French 101, 102, 103: Beginning French
Course Description
Required text: Photocopy packet to be handed out during first week of class
http://faculty.spokanefalls.edu/Logon.asp?id=2528
Optional texts : English Grammar for students of French
501 French Verbs
Vis-à-Vis, 3rd ed. Textbook (Amon, Muyskens)
Course description :
French 101-102-103 is a beginning series designed to develop skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening to a basic level of proficiency so that the student can communicate basic ideas in French and understand the cultural context of the language, through the study of the French-speaking regions around the world. French 101-102-103 are taught through an experiential methodology that entails the exclusive use of French in the classroom, emphasis on oral and written communicative skills, interpersonal exchange of ideas, interactive presentation of grammar, a multimedia approach, and daily practice outside of class. Language laboratory work is an integral part of this language series.
Course outcomes :
* World Views : Students will articulate their own cultural beliefs and values, recognize the influence of culturally based assumptions on perception and behavior, identify common and dissimilar values and/or patterns in aesthetic expressions such as literature, music, and film, demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the differences in cultures and societies (between France and the U.S., and in all their diversity).
* Responsibility : Students will develop the ability to recognize, understand, and accept ownership of their learning.
* Communications : Students will observe, read, and listen critically with openness, identify and use new vocabularies, organize information to develop and support their own ideas, logically articulate their own position on an issue, effectively communicate with varied audiences for a variety of purposes : from simple conversation to problem-solving.
* Analysis/problem solving : Students will access, evaluate and apply information from a variety of sources and in a variety of contexts.
The material and methods of this course encourage students to develop and practice their skills in all of these areas. However, the abilities that we will emphasize in this course are Communications and World Views.
Evaluation of students' achievements :
1. Tests 30% (1st four quizzes : 20%; quiz 5 : 10%)
2. Oral performance 25% (participation 15%; oral interview 10%)
3. Homework 30% (HW from the WS packet - 20%, pop quizzes - 5%, and weekly vocabulary quizzes – 5%)
4. Synthèses 15%
Attendance
Because language learning is a cumulative process, regular -- rather than sporadic -- preparation is essential for steady progress and good performance. Close attention will be paid to active participation in class. It is absolutely necessary that you attend class daily. Repeated absences will affect your final grade considerably. Students missing up to 3 classes will receive the grade they earn; students missing more than 3 classes will have 1% deducted from the final grade for every day after the 4th absence. Students missing fewer than 3 days will receive a bonus of 2% added to their final percentage. No Z grade nor Incomplete will be given.
Homework/Class work
Students are responsible for reading any texts provided, for completing all exercises on the days assigned, as well as 15-20 additional homework assignments. The homework will be posted online AND written on the board daily. Homework assignments will be checked for completion on the day of the chapter quizzes as well as daily.
Students may also be working in small groups on assignments throughout the quarter. In order to receive credit, you must be in attendance on the day of a group activity.
If you have to miss class, it is your responsibility to turn in your homework to your teacher on the day it is due, at the beginning of class via email, or ask a friend to drop off your homework for you. You are responsible for getting the homework for the next day, even if you are absent that day. You may get your HW assignments from the website, from a classmate, or from your teacher. NO LATE ASSIGNMENT WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY REASON.
You may access the websites for the specific classes :
French 101 : http://faculty.spokanefalls.edu/Logon.asp?id=2528
French 102 : http://faculty.spokanefalls.edu/Logon.asp?id=2489
French 103 : http://faculty.spokanefalls.edu/Logon.asp?id=2528
Using an online translator or any type of translators, to complete a written assignment will be considered cheating, and you will be given a zero.
LEARNING EVIRONMENT OF THE ILC
The ILC is a technologized classroom and a shared space that is essential to many students who are learning foreign languages and English. In order to maintain a positive learning environment in the ILC for all students, classroom behavior is expected. Please conduct yourself as respectfully in the ILC as you would in your courses held in classrooms.
Vocabulary quizzes
There will be a vocabulary quiz each Friday at the beginning of class. The vocabulary quizzes cannot be made up under any circumstances. For any vocabulary word that you miss on these quizzes, you will copy it 50 times by hand and turn it in, stapled to your vocabulary quiz the day after it is returned to you. If you are absent that day, you are still required to turn the copied words on time.
The vocabulary lists will be posted on the French 103 website and you will be able to practice it in the ILC with the Before You Know It (BYKI) program.
Oral grade
Your oral performance grade will be evaluated through your participation in class. In addition, there will be a final presentation scheduled for the last day of class. For more information, please refer to the presentation sheet included in this packet, p.6.
Quizzes
The FIVE quizzes are marked on the syllabus. There are no make-up tests. If you made arrangements ahead of time with the instructor to take the test at a different time, please be aware that it will be an essay question in French. The instructor will drop the lowest grade from the quizzes that you took. If you do not show up for a quiz, that quiz will be assigned a zero grade, and will not be dropped from the quiz grade calculation. Please note that the fifth quiz cannot, and will not, be dropped. All quizzes will cover new materials, but be aware that each new material will always be based on previously learned material.
Extra Credit
Extra credit is possible and may be earned in numerous ways. There is a limit of 5 activities that you can do, but they cannot replace regularly assigned work. Here are some possibilities. If you have other ideas, please check with me first. 1) Watch a French-language film and write 2-3 paragraphs in English critiquing the film & describing the plot or characters. Be sure to double check that the movie you chose is appropriate. 2) Write a short but detailed report (two paragraphs) in English on an article from one of the French news magazines in the library (Le Figaro, L’Express, etc.) or from the online sites (please come see me for a complete list) 3) Listen to a French-language newscast (France or Quebec) online. Please refer to the French 101 website for the links. Write a summary in French of one main story. 4) Spend 20 minutes speaking entirely in French with a native speaker. Write a paragraph in French of what you discussed, including your contribution to the conversation. 5) Bring a French or Francophone song for the class, after you discuss it with me first; hand in one copy of the lyrics to me, at least 4 days before the day of the presentation. Be prepared to introduce the song, its author/composer/singer, and its impact (cultural, artistic, etc.) to the class, as much in French as possible. 6) Other ideas? Please come see me.
You have until the last day of class (final oral presentation) to turn in all extra credit projects.
Please do turn off your cell phones. If your phone rings during class, I will make an international phone call using your cell!!!