6
FRENCH 1001 – ELEMENTARY FRENCH I
Gordon College, Barnesville, GA
Fall 2011
Instructor: Dr. Darren Broome Office: 218 Academics
E-mail: Phone: (678)359-5335
Office hours: MWF: 8:00am-9:00am, 10:50am-12:00pm, 1:50pm-2:30pm
Required Textbook:
Promenades (2010), Mitschke/Tano (Vista Higher Learning)
· Textbook
· Access to textbook Supersite (sold with textbook.)
If you do not purchase the textbook from the book store, you may purchase the access code separately from the publisher at www.vhldirect.com
Course Description:
Welcome to FRENCH 1001! FRENCH 1001 is the first in a trilogy of Promenades courses. It will cover Unité 1 – Unité 4, leaving Unités 5 -13 for the subsequent FRENCH 1002 and 2001 courses. Do not expect this course to be about grammar and vocabulary learning. Although you will be learning grammar and vocabulary to achieve the above goals, they are not the focal point of this course. If you are in Learning Support Reading or English, you are no permitted to enroll in this course until those requirements are met.
FREN 1001 is designed for true beginners in French. However, it is likely that there will be a mix of true beginners and false beginners (students with some high school French who feel they need to go back to the basics).
For the true beginners: do not feel intimidated by the students who seem to know all the material already. Your instructor caters to the needs of the true beginners, and sooner than you might think, you will have caught up with the false beginners.
For the false beginners: be sure to study. Unfortunately, students with some French background often tend to be overly confident and end up scoring poorly. If you know everything and do not need to study, consider taking a more advanced French course. Also, please try not to monopolize participation in the class and try not to shout out all the answers before the true beginners have a chance to think things over: be a sport and give the others a chance!
Tips for Learning French
1. Study day-by-day. You cannot get by in a foreign language course by cramming at the last minute. You may be able to ‘learn’ vocabulary items that way, but you cannot teach your mouth to use them in sentences.
2. Go back and review ‘old' topics and vocabulary. Language learning is cumulative. You learn new skills on the basis of old ones. The more you ‘recycle' familiar information and skills, the better you will be able to integrate new ones.
3. .Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Perhaps part of the reason small children readily acquire languages is that they are not afraid of making mistakes: their egos do not restrain them from acting like `little clowns'.
4. Don’t forget that motivation and personal interaction are the key ingredients to learning a language; if you take a more motivated approach at the beginning of the semester, you should enjoy learning French, and hopefully will want to continue learning French. Try not looking at this class as a CPC deficiency, humanities elective or just a requirement for the major.
5. Approach learning French in a positive way. If you don’t like French, foreign languages or learning in general, do not share this information with the instructor, nor have high expectations for a good grade or the amount of knowledge/information you can acquire from this course.
6. Take notes in class. If the instructor writes something on the board, it is important. Review it outside of class.
7. Look over the schedule of assignments before class to get a quick “preview” of the lesson.
8. Avoid literal translation from English to French. Try to use the grammar/vocabulary you know although it is rather limited.
9. Keep It Simple in French. This is an introductory course, so you should not venture off into the uncharted waters of the French language.
10. Knowing French will improve your vocabulary in English. Some 40% to 50% of English vocabulary comes from French. The study of French will also enhance your grammar skills in English. As you develop greater skills in French, you also sharpen your skills in English.
11. Keep up with the Supersite exercises. Don’t wait until the last minute work on the supersite exercises.
12. Lastly, if you already have taken some Spanish, do not expect this course to be a breeze. Remember it is a completely new language!
Native-Speaker Policy: Elementary French I is designed for novices of the French language. If French is your native language, this course is not appropriate for you. Furthermore, Gordon College does not allow native speakers of a foreign language to take their native language in order to receive foreign language credit.
Classroom Decorum: You may not eat or drink in class. You are not allowed to use the classroom printer/computer or personal laptops without permission from the instructor. Turn your cell phone off before entering class. The instructor may confiscate your phone and hold it until the next class day if it rings in class, and he may answer it; if you answer your phone, check your messages, or do text messaging, or the phone rings, you will be counted as absent for that day and will be asked to leave the classroom. Additionally, if you do not have a textbook to use or share, or other classroom materials such as pen and paper, you will be counted absent and be asked to leave the classroom.
