King William High SchoolMrs. Elizabeth SchrollRoom 210

French IV 2014-2015

Phone: 540-319-0404

Learning Intentions

At this level of the foreign language, instruction focuses on the application of previously taught skills with an introduction of more sophisticated forms of grammar, more in-depth analysis of culture, and more advanced communication skills. Students will be able to exchange and support opinions on a variety of topics related to contemporary and historical events and issues at a proficiency level commensurate with their study.

Students will continue to learn vocabulary relating to daily living, with a concentration on contextualized vocabulary. Cultural objectives include history, art, music, drama and cinema, and current events. We will discuss how topics such as the European Union and people of French heritage in the U.S. illustrate the viewpoints, patterns of behavior, and products of the cultures.

SOL Strands to be covered include: interpersonal communication where the student will engage in and discuss a variety of topics in both oral and written forms of communication; interpretive communication: listening and reading for understanding where the student will understand spoken and written French found in a variety of authentic courses; presentational communication: speaking and writing where the student will relate information in French, combining learned and original language in oral and written presentations of extended length and complexity; cultural perspectives, practices and products where the student will analyze in French how various perspectives reflect the practices and products of the cultures studied; making connections through language where the student will use French to demonstrate increased understanding of the connections between content studied in the French class and content studied in other subject areas; linguistic and cultural comparisons where the student will expand understanding of English and other languages through study and analysis of increasingly complex elements of the target language and the student will identify and discuss cultural similarities and differences in social, economic, and political relationships in the global community; interacting in school and global communities where the student will apply more complex French language skills and expand cultural understanding in opportunities beyond the classroom setting for recreational, educational and occupational purposes.

Daily review time is essential for learning a foreign language. As we say, “Use it or lose it!” Consequently, students will need to plan for daily graded homework assignments and review, usually no less than 15 to 20 minutes per day. Late homework will not be accepted. In the case of make-up work, students must submit any work within three (3) days of the last day of their absence.

Course Content and Materials:

Text for French IV is: Trésors du temps

Supplementary Materials include: videos on culture

readings from newspapers and magazines

music and stories in the target language

Course Outline per Grading Period

1st Grading Period: Students will cover Chapters 1-3: the prehistory of France, the Middle-Ages, grammar review of regular and irregular and their nuances, the imperfect and the past tenses.

2nd Grading Period: Students will cover Chapters 4-6: the Crusades, France in the Transformation, the Renaissance and the Age of Enlightenment, object pronouns, the future and conditional tenses, the subjunctive.

3rd Grading Period: Students will cover Chapters 7-9: the 18th century, the Revolution, pronominal verbs, qualitative adjectives, negation, pronouns.

4th Grading Period: Students will cover Chapters 10-12: Napoleon and the beginning of the 19th century, the succession of governments in the 19th century, the 20th century, verbs of communication and of expression and indirect discourse, the passive and the infinitive, current events, and 19th century literature.

Student Supply List

All students must have the following with them in class every day: a 3-ring binder with at least 3 section dividers; ruled paper for the binder; pens and pencils; the text book. Participation points will be taken if the student does not arrive to class with these items.

Grades

Grades for each marking period are based on the following:

Class participation (includes homework and in-class

work, both oral and written)20%

Weekly quizzes (oral and written)30%

Projects10%

Tests40%

Homework Policy

Homework is a vital component of the educational process. When homework is assigned, the expectation is that it will be completed before the next class period by the student himself, not copied from another student (see honor code expectations in the Student Code of Conduct). Homework will be collected and reviewed promptly, and a grade will be given to the student based on the attempt made for its successful completion. If the student does

not understand the assignment, or has an inordinate amount of difficulty with it, he should stop and wait until the next class when the review takes place to be sure accuracy is

attained. It is better to complete the assignment correctly, than to mark incorrect answers just to show a completed assignment.

Classroom Procedures and Expectations

Everyone will show Respect for others in the classroom. This means that when the teacher or another student is talking, everyone else is paying attention to what is being said.

Everyone will observe ConsistentAttendance and On-time Arrivalwith books, supplies and homework assignments.

Everyone will come to class Prepared for learning in a safe and challenging environment. This means arriving to class with all the necessary materials.

Students should be in their seats before the tardy bell, with materials out, and should begin working on the bell-ringer they will see on the board.

Discipline for non-compliance to these expectations: First offense: Warning; Second offense: Warning and call home to parent; Third offense: Call home to parent and detention; Fourth offense: Call home to parent and two days detention; Fifth offense: Call home to parent and office referral.

  • A note from the teacher: It is my hope that students will enjoy their classes in French, and learn to love the language as much as I. This can only occur if every student pays attention during each lesson, and adheres to the classroom expectations. Please consider this as you sign the next page.

I look forward to another wonderful year with the outstanding students of King William schools.

No one may prevent or inhibit another from learning or from teaching!