French Grades 5, 6, 7, 8 & High School
Olmsted #156
Course Syllabus
This syllabus is designed to inform grades 5, 6, 7, 8 and High school students and parents of the World Language standards, New York State Languages other than English Standards, course materials, student requirements, benchmarks, instructional pacing, and assessments required for success in French course at Olmsted.
GOALS FOR WORLD LANGUAGE STANDARDS
Overall goals for Olmsted students of French
1. Communicate at the “Proficient”* level or higher.
2. Relate cultural information at the “Proficient” level or higher.
3. Communicate with French-speaking communities at the “Proficient” level or higher.
NY State Standards
Language for Communication
Language for Cultural Understanding
COURSE MATERIALS and COURSE DESCRIPTION
Bon Voyage Levels One, Two, and Three
Teacher created materials.
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
Students taking this course will be expected to:
Come to class prepared to work with a textbook, notebook, pen, and pencil.
Pay attention in class.
Focus on classroom instruction.
Participate actively in small and large group oral language practice.
Ask questions if they do not understand.
Study, practice, and learn new words and phrases when assigned.
Keep up with the work.
Review a little each day. Do not wait until the night before a test to review.
Use what they have learned to speak French with their teacher and classmates.
Use what they have learned to write in French (journal writing, letter writing, e- mail).
Do homework, complete assignments, and pass quizzes and tests.
Use library and/or computer resources to reinforce classroom activities as appropriate.
Attend class in compliance with Buffalo school district attendance policy
Course Objectives
We aim to develop the four language skills and to familiarize the student with theFrancophone world. The course objectives are to provide instruction and practice toward competency in French oral and written communication. The instructor will guide studentsthrough each part, gradually giving the students more autonomy to create on their own.
The main communicative and grammatical goals are as follows: to engage inconversation with others using past, present and future tenses; to talk about social issues,and relationships, French and American perspectives, and immigration and diversity.
Important Guidelines and Expectations
a) In-Class
Class material is presented in mostly French. Grammar, conversation, and written expression are emphasized. Language proficiency grows through the common courtesies and alliances that have anchored all language speaking communities, therefore students are expected to show mutual respect for one another, participate actively in class, focus on class activities, and demonstrate a desire to learn.
Language learning is not a passive activity; therefore, class time is used to practice as
much spoken French as possible. This means not only speaking, but also listening; students should listen carefully to the instructor AND to other students. By listening closely we can learn a lot about how to say things and how to interact in another language. Students will often break up into groups to work on written and oral exercises so that they actively learn grammar, vocabulary, and expressions.
b) Preparation and Outside Class
In order to participate successfully, students need to study the lesson before coming to class (use the day-by-day study guide I provide). You are encouraged to speak French immediately using the new material learned. Consistent practice of all of the skills reinforces and builds our understanding of the language. SO we NEED to practice outside class as well as in class. Language is a DAILY activity therefore I expect you to do 20- 30 minutes of French EVERYDAY after the class- do not be afraid to make it pleasurable by supplementing exercises from the text and workbook with enjoyable activities - music, movies, reading a recipe – I am happy to provide ideas.
Classroom rules:Bring ALL necessary materials to class (including an OPEN MIND).
Be in your seat and ready to begin when the bell rings.
Respect the people and property in your class.
Participate fully in ALL class activities.
NO FOOD OR DRINKS ALLOWED IN CLASS!
Grading policy:
Tests 30%
Quizzes 20%
Projects 25%
Homework 15%
Class Participation 10%
Grade 5 French
The French 5/6 course aims to make second language learning exciting and relevant. The course is made up of five modules and ten Projets spéciaux (special projects). Students choose five of the Projets spéciaux and complete one with each module. It is expected that most students will complete Modules 1 and 2 and two Projets spéciaux in Grade 5 and Modules 3, 4, and 5 and three Projets spéciaux in Grade 6.
Module Overview
- Module 1: À la maison (At Home)
- Module 2: Ma famille et moi (My Family and I)
- Module 3: Le méteo et les vêtements (Weather and Clothing)
- Module 4: Les sports el les animaux (Sports and Animals)
- Module 5: Où est-ce que j´habite? (Where Do I Live?)
Overview of Special Projects (Projet spéciaux)
The special projects are separate from the modules and offer students the opportunity to strengthen and further develop their French language skills while exploring a particular theme which they have selected.
Grade 5 students complete three special projects:
Grade 6 students complete four special projects:
- Projet spécial 1: Le Carnaval de Québec (The Québec Winter Carnival)
- Projet spécial 2: Les Jeux olympiques d'hiver (The Winter Olympics)
- Projet spécial 3: Noël (Christmas)
- Projet spécial 4: L´Halloween (Halloween)
- Projet spécial 5: Le Métro de Paris (The Paris Underground Train System)
- Projet spécial 6: La Saint-Valentin (Valentine's Day)
- Projet spécial 7: Le Vieux-Québec (Old Québec City)
- Projet spécial 8: Le temps des sucres (Maple Syrup)
- Projet spécial 9: Le nouvel an chinois (Chinese New Year)
- Projet spécial 10: Les deux souriceaux (The Country Mouse and the City Mouse)
Other special projects developed for this course may be completed after consultation with the student's teacher:
Grade 7 - French
Course Description
The primary objectives of the French language program in Grade 7 are to help students to improve their proficiency in the French language through the four language skills of listening, talking, reading, and writing, and to instill in students a better understanding and appreciation for the French language and culture around the world. The course is an integration of video, audio, and text activities leading to the complete language development. It is designed to accommodate all students by appealing to a variety of learning styles.
Major Concepts Covered
The course emphasizes the concurrent development of French oral communication, reading and writing skills.
