Opening of a book to help you learn French and Swiss culture

Kimberley Perrenoud, a former student at the University of Neuchâtel, will be unveiling her book Parlons suisse ! at the Institut de langue et civilisation françaises (ILCF) on Monday October 2. Published by Loisirs et Pédagogie, the book - aimed at non-French speakers and teachers - was inspired by the author’s work on her Master’s thesis at the University of Neuchâtel.

Currently teaching French as a foreign language (FLE), Kimberley Perrenoud - who also studied at the University of Geneva - explains that she wanted to compensate for the lack of typically Swiss teaching methods in French courses for allophones. In fact, as part of her dissertation, she studied numerous documents used in French as a foreign language classes in Switzerland, and found that the majority of methods were based on France and Paris in particular. As a result, there’s a real gap between these methods and everyday French in French-speaking Switzerland.

Based on this observation, the author plunged into writing an activity book for young people and adults learning French in our country, with the aim of introducing them to the French language and Swiss culture. On each page - cheerfully illustrated by Adrienne Barman - you’ll discover some fifty fun exercises, designed for beginners and more advanced learners alike (level A1-B2). The workbook is designed to complement existing methods. It includes oral and written expression exercises, as well as vocabulary and grammar activities focusing on expressions typical of French-speaking Switzerland, its culture, geography and political system.

A QR code is integrated into the workbook, enabling you to find all the answers to the exercises online, as well as a series of complementary activities focusing on music and the understanding of songs by artists from French-speaking Switzerland.

Organized by the Institut de langue et civilisation françaises, the vernissage will start at 4pm and will take place in two parts: a presentation by the author ’ D’un mémoire à un titre publié ’ will be followed by an aperitif.

Practical information

Vernissage of Parlons suisse ! - Kimberley Perrenoud

October 02, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

University of Neuchâtel

Faubourg de l’Hôpital 61-63, 2000 Neuchâtel

Bibliographical reference

Let’s talk Swiss!

50 French as a foreign language activities related to French-speaking Switzerland and Swiss culture

Kimberley Perrenoud

Illustrated by Adrienne Barman

21 x 29.7 cm, 64 pages

ISBN 978-2’606 -02178-8