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In: FR Education et Enseignement·Language Education·Language & Communication
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #11748.
Harry Vincent Wann’s French Conversation and Composition is a classroom‑oriented workbook that pairs short, often humorous anecdotes with systematic grammar drills. The author explains that the selections come from his own conversational classes, drawing on familiar sources and the respected grammars of Claude Augé, Petit Larousse and Hatzfeld‑Darmesteter. Each lesson begins with a narrative, such as a tale of Molière’s mistaken gold coin or a banquet at Versailles, followed by targeted questions, vocabulary work and a “Grammar Review” that isolates a specific point, from articles and possessive adjectives to complex participle agreement. The introductory note stresses the book’s role as supplemental practice rather than a reader, recommending occasional use to reinforce the habit of thinking and looking up words in French.
The tone is that of an early‑20th‑century academic instructor, precise and didactic, with a modest, almost conversational voice that reflects the pedagogical conventions of its time. Its structure, anecdote, comprehension prompts, then explicit rule, will appeal to teachers seeking a ready‑made set of exercises, as well as diligent self‑learners who enjoy learning grammar through contextual stories rather than abstract tables.
The opening · free to read
It is hoped that this book will help to fill the two needs above referred to. The anecdotes have been selected from a large number used by the author in conversational classes and drawn from a great variety of sources, many of which will be readily recognized. He is in a number of cases indebted to Claude Augé's excellent grammar. Most of the anecdotes have been adapted to the author's purpose of illustrating grammatical principles. Questionnaires have been inserted.
In the preparation of the vocabulaire, the Petit Larousse and Hatzfeld-Darmesteter dictionaries have been freely consulted. Students will at first require some aid and encouragement from the teacher, in the use of the all-French vocabulary; but they can be made, in a surprisingly short time, to form the habit of using a French dictionary by preference, and of doing a large part of their thinking in French.
It is suggested that the book be used on certain days of the week only, to supplement the student's reading texts, and provide the sort of exercise indicated by its title. It is not intended as a reader.
The author's thanks are due to his former colleague, Professor Hugo P. Thieme, of the University of Michigan, for many helpful suggestions and criticisms, as well as to Professor René Talamon, of the same institution, who kindly assisted in reading the proof.
Use of definite and indefinite articles.--Simple interrogation.--Contraction of de and à with definite article.--Possessive case of nouns.--_Chez_.
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