Bathroom policy: If you need to go to the restroom, you do not need to ask for permission, but do not return to the classroom since you will be disrupting the class once again.
In class work: In order to gain proficiency in a foreign language, it is essential to speak the language. Students should arrive to class prepared/on time, ready and eager to speak French. Any student who does not want to participate in class or who is not prepared for class will most likely not succeed. Much of the time spent in class will be opportunities for you to put to practice grammar, vocabulary, etc---this will be done usually orally. Having problems speaking French amongst fellow classmates could negatively be reflected in your grade; let’s not be shy. Each time a student demonstrates aversion in participating in the French class–such as not completing the homework, not having the proper materials for the class, sleeping in class, being disruptive in class, using the computer, not taking notes, using a cell phone–will be counted absent.
Attendance: In this course, attendance constitutes 15% of the grade. If you give up all of your attendance, the highest grade you can earn is 85, if you earn a 100% on all of your work. There are only three “free” absences allowed. For instance, a forth absence will forfeit 3 points from the final average. Each class an attendance sheet will be passed around, and you are authorized to sign in only for yourself. If you arrive to class late, see me after class, but you will be counted as tardy. Please note: to be considered “present” a
student must be in class when the roll is called, be prepared for the class meeting, and stay for the entire class meeting. Rarely, there may be extenuated circumstances. If you must be absent please notify me by e-mail within 24 hours before or after the absence occurs and explain the circumstances. If difficulties arise during the semester due to work, emergencies, family obligations, etc., please explain these issues to me immediately after class .
Note on required work: An absence from class does not excuse you from any work that is due or exams given on the day of your return. It is your responsibility to obtain all assignments and information from classes missed. There is no excuse for coming to class and saying that you didn't know what was due!
Tardiness: Two tardies count as one absence. If a student arrives 10 minutes late, he/she is considered absent. Students may not leave class early without the instructor’s permission. If a student has a problem arriving to class on time, he/she should discuss this matter with the instructor.
NO MAKEUPS
Quizzes: The student may miss one quiz and this quiz will be dropped. The final exam does not count for the dropped quiz. Any additional quizzes missed will be recorded as zeros. If the student does not miss a quiz, the lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Some quizzes are announced only one class day in advance. It is the student's responsibility to learn of anything discussed or announced in class during his absence. If you fail to learn of an assigned quiz, you will not be allowed to take it at a later time. Absolutely no make-ups will be given. The quiz will assess skills in listening, reading, and writing, and your understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and cultural information presented in class. ATTENTION: Many quizzes will be administered on the supersite and at the beginning of class, so please arrive to class on time. If you don’t have an account on the supersite and the quiz is given on the supersite, you will receive an automatic zero.
Interview: A face-to-face, one-on-one oral interview will be administered at the end of the semester to assess oral proficiency in French. A list of possible questions asked during the interview will distributed toward the end of the semester.
Homework: Most homework will be done at the Promenades Supersite: http://www.vhlcentral.com.
The exercises I’ve assigned will be noted with a due date next to them on supersite. If you purchase your textbook at the GC Bookstore, your textbook included a code and the instructor will tell you the course section to enter. The course codes permits you to register for the Supersite. NO LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED. THERE WILL BE NO HOMEWORK MAKE-UP OPPORTUNITY. Personal computer failure/internet trouble is not considered a valid excuse for not having the assignments completed on time; you should not wait until the last possible opportunity to begin work on your assignments. On Supersite, you will receive four homework grades since we will cover unit 1 through unit 4; for each lesson on the supersite you will receive a grade for the average of your scores on the assigned exercises (the lowest lesson grade will be dropped).
