How should I go about summarising a text written in a foreign language?

It's easy to get intimidated by these questions but don't be, they're really quite simple. You just have to remember what the examiner wants from you: firstly, that you've understood the text and its argument; secondly, that you can reproduce the argument clearly and concisely in your own words; and finally, you've got the language skills to produce the goods.

I would recommend an ordered approach:
-read the text several times to ensure understanding (try to answer questions such as what the purpose of the text is and how the author achieves this through their argument)
-identify the key ideas (try to make sure the ideas you identify are vital to the argument)
-establish the way in which the author constructs their argument (simple things like where paragraphs are and the connectors used go a long way)
-rephrase the key ideas in your own words (vocabulary lists are perfect for this situation)
-check and double-check your summary is faithful to the original and makes sense on its own

If you learn some set phrases and connectors over the year, now's a great time to show off your vocab!

SU
Answered by Sukhpal U. French tutor

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