Class Policies and Course Syllabus

Madame Moon
E-mail:
Voicemail: (313) 432-5540

Room: 206

Class Policies and Course Syllabus

Course Introduction:

Bienvenue à la classe de français!

Here you will continue to develop French language skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Likewise, you will continue to explore the culture of francophone or French speaking countries. Class will be conducted primarily in French. Please try to speak in French as much as possible during class. Your participation grade will take into account the amount of French used in class.

To successfully learn a foreign language, students must be willing to try new experiences.They must feel comfortable attempting new pronunciation sounds, working in front of the class, in small groups and with several different partners. People are willing to do this in a safe, supportive atmosphere, where they don’t fear ridicule from their peers or their teacher.We are all part of a team---and we want to win, that is, to learn and successfully complete the class. Since we are all members of the same team, we support each other with acceptance, encouragement and respect. Put downs, negative humor, ridicule and name calling are unacceptable in class.

**Learning another language requires self-motivation. Maximize your use of French while in class. However, 49 minutes over five days a week is not enough. Therefore, in addition to the language exposure you receive in class, it is expected that you take the initiative toexpose yourself to music and films in the French language outside of class as well.

Course Content:

During the first semester, we will attempt to complete the first four chapters of our brand new T’es branché! Level 2textbook. Semester two will cover the following three to four chapters of the book. We will spend approximately three to four weeks on each chapter.

Classroom Rules: The following 5 rules will not be compromised:

1)Treat all people with respect. No one has the right to interfere with anyone's opportunity to learn.

2)Do your own work!! Cheating or the use of electronic/internet translators will not be tolerated and will result in a zero grade.

3)Absolutely no gum, food or drink (except water) is permitted in the classroom.

4)No cell phones (my pet peeve!) or MP3 players are allowed during class without permission. Please refer to South’s P.E.D. policy. This policy will be strictly followed.

5)All Grosse Pointe South High School policies apply at all times.

Materials:

• Students should have a three-ring loose-leaf binder (min. 2” May be shared with another course). This is to be brought to class each day and will receive a grade each quarter. Seven dividers will be needed for the following sections and each entry will be numbered for easy locating:
  -Renseignements: General class information papers, project descriptions…
  -Vocabulaire: Vocabulary notes – hand copied as well as handouts
  -Grammaire: Grammar notes – hand copied as well as handouts
  -Notes Culturelles: Cultural notes, maps, recipes, news articles, movie notes, songs…
  -Composition: All your original written work in French – essays, dialogues, letters…
  -Lecture: Notes from supplemental readings along with any related vocabulary.
  -Activités/Devoirs: Eponges (warm-ups, only entries numbered in this section),
  class activities, and homework.
• Students are asked to have the necessary text and workbook(see bookstore to purchase) for each class day.
• A supply of loose-leaf lined paper will be needed for daily notes and assignments. (Run out? Emergency only supply on front table.)
• Students should bring a pen and pencil to class each day. (Borrow “flowers” on the front table otherwise.)
• The Word Reference App is highly recommended. (Also

Homework:

• Homework is assigned approximately 3-5 times per week. Homework assignments are usually awarded points based upon thorough completion, referred to as “Completed homework/classwork” in Pinnacle. It is your responsibility to correct work checked in class with another color pen/pencil, ask questions, and review your errors before tests and quizzes.
• Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignments that are submitted after the beginning of class are considered late. Late homework is accepted for half-credit the next day, and no credit thereafter (exception – see “homework passes”).
• Only completed assignments will receive full credit, otherwise half credit for half completion. Homework will be checked when it is due and some assignments will be collected for grading, referred to as “Graded homework/classwork” in Pinnacle.
• Two homework passes per semester will be given to each student each semester. A homework pass may be used to receive full credit on a one-day late homework assignment. It is the student's responsibility to show the completed assignment by the very next day to receive full credit.
• Homework will not be done in class during other activities!

