FRENCH CONVERSATION 32A: Automne 2016

FRENCH CONVERSATION 32A: automne 2016

Enseignante : Catherine J. Lewis Theobald, Ph.D.

Bureau : Rabb 257

Heures de bureau : le lundi de 11h à 12h et de 13h à 14h,le jeudi de 13h à 14het par rendez-vous

E-mail:

Tuteur (BUGS): Brandeis Group Study: 781-736-3470; Michelle Cheung:

OVERVIEW
French 32 is designed to help students improve their command of French, specifically to develop their speaking skills and to enrich their knowledge of French culture and society. The class will work on all skill areas (speaking, listening, writing, reading) while addressing themes pertinent to the modern francophone world that generate discussion or controversy, such as the role of technology in our lives, the exploitation of natural resources, or finding a work/school balance. Using a variety of multimedia, we will work on your ability to discuss personal and social topics, support ideas and opinions with facts and personal experience, read cultural texts, participate in class discussions, and express your opinions in writing. Assessment is based on daily homework assignments, a series of oral and written exams, a record of attendance and participation, and a series of final assignments.

PREREQUISITE
The prerequisite for FREN 32 is FREN 20 or the equivalent. If your last French course was not FREN 20, you need to take the online placement exam in French at to make sure that this course is a good match for your skills. Please speak with me or Professor Harder (, 6-3195, 106 Shiffman) if you have any questions about placement.Please note that students are not permitted to skip level once they enter the language sequence.

LEARNING GOALS

This semester you will
- develop analytic tools to examine and better understand French culture.
-improve your confidence in using spoken French in informal and formal situations.
-expand your vocabulary and grammar skills in order to communicate effectively in different situations.
-improve your abilities to compose texts in French using more complex grammar structures and accurate vocabulary.
-express your ideas, opinions and beliefs in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner in written and oral forms.
-read, analyze, and discuss original literary works, images, and articles.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

We will measure your ability to reach those goals by requiring you to
- incorporate pertinent cultural material into class presentations, writings, and exams.

- present culturally and grammatically accurate sketches, verbal reports, and conversations.

-manipulate new vocabulary and grammar in different modalities (written and oral).

-compose short reports, reactions, opinions, analyses and essays.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:
1. Controverses, Larbi Oukada, Didier Bertrand, Janet Solberg.Boston, TROISIEME édition, Cengage 2016; ISBN-10: 1305390989 |ISBN-13:9781305390980; Paper book or electronic. PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOU WISH TO USE AN ELECTRONIC TEXTBOOK IN CLASS, YOU WILL NEED TO BRING A LAPTOP OR TABLET WITH MESSAGING/ ALERTS/ VOLUME TURNED OFF. SMARTPHONE USE IS NOT ALLOWED IN CLASS.

2. Controverses, Cahier d’activités, Didier Bertrand, Janet Solberg. Cengage, 2016.TROISIEME EDITION. YOU CANNOT BUY A USED WORKBOOK.

Recommended materials (not required):

-Controverses, "Premium Website Access" to view flashcards, extra grammar reviews, sample quizzes, etc. Available on the Cengage website or in a bundle at the bookstore with your other textbooks.

-Robert Harper Collins French-English English-French or another good, college-level French dictionary.

Additional materials that I make available to you:

- Photocopies of additional articles/grammar sheets/ literary texts;

- Films (viewed on LATTE). LATTE is the Brandeis “online learning environment” that allows you to access course materials. Go to and follow the login instructions (using your UNET account information);

- Audio files (on LATTE or via your premium website access if you have it);

-Answer key to the workbook (on LATTE).

ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION

Because language is a social and interactive phenomenon, attendance and participation are crucial to your success in this course. If you have more than three unexcused absences, your attendance grade(NOTyour final grade)will be lowered by 10 points per absence. Three tardies/ early departures equal one absence. In the case of eight or more absences, a student may fail the entire course. If you have questions about your attendance or your participation, please feel free to discuss them with me at any time. THERE ARE NO EXCUSED/UNEXCUSED ABSENCES. THEY ARE SIMPLY ABSENCES. You thus do not need to contact me/ explain things to me if you need are mildly ill, etc. If you find that you have to leave campus or miss several classes due to an emergency, it is essential that you contact your class deanfirst (assigned according to your last name). You can ask the dean to notify your professors regarding the reason for your absence.

