🌴French Level 4, Des locations de vacances / Vacation Rentals by Kylene Butler
Kylene Butler
Activity by Kylene Butler
Description: In this activity, students will read an article about factors to consider when renting a vacation property. Then, they will compare lists with a partner or in a small group to come to a consensus on the five most important factors. Students will work together to find a vacation rental in a francophone area that incorporates their considerations and will present their choice to the class. As a possible extension on this activity, students can choose an accommodation and write a mock review of the accommodation.
Semantic Topics: Real estate, travel, vacation, l’immobilier, le voyage, les vacances.
World-Readiness Standards:
- Standard 1.1: Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions
- Standard 1.2: Students understand and interpret written and spoken French on a variety of topics
- Standard 1.3: Students present information, concepts, and ideas in French to an audience of listeners or readers on a variety of topics.
NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
- I can understand the features of listings on a real estate rental website.
- I can explain my preferences when choosing a vacation rental.
3 P’s (Products, Practices, Perspectives):
- Products: Property rentals, blogs
- Practices: When vacationing, it is common to look for a short-term vacation rental property for the trip. Proximity to cities or beaches is typically more important than amenities.
- Perspectives: The French will also rely on customer reviews of those who have stayed at the property previously to make informed decisions.
Materials Needed:
- Google Slides Presentation
- Listicle from m-habitat.fr (“10 conseils pour bien choisir sa location de vacances”)
- 10 conseils pour bien choisir sa location de vacances by m-habitat is included under fair use as described in the CBPFUOER.
- Interpretive Activity Ranking Worksheet
- 10_conseils_pour_bien_choisir_sa_location_de_vacances_V2NB1Rp (PDF VERSION)
Warm-up
- Begin the activity by opening the Google Slides presentation and reviewing the Can-do statements.
- Introduce the topic (des locations de vacances). Ask students to recall and share with a partner their favorite trip or a trip that they would like to take. Considérez un voyage que vous avez fait ou que vous voudriez faire. Où est-ce que vous êtes resté.e? Dans un hôtel, un appartement, ou une maison privée?
Main Activity
Part 1: Interpretive
- Ask students to read this listicle from m-habitat.fr. Students will rank the 10 factors to consider when renting a vacation property in order of importance to them. Instructors and students can use this worksheet.
Part 2: Interpersonal
- Group students in pairs or in groups of three. Students will have 4 minutes to come to a consensus on their top 5 most important considerations when reserving a vacation rental.
- With their pairs or groups, students will find a rental in a francophone country/region that incorporates their 5 most important considerations. Students can use websites such as seloger.fr or AirBnB to find their rentals.
- Students create a shared document that includes their 5 most important considerations and the link to the rental they select.
Part 3: Presentational
- Students will present their rentals to the class. During the presentations, the students in the audience will try to figure out which considerations were important to the group. They will confirm their guesses with the presenting group.
Wrap-up
- Ask the students the following question: Quelle était votre location de vacances préférée et pourquoi?
End of Activity:
- Students will review the Can-do statements and will evaluate their performance.
- As an extension of this activity or homework assignment, students could imagine that they have rented one of the properties presented in class and write a mock review of the property.
NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
- I can understand the features of listings on a real estate rental website.
- I can explain my preferences when choosing a vacation rental.
CULTURAL Resources
- Listicle from m-habitat.fr (“10 conseils pour bien choisir sa location de vacances”)
- AirBnB
- Seloger.fr
- abritel.fr
About the author
name: Kylene Butler
institution: North Allegheny School District
