Attached is a project I did to fulfill the goal for interpretive reading. To attain this goal, I should be able to read short, simple texts and find specific predictable information. I chose to demonstrate my ability to read French by reading and summarizing three articles from three French publications.
The first article is from Le Monde and is titled "Les eurodéputés adoptent un amendement sur la liberté d'accès à Internet." It is about the European Union adopting a law concerning freedom on the Internet and the problems representatives are encountering. This article was the most controversial of the three as it discussed the balance between government regulation and freedom. Personally, I believe freedom of information is a basic right, so the government should have very little control over the Internet. The second article is called "Une voie pour les taxis et le bus entre Roissy et Paris," and it is from Le Figaro. This article is about an experimental French roadway initiative that would encourage people to take the bus or taxis when traveling from the Roissy airport to Paris. I think the roadway is a positive initiative that would benefit both the environment and the French economy, but not everyone is so keen on the idea. The third article, from Elle, is "Cet été, c'est vous le guide!" It is about a unique travel website where travelers can find inexpensive or free tours based solely on their personal interests. It is a creative idea, and going on a tour one is interested in would make a trip much better.
When reading these articles, I first scanned for words I knew and tried to form a meaning using them and context clues before looking up unfamiliar words. This was very difficult with the news articles. They were somewhat complicated and full of words I did not know. Still, I was able to read parts of them before looking up words. The magazine article was much easier to read since it was about travel and the Internet, two topics we covered in depth in class. I was able to understand the basic idea of the article based on my own knowledge before I looked up the unfamiliar words. Though the articles were challenging, I learned many new words and also gained insight into some French current events.
I think exploring the websites for the three publications actually better fulfilled the goal for interpretive reading. The sites were fairly easy to navigate, and to do so I had to read simple texts and find specific information. I was also familiar with more words on the sites' navigation pages than in the actual articles. After reading these articles and visiting the websites, I plan to read these publications regularly to improve my reading skills and to stay informed about French happenings.