French Level 1, Activity 12: Les invitations / Invitations (Face-to-Face)

Created Feb. 7, 2024 by Amber Hoye, Emily Blackburn, Camille Daw, Mimi Fahnstrom

Did you know that you can access the complete collection of Pathways Project French activities in our new Let’s Chat! French pressbook? View the book here: https://boisestate.pressbooks.pub/pathwaysfrench 

Please Note: Many of our activities were created by upper-division students at Boise State University and serve as a foundation that our community of practice can build upon and refine. While they are polished, we welcome and encourage collaboration from language instructors to help modify grammar, syntax, and content where needed. Kindly contact pathwaysproject@boisestate.edu with any suggestions and we will update the content in a timely manner. 

Invitations / Les invitations

Description

In this activity, students will practice rejecting or accepting formal invitations to an afternoon or evening get-together. Students will also practice providing a reason for why they rejected an invitation. Additionally, students will practice inviting each other formally. 

Semantic Topics

invitation, rejection, invite, accept, plans, weekend, evening, le rejet, l'invitation, accepter, les projets, le week-end, la soirée, simple sentences, phrases simples, le conditionnel, the Conditional tense 

Products

Spoken word (verbal invitation), invitation card, email invitation, text message invitation, etc.

Practices

Reciprocal invitations (if you are invited to someone's function, it is often practiced you will be invited to their reciprocal function), when invited it is common practice to bring the host a gift.

Perspectives

Table manners are extremely important, as well as showing grace and thanks to the host. Just as in other countries, in France there are many "formules/règles de politesse" or "rules of etiquette" to pay attention to. This can range anywhere from saying "Bonjour" and "Bonne journée" to someone you're sharing an elevator with to inviting the same number of men as women to a party.

  • What are some words and phrases you can say in French which show politeness and respect?

NCSSFL-ACTFL World-Readiness Standards

  • Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversations or correspondence in French to provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
  • Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret spoken and written French on a variety of topics
  • Standard 1.3: Students present information, concepts, and ideas in French to an audience of listeners or readers.
  • Standard 4.1: Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of French and their native language.

Idaho State Content Standards

  • COMM 1.1: Interact and negotiate meaning (spoken, signed, written conversation) to share information, reactions, feelings, and opinions
  • COMM 2.1: Understand, interpret, and analyze what is heard, read, or viewed on a variety of topics.
  • COMM 3.1: Present information, concepts, and ideas to inform, explain, persuade, and narrate on a variety of
  • topics using appropriate media in the target language.
  • CLTR 1.1: Analyze the cultural practices/patterns of behavior accepted as the societal norm in the target culture.
  • CLTR 1.3: Function appropriately in diverse contexts within the target culture.
  • COMP 1.1: Observe formal and informal forms of language.
  • COMP 2.2: Compare and contrast appropriate gestures and oral expressions in the target culture with the learner’s culture.

NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements

  • I can accept or reject an invitation.
  • I can invite and make plans with someone.
  • I can exchange information about when to meet and where to go, such as the store, the movie theatre, a concert or a restaurant.

Materials Needed

Would you like to make changes to the materials? Access the template below:

Warm-Up

1. Begin by introducing the Can-Dos for today's activity. 

2. Ask the students: Si je vous invite à faire quelque-chose, mais que vous ne voulez pas y aller,  que devez-vous dire? (If I invite you to something, but you don't want to go, what should you say?)

3. Write the word NON on the board. The students should brainstorm words and you can write them on the board. After, do it with OUI.

Écrivez le mot NON sur le tableau. Les étudiants devront faire une séance de remue-méninges pour trouver des mots et vous pourrez les écrire au tableau. Ensuite, faites l’exercice avec OUI.

3. Using one of the invitation templates, invite the students to an event, have them practice accepting or declining the invitation. Here are some phrases in case students don’t mention them:

En utilisant les modèles d’invitation, invitez les étudiants à un événement. Faites-leur pratiquer comment accepter ou décliner une invitation. Voici quelques exemples de phrase: 

Accept

  • I agree: D'accord 
  • I would love to: J'aimerais bien
  • I'll be there: Je vais être là/ je vais être présente
  • I'll pick you up: Je vais passer te prendre
  • Yes, of course: Oui, bien sûr
  • I think I can come: Je crois que je peux y aller.
  • Absolutely!: Absolument 

Reject

  • I'm very busy: Je suis trop occupé
  • Thank you, but I can't because: Merci, mais je ne peux pas car...
  • I'm sorry, but I have to: Desolé, mais je dois...
  • I would prefer not to: Je préférerais ne pas aller...
  • I want to, but I can't: J’aimerais aller, mais...

Main Activity

1.Working individually (5-7 minutes):  Each student will choose an invitation they like and make a plan to invite the students. 

Individuellement durant 5-7 minutes: Chaque étudiant doit choisir une invitation qu’il aime et il doit préparer un plan pour inviter les étudiants.

2. Tell the students the following:

Vous aurez 5 minutes pour préparer une invitation pour une activité plaisante. Vous devez prendre les invitations qui se trouvent sur la table, utiliser les informations qui s’y retrouvent et en ajouter.(You are going to have 5 minutes to plan a proposal for a fun activity. You are going to use the invitations on the table, but you need to use all the information and add some of your own).

3. During the 5 minutes, you should walk around the table for those that need help. 

4. After the 5 minutes, the students will take turns sharing their invitations and inviting the other students. Everyone should accept or reject the invitation, and then say why.

Après les 5 minutes, les étudiants devront partager leur invitation et inviter les autres étudiants chacun à leur tour. Chacun doit accepter ou refuser l’invitation et dire pourquoi.

Wrap-Up

Ask the following question(s) to finish the activity: 

1. Qu'est-ce que vous allez faire ce weekend ? (What are you going to do this weekend?) 

2. Aimez-vous aller à des activités culturelles comme les concerts ? (Do you like going to cultural activities like concerts?)

3. Aimez-vous regarder le sport ? (Do you like to go to sports games?)

Cultural Notes

It is rare and seen as rude to show up empty handed to an event - even something as small as a dinner at a friends house guests will often bring a bottle of wine, a baguette, or some other small gift/contribution for the host.

End of Activity

  • Can-Do statement check-in... “Where are we?”
  • Read can-do statements and have students evaluate their confidence.
  • Encourage students to be honest in their self-evaluation
  • Pay attention, and try to use feedback for future activities!

NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements

  • I can accept or reject an invitation.
  • I can invite and make plans with someone.
  • I can exchange information about when to meet and where to go, such as the store, the movie theatre, a concert or a restaurant.
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