Some authentic links for AQA A2 French

I decided to put together a list of web sites, pages and articles for my Year 13 students to look at and use as authentic background reading, so I thought I'd share it with the world.

I may even make some resources to go with them. Watch this space.

You may want to use the articles as a way of starting class discussions. After all, students will be expected to express, justify and defend a point of view in the exam.

I've tried my best to put an explanation with each one and I must stress the opinions given in these links are not my own personal views.


The Environment

http://www.notre-planete.info/environnement/polluair.php - French site giving information about pollution, the ozone layer, deforestation., etc. It has maps and statistics, too.

http://environnement.ecoles.free.fr/environnement_100_questions.htm - As it says in the title there are 100 questions about the environment with comprehensive answers. Could be a very useful research tool and good practice for the speaking exam.

http://www.cea.fr/jeunes/themes/ - Mainly science based website, but with some excellent information about the environment, fossil fuels and alternatives, global warming, etc.

http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/energie/nucleair/textes/glossaire.htm - French government glossary of terms used in the nuclear industry with explanations for the likes of you and me.

http://www.greenpeace.org/france/ - The French Greenpeace site contains lots of information about their activities and general information about how we can protect the planet.


Immigration

http://www.histoire-immigration.fr/ - Everything you could ever need to know about immigration in France

http://www.oboulo.com/racisme-france-aujourd-hui-6253.html - An article from 2002 looking at some of the causes of racism in France

http://www.mrap.asso.fr/ - Pressure group against racism containing a lot of useful information

http://www.sos-racisme.org/ - Another pressure group against racism. The site has a teacher's section with resources


Poverty & Unemployment

http://www.libres.org/francais/actualite/archives/actualite_1103/pauvret%E9_a3_4603.htm - An article about poverty in France, laying the blame at the door of the French government. Quelle surprise.

http://www.unesco.org/bpi/pdf/memobpi07_poverty_fr.pdf - Quite a long article from UNESCO about poverty with lots of statistics.

http://www.medecinsdumonde.org/fr/nos_missions/france/sans_abri_et_mal_loges - An interesting website with lots of information about homelessness in France, the reasons why people end up homeless and what we can do to help

http://www.francesoir.fr/societe/2009/06/04/chomage-france.html - An article from a French newspaper about the unemployment explosion in 2009 in France

http://cafecroissant.fr/2009/explosion-du-chomage-en-france/ - An article from February 2009 (originally in Le Figaro) which considers the rise in unemployment in France and compares it to similar countries and has a video report with it.

http://www.eki-table.org/ - A company which deals with producers in developing countries a bit like Fairtrade in th UK


Crime

http://www.01net.com/editorial/311785/cybercriminalite/le-phishing-en-france-peu-de-victimes-mais-une-menace-grandissante/ - An article about the increasing threat of phishing to French "internautes"

http://www.arkantos-consulting.com/revue-de-presse/20081027-youtube-appelle-a-la-lutte-contre-la-violence-chez-les-jeunes.php - An article about Youtube's decision to ban uploaded videos which contain violence.

http://www.lunion.presse.fr/index.php/cms/13/article/283731/Telechargement_illegal__Les_pirates_du_net_sabordes - An article about the problems of illegal downloads.

http://projet.parti-socialiste.fr/2006/11/17/zoom-sur-les-alternatives-a-la-prison-pour-les-mineurs/ - A project from the French Socialist Party with comments from the public (the kind of public who would be aware of the socialist party website, that is.)

http://www.bayrou.fr/propositions/prisons.html - More politics, this time from the democratic movement


New technology

http://www.ogm.org/ - A very political website on the absolute brilliance of all things genetically modified

http://www.ogmdangers.org/ - As above, but on how terrible genetic modification is

http://www.facebook-danger.fr/ - An article in which the horrors and dangers of using Facebook are expressed

http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/actualites/international/europe/20081018.OBS6544/controverse_apres_leuthanasie_dun_jeune_britannique_en_.html?idfx=RSS_europe - An article about assisted suicide. An ideal start for a discussion

http://www.lepost.fr/article/2008/03/29/1174157_en-suisse-on-peut-acheter-un-kit-euthanasie.html - Another article about euthanasia. This one claims you can buy a DIY kit in Switzerland

http://www.20minutes.fr/article/309211/Sciences-En-France-la-recherche-sur-les-cellules-souches-embryonnaires-est-toujours-interdite.php - An interesting article about the ban on embryonic stem cell research in France, comparing it to the USA where Obama has allowed such research to go ahead. Contains some great vocabulary!


If you use any of these, or can recommend any other links please comment below.