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Related Texts: The power of attachment
The following related reading texts have been chosen to help you expand your understanding of the prescribed issues. The texts are examples only and are by no means definitive. However, they should allow you to gain some insight into the prescribed issues and will help you increase your own range of vocabulary and language features. You may well find that a particular text is related to more than one of the issues and that the vocabulary and expressions you identify can be used across a range of topics.
It is important to remember that these texts are authentic, written for a French speaking audience. It is unlikely you will understand every word. This does not matter – there is much benefit to be gained from understanding the ‘gist’ of a text.
In view of the authentic nature of the texts, you will need to be selective when deciding which vocabulary, expressions or language structures to record and use for your own writing and/or speaking. This is personal. You should only use expressions with which you feel comfortable and which suit your own style and level of speaking/writing. Remember, you are not expected to speak or write as a background speaker would.
There is no set number of texts to read. The links provided are suggestions only – and your teacher will probably give you other related reading texts in class. Read for enjoyment, as well as for study purposes. The synopsis provided with each link gives a thumbnail description of the content of each text. Choose the texts that interest you and try to read across a range of topics.
Suggested ways of using these texts:
- read for ‘gist’.
- identify the key words and check these in a dictionary as required.
- make a note of useful vocabulary and expressions, categorising them where possible (e.g. Are they useful for the introduction, the conclusion or for supporting an argument?). Remember you do not have to record large amounts of vocabulary and expressions for this to be a useful exercise. Keep your own personal record and limit it to those expressions which make sense to you and which you know you can use.
- try to identify the overall perspective taken by the writer. Do you agree or disagree?
- be aware of language structures as you read – are they ones with which you are familiar? Remember that these structures need not be difficult or complicated to give your speaking/writing a feeling of authenticity
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%A9orie_de_l'attachement 
(a definition of the word and notion of attachment)
http://site.voila.fr/foilogic/attachement.html (exploration of feelings)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/4046873/Attachement-et-Addictions (addictions and drugs)
http://dictionnaire.sensagent.com/attachement/fr-fr/ (definitions and synonyms)
Read the following text in French and answer the following questions in English.
Découverte d'une carte de vœux signée Anne Frank
Le directeur d'une école néerlandaise a découvert dans une caisse contenant de vieilles cartes postales, chez un brocanteur, une carte de vœux signée "Anne Frank", d’après la Fondation Anne Frank à Amsterdam.
"A l'approche des 4 et 5 mai (les jours consacrés aux Pays-Bas au souvenir des victimes de la Deuxième guerre mondiale et à la Libération), ce directeur d’école était à la recherche de matériel pour animer un projet Anne Frank dans son école", a expliqué Maatje Mostart, une porte-parole de la Fondation.
La carte a été envoyée d'Aix-la-Chapelle (Aachen) où la jeune fille résidait en 1937 avec sa grand-mère Rossa Hollander. Elle est adressée à Mlle S. (Sanne) Ledermann, une de ses amies.
Elle représente une cloche de Noël avec des trèfles à quatre feuilles, et comprend le texte "Viel Glück im neuen Jahr" (Beaucoup de chance pour l'année nouvelle).
"Nous possédons une copie d'une carte, identique, qu'elle a envoyé le même jour à une amie à Francfort", a précisé la porte-parole, pour qui l'authenticité de la carte ne fait aucun doute.
La Fondation Anne Frank espère récupérer la carte pour sa collection et a déclaré: "Nous rencontrerons l'antiquaire la semaine prochaine. Apparemment l'argent n’est pas important pour lui".
Questions
- How was the postcard discovered?
- What happens on the 4th and 5th of May in the Netherlands?
- Explain «… l'authenticité de la carte ne fait aucun doute».
- «Apparemment l’argent n’est pas important pour lui». What does this statement convey?
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