Course Syllabus
French I
Required Materials
o Writing utensil (pen or pencil)
o 3 ring binder/folder
o Notebook/journal
o Homework/Assignment
Course Description
This is an introductory course, where students will be exposed to the French language through reading, writing, speaking and listening activities. Students will also explore the culture of France and other French-speaking countries.
Grading
Grades will be measured by points earned on quizzes, tests, homework, projects, presentations and other assignments. Extra credit assignments will be available each marking period for those who are interested. Grades will be updated weekly and will be available to view online through PowerSchool.
Homework, Tests, Quizzes & Projects
Homework – often something that we don’t have time to finish in class or something that the class seems to need more practice to master. If assigned, you will earn 5 points for completing it on time, unless I state that it will be graded differently.
Tests and quizzes - may occur throughout the marking period at the end of a chapter or unit. Most will include both a listening and writing component.
Warm-up Journal – this notebook or journal will be used for written warm-up activities several times per week. I will be collecting the journals at least once per marking period to grade for completion.
Projects – at least one major project per marking period. Projects will build on vocabulary and cultural content on the current topic of study. All projects will contain writing and speaking components. Some will be group projects, while others will be individual. You will be given time to work on projects in class, but it is possible that you may need to finish them outside of class time.
Missed Work/Absences
It is understandable that you may need to miss class due to an illness, field trip, etc. If you do miss a class, please be sure to check the make-up work folder when you return. It will contain a list of what we did in class each day, along with any worksheets or handouts you may need.
You have the same number of days that you were absent to complete the work you missed. If you were absent one day, you have one day to complete the work.
Late Work Policy
All assignments are due on the specified date in order to receive full credit. Any assignment that is handed in late will be worth 75% of the total possible points. No late work will be accepted after the unit of study is completed.
Topics for the Year
Unit 1 – Introduction to French
Goals: Students will be introduced to the French language by learning how to greet others, introduce themselves and others, be able to recite the French alphabet and use numbers up to 100 to say how old they and others are. They will learn expressions to state how they feel and say who people are. They will learn the vocabulary for family members and complete a project depicting their own family tree. There will be a lot of oral practice during this unit as students get used to French pronunciation.
Unit 2 – Bon Appétit
Goals: Students will learn the vocabulary for foods and beverages commonly served in French cafés, as well as how to read a menu, order something to eat or drink and ask how much something costs. They will use this vocabulary to write and act out a skit. They will also use the numbers learned in unit one to tell time and write the date, learning days of the week and months of the year, as well as name the seasons and describe the weather.
Unit 3- Qu’est-ce qu’on fait?
Goals: Unit 3 will focus on common activities that people do. Students will learn vocabulary to describe daily activities, how to express their opinions on these activities, and how to invite someone to do an activity with them. This unit will also cover the conjugation of the verb “être” (to be), as well as the conjugation of regular ER verbs. Students will use these verbs to write a children’s book about things people like/dislike to do. These books will then be shared with the class, and hopefully some daycare children at “Best Friends Daycare.” Students will learn interrogative expressions, as well as how to ask and answer questions in French. This will be used to conduct an interview with a partner, and record their responses. Students will also do a cultural comparison of schools in France and the United States as they learn vocabulary for school subjects, and what the school system is like in France.
Unit 4 – Paris
Goals: Students will study the city of light by taking a virtual tour of some of the most famous monuments, museums and landmarks the city has to offer. They will learn facts about each and be able to identify them by appearance. They will learn how to get around the city by reading French Metro maps, and the unit will culminate with them acting as a travel agent planning a trip to Paris.
Unit 5 – Le monde personnel
Goals: Students will be able to describe the world around them by learning vocabulary to talk about everyday objects with definite and indefinite articles. They will learn new adjectives, including nationalities and colors, to describe people, places and objects. In this unit they will also learn the conjugation of the irregular verb “avoir” (to have).
Unit 6 – En ville
Goals: By the end of this unit, students will be able to describe their city or town, including its public buildings and places of interest, ask for/give directions, and describe their house/apartment. They will draw and label the floor plan of their dream house, and write about what it will have using the verb “aller” (to go) to form the future tense. They will also learn to use possessive adjectives to describe what others have, as well as ordinal numbers. They will complete a project where they must create a game using vocabulary from this unit to be played in class.
Unit 7 - Tour de France
Goals: The year will end with the Tour de France. Students will learn about the history of this annual cycling race and participate in games of speed. They will then act as members of the planning committee for next year’s Tour and research a region of France that should be included as part of the race. They will find information and facts about the region in hopes of persuading the rest of the “selection committee” that their region is the best.
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I am always open to new topics, especially for projects. I’m hoping to learn your interests (especially in the arts), and tie those in with the content we are learning in class. I’d love for us all to learn together!
I hope that this syllabus is helpful to you throughout the course of the year. Please refer to it as needed. Learning a new language can be challenging, so if at any time you are having problems or need extra help, please don’t hesitate to ask. I look forward to working with you this year!