French I Course Syllabus

Instructor: Lindsay Van GilstClassroom: HUM 224Office: HUM 221

Phone number: (505) 962-5150

Email: (Please include your student’s full name in the subject of your email)

MATERIALS NEEDED: Three-ring binder (or folder with brads) with at least sixdividers, loose-leaf paper,an agenda, pens and pencils.Label the dividers as follows: Premières Activités, Verbes, Notes, Devoirs,Examens, andCan-Do. Optional materials: highlighters, French-English dictionary. Please also bring any ONE of the following: box of Kleenex, hand sanitizer,any size dry erase markers (for student white boards). You will be provided with a workbook and textbook, which you need to bring to class every day. Our class textbook is T’Es Branché 1.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: French I is an introduction to the French language and culture with an emphasis on the use of the language for active communication. You will develop your ability to read, write, speak, and comprehend spoken French. You will be expected to participate daily in conversations and activities with your peers.This course also builds critical thinking skills, interpersonal skills, and cultural awareness. You will become familiar with various francophone cultures and compare their customs to your own. By the end of French I, you should be able to arrive in Paris and get around (introduce yourself, get to your hotel by metro, order in a café, etc.) using only French!

FRENCH I TOPICS: We will develop your language skills and cultural knowledge in the context of the following units: introductions, leisure activities, family, school life, French cuisine and cafés, shopping, out on the town, and a virtual trip to Paris.

GRADING: Assessment components include listening, speaking, writing, and reading French, as well as cultural knowledge. In the grade book, your assignments will be labeled as “Practice” (homework and class activities) and “Assessments” (writing, projects, exams, and quizzes). Practice will account for 40% of your overall grade and assessments 60%. Parentsare encouraged to regularly review their student’s grades, which may be viewed at any time on PowerSchool. If you do not yet have a Power School account, please contact the front office.

CLASS WEBSITE: Our school will set up a new web page for every class at the beginning of this school year. Once the French I website is up and running, you will be required to access the site for a description of your make up work after each absence. This syllabus, grading rubrics, and other important documents will always be posted on the site. If you are asked to bring in food or supplies for a project, details will be posted there for your parents to see. The websitewill also be used to send important reminders.

MAKE UP WORK:

  • Find out what you missed by visiting the class webpage. Click on the “Make Up Work” folder and open the Word document for the appropriate month (e.g. “Make Up Work – August”). The document is updated at the end of each school day.
  • You should also ask a “homework buddy” to get you up to speed and provide notes from classes that you missed.
  • When turning in a missed assignment, please write “ABSENT” on the top of the paper and the DATE(S) of your absence to ensure that it will be accepted.
  • Per school policy, you will have 24 hours per absence to make up any work that you missed.
  • Because make up tests often involve listening or speaking components, and because I will be teaching the rest of your peers something new the following day, it is usually not possible or practical to make up an assessment during class time. You will be given a reasonable time frame in which to make up your test before or after school. (A make up quiz, on average, takes less than 5 minutes, and a make up test takes 15-25 minutes.) After the deadline, graded tests and feedback are handed back to your peers, and it is too late to take the test. If the time frame provided absolutely will not work for you, please let me know ASAP so that we can a.) set up a time that will work, and b.) be fair to the rest of class by getting their graded tests and feedback handed back within a reasonable time frame.

LATE WORK: Rio Rancho Public Schools is committed to preparing students for both the working world and post-secondary education. This includes time-management, organization, and the ability to meet due dates. However, I do not want a small mistaketo affect your grade in a big way, so each student will receive three late work passes per semester. These passes allow you to submit up to three late assignments over the course of that semester, no questions asked. To take advantage of this privilege, the following rules must be strictly adhered to:

  • The assignment must be submitted within two days of the original due date. (Enough time to say, “Oops, I forgot,” and get the assignment turned in.)
  • The assignment must have a valid late pass stapled to it.
  • Major presentations/projects may not be submitted late even with a late pass.As you will always know about these projects well in advance, 20% will be deducted from projects each day until they are submitted.
  • No more than three late assignments will be accepted per student per semester.Lost late passes will not be replaced. Late passes may not be copied. Late passes from semester 1 do not roll over to semester 2. Students who attempt to argue or circumvent these rules will lose the privilege of submitting any late assignments.
  • Note: The assignment will be marked in the grade book as “late,” but will receive full credit.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: The following constitutes cheating in this class: using any unauthorized aide during assessments (electronic devices, notes, etc.), discussing content material with students who have not yet taken an exam, talking during an exam, copying information from another student’s exams or assignments or allowing a student to copy from you, using an online translator, and any other form of plagiarism.Consequences for cheating: You will receive a disciplinary referral, your parents will be notified, and you will receive a zero for that assignment or exam.

CLASS RULES/OTHER:

  • Follow all school rules as stated in the Student Handbook.
  • Be nice! Respect your teacher, classmates, and environment.
  • Be responsible for your own learning. Always give your best effort, and ask questions!
  • Be seated by the bell. If you are not seated in your seat when the bell stops ringing, you are tardy.
  • Electronic devicesand ear buds should be off and out of sight. If your technology is out, your teacher will hold it during class so that you and your neighbors are not distracted.If your family has a private emergency during school, make sure they know to contact the front office.
  • Your teacher is available every day after school if you need additional help or have any questions!
  • Looking for online French aides to use while you study? Online dictionaries are okay. I recommend

REWARDS!

Let’s talk about rewards that outstanding students and classes can earn!

  • Choose your own seats: Be productive every day and do not sit by peers who will distract you. If you can do that, your class is obviously mature enough to choose your own seats all year!
  • Music time: Classes who keep their technology off and out of sight as asked can earn the privilege of listening to music during individual work time, and even using your devices for class assignments as appropriate.
  • Parlez-vousfrançais?: Put a little effort into your French studies and you will, of course, be able to communicate in French. That cute guy/girl in your math class – and your future boss, for that matter – is sure to be impressed!
  • The top student: One outstanding student in each class is selected for an award presented by the Alliance Françaised’Albuquerque at the end of the year. (It comes with a French prize packet, and the award will look impressive on your job & college applications!)
  • The awesome class: We all agree that well-behaved classes are more productive and fun, right? This means more opportunities for films, speaking activities, hands-on activities,and food days!
  • Free money?Now that I have your attention, let me explain something you need to know now. Earning the best grades that you can has some serious benefits, including free money for post-secondary classes, cost of living during college, and travel. (To give you an idea, I took university courses for five years, attended a language school in central France, andtook vacations in Paris and southern France … almost entirely free!)Your adulthood may seem a long way off, but trust me, it’s right around the corner.Please do not cheat yourself by giving less than your best effort!

I look forward to working with each of you!

Mademoiselle Van Gilst

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I have read and understand the expectations and rules for French I as stated in the 2016-2017 course syllabus. If I have any questions, I will contact the instructor for further explanation.

I understand that I am responsible for the completion of all homework, class work and assessments, and that my teacher is available daily after school if I need additional help.

Class Period ______

Name ______Signature ______Date: ______