Areas of study include:
A review of Grades 5 and 6 French, including common greetings, introductions; telling time and dates; talking about school, weather, sports, and hobbies, describing family members, household chores. Talking about food, shopping, television shows, and vacation plans.
Grammatical structures: Present tense of –ER verbs, aller (to go), avoir (to have), etre (to be), faire (to do);forming questions in French; adjective agreements; demonstrative and possessive pronouns; near future tense; definite, indefinite, and partitive articles; imperative forms
Methodology
A variety of methods of instruction are included to reinforce vocabulary and grammatical structures and give students opportunities to listen and practice new concepts, including: listening activities(teacher/peer/video/audio); pair and group work; reading, writing, and role-playing activities; discussion of culture topics; games to reinforce new vocabulary.
Outcome
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Understand and follow instruction in French
- Communicate with increasing accuracy, both orally and writing on a variety of topics using newvocabulary
- Apply grammar and pronunciation rules to new vocabulary
- Read and understand authentic French texts and short stories
- Recognize more similarities/differences between French and English
- Think critically about the French culture as well as their own culture and contrast the two
- Express opinions and connect to personal experience
- Use compound sentences in conversations and writing
Grade 8 French 1
Text: Bon Voyage Level 1
Oral Communication, Reading, and Writing
Overall Expectations
By the end of Grade 8, students will:
• listen to and talk about simple oral texts in structured and open-ended situations;
• express ideas, feelings, and opinions in conversations and discussions, using learned language
structures and a variety of vocabulary and expressions;
• read a variety of simple materials, 100 to 200 words long, and demonstrate understanding;
• write in a variety of forms, adjusting language to suit the audience;
• identify and use the vocabulary and the grammar and language conventions appropriate for this grade level.
Specific Expectations
Oral Communication
Reading
By the end of Grade 8, students will:
– use past tense in written sentences, conversations and discussions (e.g., Helen
n’a pas regardé la télé hier soir );
– respond to oral texts (e.g., answer questions,
role-play);
– use language appropriately in a variety of rehearsed, routine, and open-ended situations (e.g., an interview, a song lyric, an advertisement for a new restaurant);
– give an oral presentation of more than five sentences in length, adjusting speech to suit the audience.
By the end of French 1, students will:
– read at least five simple texts (e.g., excerpts from newspapers, magazines), and identify the main idea and supporting details;
– produce a variety of simple responses, in structured and open-ended situations, to convey understanding of written text in a different form (e.g., re-create a scene, design a book jacket);
– express personal preferences or reactions to a text (e.g., in a dramatization
High School French
Course Textbook: Bon Voyage! – Levels 2 and 3
Course Description:
French II is a review and continuation of French I with an emphasis on improving the students' ability to communicate in French. Several new verb tenses are presented along with useful vocabulary that will enable the students to participate in a variety of situational activities.
Prerequisites: Completion of French I with a grade of "75" or better.
Learning Objectives:
• Comprehend illustrated stories, audiovisual programs, or websites in French
• Follow instructions given in French one step at a time for a wide range of activities
• Pose questions in structured situations
• Produce language using proper pronunciation, intonation, and inflection
• Comprehend gestures and body language used in everyday interaction
• Understand written classroom directions, read simple passages, and infer meaning from cognates
• Decode new vocabulary using context clues and draw on prior knowledge of words and phrases from prior lessons
• Compose written French on familiar topics using proper grammar
• Present a simple oral report
• Read, retell, and summarize selected French text•
Course Outline :
Week 1/2 : Introduction : greetings, good-byes, names, politeness, days of the week, months
of the year, numbers to 100, weather, telling time.
Culture: the French-speaking world
Week 3/4 : Describing people ; être, negation, adjectives, definite and indefinite articles,
Culture: Basic geography of France
Week 5: Describing teachers and classes; tu vs. vous,
Culture: French in the US
Week 6/7 : School supplies and activities ; -er verbs, numbers to 1000, “pas de”, use of infinitive
Culture: French teens
Week 8/9: The family and the home; avoir, posessive adjectives, beau, vieux, nouveau
Culture : Les H.L.M., French last names
Week 10 At a French café; aller, the near future, contractions with à and de, prendre, “y”
Culture: French meals
*********End of first quarter********
Week 11 : Presentations : All about me
Week 12/13 : Preparations pour un voyage ; clothing, comparisons, irregular verbs
Culture : Shopping in France
Week 14 : At the airport ; -ir verbs, quel and tout, irregular –ir verbs,
Culture: French air travel
Week 15/16: At the train station; -re verbs, demonstrative adjectives, dire, lire and écrire
Culture: Train travel in France and French-speaking Africa
Week 17: Summary: Irregular verbs in the present tense (French 2 Years)
Week 18: Presentations: My vacation.
Week 19: Exam review
Week 20 : French 1 Final Exam
Week 21: Sports, parts of the body; asking questions, the past tense of regular verbs
Culture: French sports
Week 22/23: Summer and winter activities; past tense with être
Culture: French Canada
Week 24/25: Cultural activities; irregular past participles, negative words
Culture: French museums and theatres
Week 26 : Preparation for the National French Contest
Week 27/28: Les Telecommunications; direct object pronouns, commands
Week 29: Presentations: My leisure time.
Week 30/31: Daily routine; reflexive verbs,
Culture : A typical day in a French family
Week 32/33: Staying healthy, being sick; indirect object pronouns, “en”,
Culture: Going to the doctor in France
Week 34/35: Review of train and plane travel; the imperfect tense
Week 36/37: The imperfect tense vs. the past tense
Week 38/39: Final exam review
Week 40: French 2 Final Exam