Your participation grade—which is not your attendance grade—reflects the quality of your participation in class, which includes your level of preparation and preparedness for class, having your books with you, your willingness to participate in class discussion, your willingness to raise your hand, the level of work you do in small groups, your commitment to speaking French in class, and your performance during in-class activities. I judge your participation objectively; it is not a “free A” by any means.

HOMEWORK POLICY AND MISSED WORK/EXAMS:
Success in this 4 credit-hour course is based on the expectation that students will spend a minimum of 9 hours of study time per week in preparation for class (readings, papers, discussion sections, preparation for exams, etc.). You must complete and correct the grammar exercises for the date indicated, generally before coming to class. Corrections should be made in a different colored pen. I take up or look at your homework on a regular basis to make sure that you have done and corrected your assigned work. If you wish to sell your text at the end of term or have an e-textbook, you may type (and correct) the exercises. However, you must type out the entire sentence and correct it like the other students. Because you have the corrections, we will not spend time reviewing all of the exercises in class, but we will discuss those that were difficult for you. If you do not ask questions about the assignments in class, I will assume that you completely understand the material.

I do not accept late homework unless you are absent the day I collect it, and it is your responsibility to give me your homework the following class period. There are no make-ups for short quizzes, in-class assignments, or presentations. If you miss one of our chapter exams or in-class essays for a very good, documented reason, you must notify me BEFORE the exam takes place or as soon as possible. A doctor’s note or its equivalent is generally required.

TUTORING
Brandeis University Group Study (BUGS): This free study service is led by native speakers or students returning from study abroad. Regular tutoring/study hours will be announced after the start of the semester. I strongly advise you to use this service when preparing oral presentations or to go over graded tests, etc. Remember, however, that tutors are not to help you prepare written assignments before handing them in. Contact our returning French tutor, Michelle Cheung, for hours.

GRADE CALCULATION

Your final course grade will be calculated as follows:

Attendance 5%
Participation 5%
Homework/ quizzes/ short papers 15%
Oral exams/presentations15 %
2 essay exams 15%
2traditional exams 15%
Final oral 10 %
Final exam 20 %

GRADING SCALE:
93-100 A 70-72 C-
90-92 A- 67-69 D+
87-89 B+ 63-66 D
83-86 B 60-62 D-
80-82 B- below 60 F
77-79 C+
73-76 C

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

All aspects of Brandeis Academic Integrity apply to this course. Please make sure you consult all the appropriate resources:

If I suspect you of plagiarizing or cheating in any way, I will report you immediately to determine the consequences. Academic integrity is central to the mission of educational excellence at Brandeis University. Violations of university policies on academic integrity, described in Section 3 of Rights and Responsibilities, may result in failure in the course or on the assignment and could end in suspension from the university. All homework must be your own work, except when assignments specifically authorize a collaborative effort. It is not acceptable for you to ask a tutor, a native French speaker, a student of French, a friend, or a family member to correct your written assignments before submitting them. Any such help will be considered cheating.

Plagiarism is not tolerated in this course, and ignorance or negligence on your part is not a valid excuse. The most rampant form of cheating these days is “cut and paste” plagiarism from the Internet. Using words, ideas, or fragments from undocumented Internet sources is cheating. If you have questions about what constitutes academic dishonesty, please contact me or Melissa Woolsey (Student Rights and Community Standards) at 781-736-5075.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES/ RELIGIOUS OBSERVATIONS
If you are a student with a documented disability on record at Brandeis University and wish to have a reasonable accommodation made for you in this class, please see me within the first week of class. If a religious observation will cause you to be absent from class or to miss assignments, you must speak to me within the first two weeks of class. Accommodations cannot be made retroactively.

MAJORING OR MINORING IN FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONE STUDIES
If you are thinking about pursuing a major or minor in French and Francophone Studies, you should speak with our Undergraduate Advising Head, Professor Martine Voiret (), to make sure that you understand the prerequisites and requirements. I would also be thrilled to speak with you about how studies in our department could benefit your life and career!

STUDY ABROAD
We enthusiastically encourage all students to find out about opportunities for study abroad in France and francophone countries. Students who study abroad have a much deeper knowledge of French language and francophone culture, and they have a chance to develop personally and intellectually. Students who want to find out more about programs should contact the Office of Study Abroad (Allyson Goose), 127 Usdan Student Center, 781-736-3483.

Parlons français! Bienvenue!!!