Contes Français" by Douglas Labaree Buffum isn't a collection of original stories by Buffum himself. It's actually a curated anthology of French short stories meant for students learning French.
Here's a breakdown of the book's purpose:
- Selection: Buffum chose stories from important 19th-century French authors.
- Criteria: The selection aimed for:
- Literary merit – the stories are considered good examples of French literature.
- Variety – different writing styles and subjects are included.
- Vocabulary expansion – the stories expose learners to a broad range of French words (estimated between 6,000 and 7,000).
- Student interest – the stories were chosen to be engaging for learners.
- Learning Tools:
- Vocabulary list – An extensive vocabulary section helps students understand the French text without relying solely on translation.
- Notes – Annotations explain historical and literary references, along with grammatical points that might be tricky.
- No translations – Buffum avoids providing direct translations, encouraging students to use the vocabulary list and their French skills.
