About AngloXchange.com
AngloXchange.com is a free, non-profit resource created by English teacher Paul James Kirrage for students in France who seek to build their English language skills in accordance with the demands of the Baccalauréat in France.
The site features articles produced by students in France. Each article sets out to describe a cultural phenomenon. The students answer questions such as:
- How best to describe this phenomenon?
- Who produced it?
- What is/was the context?
- Who is the audience for this cultural production?
- What is it’s purpose?
Students are invited to use Dell Hymes’ S-P-E-A-K-I-N-G model to analyse their texts. This model requires students to consider setting, participants, ends, chronologies, register and social norms in order to analyse their subject in detail. You can read more about Dell Hymes’ model here: The AngloXchange introduction to Dell Hymes’ S-P-E-A-K-I-N-G model.
The subjects chosen by students are arranged into categories according to the Cultural Programme included in the new Baccalauréat. Details of the programme are included in this English language presentation of the Baccaluréat programme here on AngloXchange.com
Furthermore, by seeking to describe and anlalyse, students are required to meet the demands of the written competencies set out by the CERCL All articles are corrected before being published on the site. The most common mistakes are published on the site with corrections and explanations here.
Students are also encouraged to use audio and video texts during their analysis. This builds listening skills as demanded by the CERCL. Examples can be found here.
Many of the articles on the site have been produced by students at the Lycée Ampère in Lyon, France where Paul Kirrage has recently taught and where the angloXchange project was piloted. Comments and feedback from the students can be found here. The project will be opened up to other schools in order to promote dialogue and exchange as per the demands of the Baccalauréat programme.
Enjoy the site and let us know of any improvements you’d like to see!