Film critique: Due November 11: The purpose of this assignment is to offer the student the opportunity of expanding his/-er horizons of French language and culture. Each student is required to watch a film in French with or without subtitles. S/he will choose one film a list that will be provided in the next few weeks. After viewing, each student will write a typed report including the following (page to page and half):
1. A list of 50 words in French with their English equivalents
2. A summary in English explaining the following: the plot, main characters,
how well the student understood the French, what s/he liked or disliked about
the film, the cultural observations to be learned from the viewing. For
example, how does this film differ from American ones?
Compositions: Compositions will be written in class on topics assigned by the professor. There will be two assigned compositions during the semester. Your grade on the composition will be determined by combining your scores on the first and second drafts. The first draft will account for 60% of the grade, and the second draft, 40% of the grade. On the days marked in-class composition, you will be given class time to write a composition on an assigned topic. On the date indicated on the syllabus as composition 2nd draft, you will turn in the corrected version (typed) with the first draft. Both drafts must be double-spaced. Work is to be an individual effort. Compositions that have obviously been written by a native speaker, tutor, or translated by computer will not receive credit.
Important: Students who decide to leave after any graded assignment is administered-unless they ask for permission-will receive a zero. Also, the instructor will discard all graded assignments after one week.
Accommodations: If you have a disability or any special needs and require my assistance, please do not hesitate to speak with me. If you need academic accommodations for a disability, you must first see Ms. Kristina Henderson, Student Counselor, in the Student Center (second floor). Her telephone number is 678-359-5585.
Evaluation My gradebook is found at www.engrade.com. You will receive a user ID and password, and you will be able to access your grades whenever you wish.
The final grade in this course will be determined from the following components:
Final Exam: 15%
Compositions: (2) 15%
Quizzes: (8) 35%
Supersite: 10%
Attendance: 15%
Film critique 5%
Interview 5%
Tentative Schedule
Semaine
/Date
/En clase
1 / 15 août17 août
19 août / o Introduction to course
o Leçon 1:Vocabulaire
o Roman-photo
2 / 22 août
24 août
26 août / o Nouns and articles
o Numbers 0-60
3 / 29 sep.
31 sep.
2 sep. / o Quiz 1
o Leçon 2: Vocabulaire
o Roman-photo
4 / 7 sep.
9 sep. / o Etre
o Adjective Agreement
o Labor Day Holiday, No Class (5 sep.)
5 / 12 sep.
14 sep.
16 sep. / o Quiz 2
o Leçon 3: Vocabulaire
o Roman-photo
6 / 19 sep.
21 sep.
23 sep. / o –er verbs
o Forming questions and expressing negation
7 / 26 sep.
28 sep.
30 sep. / o Leçon 4: Vocabulaire
o Roman-photo
o Quiz 3
8 / 3 oct.
5 oct.
7 oct. / Withdrawals after October 6 will be an automatic WF except in cases of hardship as documented and approved by processing a Student Petition
o Telling time
o Leçon 5: vocabulaire
o Roman-photo
9 / 12 oct.
14 oct. / Fall Break –No Class (10 oct.)
o Quiz 4
o The verb avoir
10 / 17 oct.
19 oct.
21 oct. / o Descriptive adjectives
o Possessive adjectives
o Composition 1
11 / 24 oct.
26 oct.
28 oct. / o Leçon 6:Vocabulaire
o Roman-photo
o Quiz 5
o Numbers 60-100
o Prepositions of location
12 / 31 oct.
2 nov.
4 nov. / o Leçon 7: vocabulaire
o Roman-photo
13 / 7 nov.
9 nov.
11 nov. / o Verb aller
o Quiz 6
o Interrogative words
o Leçon 8: vocabualire
o Film critique due (11nov.)
14 / 14 nov.
16 nov.
18 nov. / o Quiz 7
o Roman-photo
o Verbs prendre and boire
o Composition 2
15 / 21 nov. / No Class-Thanksgiving (23 nov. and 25 nov.)
o Partitives
16 / 28 nov.
30 nov.
2 déc. / o Final Exam Review
o Oral Interviews
o Quiz 8
17 / 5 déc. / Last day of Class
o Oral Interviews
Please be aware of the fact that this is a flexible syllabus, and due to pedagogical considerations, it may be necessary to modify it during the course of the semester. Any changes will be minimal.