THE PEDAGOGICAL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL APPROACH IN FRENCH LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Abstrak

This article examines the pedagogical potential and educational effectiveness of applying a historical and cultural approach to French language teaching. It argues that learning a foreign language involves more than acquiring grammatical rules, vocabulary, and speech skills; learners also need to understand the history, culture, values, social life, and worldview of the people who speak the language. The article highlights the role of historical and cultural materials related to Gaul and the Roman period, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the French Revolution, the development of the French Republic, French literature and art, and the modern Francophone world in developing learners’ communicative, linguocultural, and intercultural competence. Particular attention is given to the use of historical texts, biographies, documents, discussions, projects, presentations, and multimedia resources in French lessons. The article shows that integrating historical and cultural content into language teaching can increase learners’ interest in French, improve their understanding of language units in context, and encourage a more informed and respectful attitude toward another culture. The study concludes that integrating history and language education can provide a meaningful and effective approach to contemporary foreign-language teaching.