-screen system,
one for the computer and one for the video.
Recognition, awards
1995: National Educational Media Network Award, Washington D.C.
1993: First prize winner at the Innovalangues competition in the Language and
Technology category, Expolangues, Paris
1991: Winner of the EDUCOM Reviewers' Special Recognition Award, San Diego,
California
1990: Merit award, Nebraska Videodisc Competition, Lincoln, Nebraska
1989: Mark of Excellence award from the IICS (International Interactive
Communications Society), Washington D.C.
1989: Gold Medal in Interactive Video from CINDY (Cinema and Industry), Los
Angeles, California
Honors
1993: Exhibited at the Pompidou Center, Paris
1993: Selected for the "Actif and Interactif" Exhibit, Palais de Tokyo, Paris.
Publications
Software reviews (LINK)
Article Consortium Newsletter (LINK)
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