Absences:

• All missed work must be made-up. This includes Eponges (warm-ups) and notes taken in class.
• It is the student’s responsibility to obtain, complete and submit the missed assignments (see website calendar). All handouts are available in the course binder at the front of the class and some are available online.
• Students will be given one day to makeup homework and two days for tests and quizzes for each excused absence. When returning from an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements to make-up a test or quiz missed with the teacher.
• If you are absent on a review day, you may choose to test with your class or to take the test within the next two days.
• Make-up tests are not given during regular classtime. You must make arrangements for before/after school, at lunch or tutorial.
• The policy stated here includes absences because of field trips and athletic obligations.

Tardies:

• To be considered on-time, students must be ready to work when the bell rings.
• Please review South’s tardy policy. This policy will be strictly followed and may result in after school detentions and Saturday school.

Grading:

• Each two marking periods will account for 40% of the semester grade. The exam grade will account for 20% of the semester grade.

For each chapter students are expected to take at least one quiz and one summative chapter test. There will be at least one project per semester. Though categories of assignments (test, quiz, graded homework/classwork, etc.) are not weighted, individual assignments may receive customized weight. Test scores may appear in Pinnacle broken down by section to allow for quicker feedback as grading is in progress. Your patience on receiving back graded assignments is appreciated.

• The following grading scale will be used in determining letter grades.

Euros:

You will be awarded with Euros for some of your participation during class. They will help me in determining your participation score (must have a minimum of 5-7/quarter - TBA). The remaining Euros will be applied as extra credit and may raise your grade a maximum of one step (i.e. B+  A-).

Quia:

We will use for practice, homework and quizzes from time to time. Sign up or use your already existing student account. Join your class by entering the correct class code. (See our class webpage.)

“Remind” Text Messages:

Text the code @gpsfrench2 to 81010 or (313)263-5453.

Sign up to receive text messages of any changes or corrections to assignments/due dates. This will only be used on an as-needed basis when I must communicate with you outside of class. This will not be a regular reminder service for class assignments.

Madame Moon's Beliefs About Learning:

• EVERY PERSON IS CAPABLE OF HIGH ACHIEVEMENT (not just the fastest and most confident)

• IT IS NORMAL NOT TO UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING THE FIRST TIME AROUND

• MISTAKES HELP PEOPLE LEARN (especially when they take the time to correct them)

• STRONG STUDENTS SOLICIT HELP WHEN THEY NEED IT (Extra help is always available so never hesitate to ask. Please see me to make an appointment or stop by before or after school.)

A Sneak Peek At What’s to Come / Course Content Overview:

During the first semester, we will complete the first two/three units of the T’es branché! Level 2textbook. Semester two will cover the following two/three units of the book. You will be quizzed and tested on each chapter and occasional projects may be assigned. Since this is a new book, we will discover the pacing and content that is right for us as the year progresses. Thank you in advance for your patience as we navigate these new resources together.

• Unité1: Comment je passe l’été.
• What do young people do in the summer in other cultures?
• Holidays, TV programs, amusement parks
• Unité 2: Dans la capitale
• What stories does Paris tell about art and architecture?
• Art, places in the neighborhood, modes of transportation, Versailles
• Unité 3: La vie quotidienne
• How do the routines of people in other cultures differ from my own?
• House, toiletries, daily routines, household items/chores
• Unité 4: Autrefois
• How does the past shape us?
• Farm, professions (of the past), university life
• Unité 5: Bon voyage et bonne route!
• What do you need to know to travel successfully?
• Airport, car, hotel

Time Permitting

• Unité 7: En province
• How do smaller communities enrich a country’s culture?
• Foods, French regions, the crêperie, youth hostels
• Unité 6: Les arts maghrébins
• How do other cultures enrich our lives?
• Books, music, jewelry, fabric and accessories
• Unité 8: Les Antilles
• What are the benefits of encountering other cultures?
• Guadeloupe, Martinique, weddings and seafood

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*** “Together we have read and discussed the policies and syllabus for this class.” (Show signatures for credit, keep in your binder for reference.)

Student signaturex______

Parent/Guardian signaturex______