Having something like this as a kid would have made learning French so much more fun!

- Hayley Wickenheiser, médailliste d’or olympique, dans un reportage de la CBC (janvier 2007)

LANGUAGE LEARNING & TECHNOLOGY

Overall, this CD-ROM is a welcome addition to both the literary and animated versions of Le chandail de hockey. The interactive nature of this learning tool will help learners of French as a second language develop a better appreciation of the culture in which this story is rooted. The cultural notes are rich but not overwhelmingly detailed, well presented, yet simply organized.

Learners in high school and in beginner university or college French courses will appreciate the varied interactive activities to test their language skills and their comprehension. ...

At first glance, Le chandail de hockey CD-Rom seems to require a fairly good understanding of the French language. However, after exploring the CD-ROM in depth, the reviewer concludes that because all the functions can be repeated more than once (including the exercises), and because the help functions offer both French and English explanations, Le chandail de hockey offers a good balance of autonomy and guided activity (Duquette & Laurier, 2000). A motivated beginner-advanced learner could greatly enhance his/her level of aural and reading comprehension in French as well as get a better sense of the story’s cultural and historical value. In fact, the best quality of this tool probably resides in its ability to place culture at the very core of language learning. Learners and instructors of French will find valuable activities and references in the Le chandail de hockey CD-ROM.

- Catherine Caws, University of Victoria, Canada

CALICO Journal

The Le chandail de hockey/The Hockey Sweater programs represent a visually appealing, linguistically and culturally authentic learning tool and cultural supplement. The popular and engaging story/animated film on which it is based provides an accessible context for practicing language skills and exploring hockey and related aspects of Quebec's cultural identity. The CD-ROM allows learners to proceed at their own pace and to work at their own level, providing opportunities for them to challenge themselves when and as they wish, and offering regular and useful feedback beyond the mere indication that an answer is correct or incorrect. This reviewer has taught the story and shown the film in courses at both the beginning and advanced intermediate levels and welcomes the addition of this program to her collection of instructional tools.

SCALED RATING (1 low-5 high)

Implementation Possibilities: 4

Pedagogical Features: 4

Sociolinguistic Accuracy: 5

Use of Computer Capabilities: 5

Ease of Use (student/teacher): 5/4

Overall Evaluation: 4.5

Value for Money: 4.5

- Laurey Martin-Berg, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Revue ALSIC

2.1. Les approches communicationnelle et actionnelle

Le début de ce vingt-et-unième siècle a marqué l'avènement de l'approche communicationnelle, laquelle "met l'accent sur la communication entre les personnes et place l'apprenant au centre du processus d'apprentissage, le rendant actif, autonome et responsable de ses progrès" (Tagliante, 2006). Les concepteurs s'en sont grandement inspirés.

[…] De manière plus globale, les auteurs de Le chandail de hockey montrent la véracité du postulat selon lequel l'apprentissage d'une langue seconde s'effectue de manière optimale lorsque l'apprenant lie l'aspect ludique à l'aspect didactique ; le filtre affectif facilite alors la rétention des informations (Krashen, 1982).

5.2. Le catalogue Eaton

L'exercice le plus original du didacticiel est sans doute celui en lien avec l'extrait du film où la mère commande un chandail de hockey à la compagnie Eaton. […] L'apprenant y glane les informations nécessaires afin de dresser une commande virtuelle. Cet exercice stimulant sort des sentiers battus ; il place l'apprenant devant un défi partiellement authentique.

5.3. L'équipe de rêve

Un autre volet original du didacticiel se trouve dans l'activité intitulée "L'équipe de rêve" obtenue sous le menu "Zone". À partir d'authentiques cartes de joueurs de hockey, l'utilisateur peut constituer son propre sextuor d'équipiers, tous des joueurs qui ont ponctué l'histoire de la Ligue nationale.

8. Conclusion

[…] La convivialité des activités présentées et, par-dessus tout, leur richesse culturelle intrinsèque nous permettent d'affirmer que le didacticiel Le chandail de hockey apportera une contribution significative au domaine de la didactique du français, au Canada et dans la francophonie.

- Linda de Serres, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières

The Canadian Modern Language Review / La revue canadienne des langues vivantes, Volume 65, Number 2, December / decémbre 2008

"Two valuable characteristics of THS/LCH are its non-linear design and the study support it offers. First, the non-linear design gives learners flexibility to navigate the software based on the information, language skills and activity types of their interest by clicking on a permanent top bar menu. This flexibility is particularly evident in the 2nd period, where learners can select from various multimedia task types organised by proficiency levels. Second, learners can obtain language support from an interactive dictionary available permanently in a bottom bar menu and write down and print their own notes using an interactive notebook."

"Due to its potential contribution to learning (and enjoyment!), THS/LCH undoubtedly constitutes a valuable multimedia application for language teachers and learners in Canada and abroad."

- Jesús Izquierdo, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Mexico