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Austin Community College
Spring 2010
FREN 1511 (French I)
Lec. 002 -- 05163
TTh 7:05 p.m. - 9:20 p.m. (NRG 1214)
Course Description: Study of fundamentals of French: conversation, basic writing, listening and reading comprehension, vocabulary building, grammar, and culture. This is a beginning level course. In this course you will learn to read, write, speak, and understand French at a novice level, and will increase your knowledge of the culture of French-speaking regions around the world. There is no prerequisite for this course.
Required Materials:
Horizons, fourth edition, Manley et al, Heinle Cengage Learning, 2009
Textbook with accompanying Text Audio CDs
ACC Custom Version: Workbook/Lab Manual/Answer Key
Lab Audio CDs
-- We will cover the Chapitres préliminaire - 5 in French 1. You will finish the book in French 2.
Note: On-line Supporting Materials: For each chapter, there are the following free supplemental and review activities. You do not have to log in to access these.
Concentration
Flashcards
Crossword Puzzle
Cultural Activity
Glossary
Tutorial Quiz
Final Exam
Music Playlist
Typing French Accents Bar
To access these, go to: http://academic.cengage.com/french/horizons, then, next to the correct edition, click on Student: Companion Site. Be sure to select a chapter at the top before you select an activity.
Optional Materials:
French/English dictionary
501 French Verbs, Baron's.
English Grammar for Students of French, Olivia and Hill Press.
Correct Your French Blunders, McGraw-Hill.
Audio Programs:
There are four CDs found inserted near the back of the Textbook. They accompany the Textbook (“Text Audio CDs”). Items in the Textbook that have a headphone symbol next to them are recorded on these CDs. The vocabulary lists at the end of each chapter are also recorded here.
In addition, there is a set of CDs to use with the Lab Manual (“Lab Audio CDs”). You may purchase these CDs. However, if you prefer, these CDs are also available for one-day checkout at the LRC (library).
Note: There is a very limited number of CDs available for checkout, so plan ahead. The CDs already being checked out does not excuse you from doing the homework.
Overview - course materials:
You will use the TEXTBOOK in class. It is also where you study the new material and you need to read over and study the necessary pages here before seeing them in class.
The content of the WORKBOOK matches the Textbook. In the first part, the Cahier d’activités écrites (Workbook) (pp. 1-176), you will practice writing the new structures. In the second part, the Cahier d’activités orales (Lab Manual) (pp. 179-266), you will practice listening comprehension and pronunciation. You will need the LAB AUDIO CDs to do this part.
The ANSWER KEY follows the Lab Manual. It is also divided into two parts. In the first part (pp. 1-26), you will find the answers to the activities in the first part of the workbook. In the second part (pp. 27-41), you will find the answers to the second part.
ALL THE MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED FOR THIS COURSE ARE ON RESERVE IN THE LIBRARIES AT THE NRG, RGC, RVS, SAC AND PIN CAMPUSES.
Instructional Methodology: Our primary objective is to learn to communicate in French. We will study vocabulary words and grammar rules with this end in mind. We will practice developing reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. The majority of class time will be spent practicing speaking and listening and you will participate in partner and group work. Active participation will not only improve your speaking skills, it will also directly affect your grade. Although the class will be conducted mostly in French, I will be glad to provide you with further explanations in English during my office hours.
You will need to practice and learn much of the material outside of class, particularly spelling, vocabulary and grammar. The Workbook will be very helpful to you. The Lab Manual will help you with pronunciation and listening comprehension. You should be prepared to spend a minimum of two hours outside of class for each hour in class; that is, at least 10 hours per week studying, memorizing, and doing homework to prepare for class. It is best to study a little each day. If you feel you need extra help, you can find a French tutor at the Learning Labs. This service is free to ACC students.
Course Rationale: In addition to offering the fundamentals of the French language, this course is intended to fulfill one semester of the foreign language requirement as needed for Associate Degree plans and transfer credit to four-year institutions. The number of courses required varies from discipline and institution.
Common Course Objectives: The main objective of the course is to help students develop skills in the areas of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the French language at a basic level. Your ability to understand and communicate will develop along with your knowledge of the vocabulary and grammatical structures of the language.
At the end of FREN 1511, you should be able to do the following:
Listening:
· use listening strategies such as listening for the main idea and for specific details.
· understand the main idea and some detail when listening to a passage based largely on known material.
· recognize the main topic of an authentic text or one not primarily based on known material.
· follow simple classroom instructions.
· comprehend simple questions on familiar topics.
Speaking:
· count to 100.
· tell the day, date, and time, and describe the weather.
· identify and briefly describe people and objects, including clothing and colors.
· introduce yourself and tell a little about yourself.
· tell what you like to do and tell what you do.
· initiate and maintain a short conversation with someone.
· ask and answer questions on known topics with comprehensible grammar and pronunciation.
· perform these specific functions: tell what you are studying and something about your university or courses, invite someone to do something and make plans, tell about where you live, describe your family, list some of your possessions, list five things you did last week, list five things you are going to do next week, order something at a café, buy clothes.
Reading:
· use reading strategies such as reading for the main idea, recognizing cognates, and using context, sequence of events, prefixes and known words to make intelligent guesses.
· understand the main idea and some detail when reading a text based largely on known material.
· recognize the main topic of an authentic text or one not primarily based on known material.
Writing:
· list items and activities related to a topic being studied (school, clothing, etc.).
· fill out a simple registration form with name, address, phone number and nationality.
· take dictation of familiar material.
· ask and answer simple questions on known topics with reasonably accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation.
· write a letter in which you talk about yourself and ask about the other person with reasonably accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Cultural awareness:
· exhibit conceptual understanding and partial control of the use of tu and vous.
