2.1 Personal and Public Identities

5 min read•june 18, 2024

Margaret Schmidt

AP French 🇫🇷

52 resources

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C'est quoi, l'identité, au fond? (What is identity, anyway?)

Qui suis-je? Who am I? We continue to take a deep dive into aspects of personal and public identity by analyzing the influences that language and culture have on forming one's identity.

How does one’s identity evolve over time? En quoi l’identité évolue-t-elle au fil du temps?

You've probably been asked to address who you were since you started learning French! That's because learning to describe our personality, express our likes & preferences, and articulate our opinions is a natural part of language learning. As you get older, and as your language skills develop, you're able to expand on these topics in greater depth.

In AP French, you're asked to describe, express, and articulate with more detail, using a wide range of vocabulary and more complex language and sentence structures. Trying to figure out who you are and how your identity changes over time is a process, and so is being able to express this all in French!

It's natural to ask questions about your identity and to seek self-understanding. Your identity is a multifaceted concept that is shaped by a variety of factors, including your personal experiences, cultural and social influences, and individual personality and characteristics.

Some key elements of identity may include your name, age, gender, appearance, personality, values, beliefs, cultural and social background, interests, and goals. These elements can all contribute to a sense of who you are and what makes you unique.

Our identity changes and evolves as we encounter new information, experiences, and people. As we grow through childhood and adolescence into adulthood, we explore what we learned growing up against new evidence. Learning a new language, interacting with people from other parts of the world, university studies, and travel are experiences that influence our identity. Describing one's identity in another language can be a challenging task, as it involves not only conveying information about oneself, but also about one's cultural and social background, values, and beliefs. Use vocabulary and phrases that are specific to your identity: If you are describing your cultural or racial background, for example, you may want to use specific vocabulary and phrases that are specific to that culture or race. Use verb tenses appropriately: Depending on the context, you may want to use different verb tenses to describe your identity. For example, you might use the present tense to describe your current characteristics or the past tense to describe experiences that have shaped your identity. Review French past tenses for this unit!

Gender and Sexuality, Language, and Patriotism

More specifically, this exam may ask you to describe your own personal identity in ways that compare to members of other Francophone communities. Here's some general information that may be helpful!

France has a long history of debate and progress regarding gender and sexuality (le genre et la sexualité). French law has recognized civil unions for gay couples since last century and marriage equality was legalized in 2013. The transgender community is also protected by anti-discrimination laws. However, France's LGBTQIA+ community still faces discrimination and marginalization in various aspects of life, from social and familial rejection to harassment and violence.	In the United States, the rights and acceptance of individuals who identify as LGBTQ have been the subject of ongoing political and cultural debate. The Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, and anti-discrimination laws protecting LGBTQ individuals from discrimination in the workplace, housing, and public accommodations have been passed in many states and municipalities. The rate of hate crimes against people who identify as LGBTQIA+ is significantly higher than against other groups in the US.
French is the official language of France, and is spoken by the majority of the population. However, France is a multilingual country, and there are many regional languages and dialects spoken throughout the country. France also has a large immigrant population, and many languages from around the world can be heard in French cities. Overall, linguistic identity in France is shaped by the country's history, culture, and diversity. There is also a rich tapestry of regional languages and dialects, as well as languages spoken by immigrants, that are all a part of the linguistic landscape of France.	In the United States, linguistic identity is shaped by the country's history of immigration and linguistic diversity. According to the census, around 21% of the US population speaks a language other than English at home. Spanish is the most common language spoken alongside English. The country's linguistic diversity is considered a strength and a representation of its multicultural heritage. Despite this, there have been periods in the history of the US where people who spoke other languages were discriminated against,
The idea of "liberté, égalité, fraternité" (liberty, equality, fraternity) is often seen as central to French patriotism. The French national anthem, "La Marseillaise," was written during the revolution and became a symbol of French unity and nationalism sentiment. France also has a strong tradition of national military service, which has been mandatory for many years.	The United States was founded on the principles of freedom and democracy, as outlined in documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The flag of the United States, commonly known as the "Stars and Stripes," is a powerful symbol of American patriotism. Military service is also considered an honorable and patriotic act in the US. Democracy and freedom, as well as its role as a superpower and leader in the world, can typically define American patriotism.

Strive for Five Vocab 🔑 🔑 🔑

remettre en question (to question, to put into question)
évoluer (to evolve)
se rendre compte de quelque chose (to realise, to come to understand)
s’assimiler (to assimilate); s’adapter (to adapt oneself to) s’habituer (to get used to)
se conformer (to conform to); le conformisme ~ la conformité
conserver ou maintenir (to conserve or maintain) son identité
developper (to develop, to grow)
un changement (a change)