· use basic courtesy expressions appropriately (thanks, etc.).
· identify several French-speaking regions throughout the world.
· convert from official time to conversational time.
· identify the currency system in France.
· read French addresses and phone numbers.
· list several pastimes popular in France.
· list foods and drinks commonly served in a café and say something about the role of the café in French life.
· locate the province of Quebec on a map of Canada and name its largest city.
· briefly discuss the history and current situation of francophonie in Quebec.
· briefly discuss the francophone culture in the state of Louisiana.
· locate France on a map of Europe, discuss a few of its geographical aspects and identify some of its principal regions.
· name at least two cities in France, and identify Paris as the capital.
· tell what the baccalaureate is and a little about the French education system.
Grading: The grade will be calculated in the following way:
Exams (3) 30%
Comprehensive Final Exam 18%
Quizzes (drop 1) 10%
Homework (drop 1) 10%
Compositions (3) 15%
Oral Component: 12%
2 Dialogues
1 Interview
Active class participation 5%
Exams: The 3 exams (10% each) throughout the semester will focus on the vocabulary, grammar, and culture in the chapters most recently studied; however, at the same time, the cumulative nature of language learning should also be kept in mind. The tests will be divided up as follows: 1 (preliminary chapter and chapter 1), 2 (chapters 2 and 3), and 3 (chapters 4 and 5). All of the exams will have both a listening and a written part. The exam dates are on the schedule (programme). There will be no make-ups. Very rarely, due to an extreme emergency, a score of zero can be removed from the three-test average. The student must have an official excuse with documentation explaining the absence, which will be reviewed and either approved or rejected by the instructor (no later than the class day after the exam).
Comprehensive Final Exam: There will be two parts to the exam (listening and written), to be taken on the last class day.
Quizzes (Contrôles): The various quizzes throughout the semester will cover vocabulary, grammar, readings, cultural information, and workbook exercises. You can find dates of the 9 planned quizzes on the schedule. However, I will add extra (possibly unannounced) quizzes if deemed necessary. There are no make-up quizzes, but I will drop the lowest score.
Homework: The homework assignments will consist of exercises from the Workbook/Lab Manual. These workbook exercises help reading, listening, writing, and speaking skills (pronunciation). The daily workbook exercises should be completed and corrected (in a different color ink) before class. No credit will be received for uncorrected homework or homework copied directly from the Answer Key. The due dates for these workbook exercises (turned in after every two compétences - twice each chapter - 12 total) are on the schedule (programme). However, the instructor may also add additional homework assignments as seem fit. No late homework is accepted, but the lowest score will be dropped.
Compositions: Although you will have an idea of the grammar and vocabulary to be used on each of the 3 in-class compositions, you will not receive the exact topic in advance-- (see schedule for dates).
Oral Production: There will be 3 activities in which you will be able to show me your speaking abilities--(all dates on schedule):
1) two dialogues that you will have with a partner in my office. You will be given a partner on that day. We will discuss these later on in the semester.
2) an interview with me in my office during the last week of classes. We will discuss the interview, choose dates, and practice sample questions in class in advance.
NOTE: You will receive individual grades for all of these activities.
Active Participation and Preparation: Since two of the most important factors in learning a language are listening and speaking practice, the class will be conducted IN FRENCH and you should take advantage of this opportunity every day in class. Our class will have an interactive environment and your input (through answering my questions, asking your own, volunteering information, conversing in pairs and small groups, small group and pair presentations, reading aloud to the class, etc.) will be an important component in the class. In addition, you will be required to read the book and do workbook exercises before coming to class every day (as stated on schedule). If you aren't reading the book and doing the required workbook exercises, you will lose points for not being prepared. Participation and preparation points will not be given away -- you will have to earn them.
Note: If a student arrives unprepared or without the textbook or refuses to participate in class, the student may be asked to leave the class and be marked absent at the discretion of the instructor.
Course Policies:
Minimum standards: A student at ACC is expected to attend classes in order to progress satisfactorily toward completion of course objectives. A student who is not meeting course objectives (whose exam average after the first two exams is below 65 and/or has excessive absences and/or has missed many assignments) may be withdrawn from the course at the discretion of the instructor.
Attendance and Withdrawals: Due to the emphasis on oral practice, attendance is mandatory and will be checked daily. If you arrive late or don't remember signing the attendance sheet, you should check with the instructor to make sure you were counted present. Leaving class prior to class dismissal without the instructor's approval or arriving 15 minutes late (or more) to class will be counted as an absence. Departmental policy allows instructors to drop students with more than four absences, so contact me as soon as possible if you have a serious reason for missing class to avoid being dropped from the class. Additionally, each absence after the third one may result in a one-point deduction (per occurrence) from your final course grade. If you decide to withdraw from the class, it is your responsibility to fill out the forms to drop the course. If you do not do the paperwork yourself, you risk receiving an F at the end of the semester. The last day to withdraw is Monday, April 26.
Note: Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in fall 2007 or later at any Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a W) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college career. Some exceptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are encouraged to carefully select courses; contact an advisor or counselor for assistance.
Rule of Three: Due to state law, a charge of $60 per credit hour ($300 for a 5-credit course and $180 for a 3-credit course) will be added to the regular tuition for a course in which you have already been officially registered twice before. You are considered officially registered after the 12th day of classes in the spring and fall, and after the 4th day of classes in the summer.
Learning a foreign language requires a substantial amount of time and discipline, and these classes often have high drop rates. Therefore, it is extremely important that you carefully consider whether you have the time and dedication to successfully complete the course this semester. Otherwise, make sure that you drop it before the end of the add/drop period.