COURSE TITLE:French I
PREREQUISITE:None
DESCRIPTION:Students experience an introduction to the French language and to the culture of the French-speaking world. The basic objectives are to help each student attain an acceptable degree of proficiency in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, and to present the language within the context of the contemporary French-speaking world and its culture.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
/ Students will learn to recognize the French alphabet, distinguish sounds in French, discern intonation patterns, and comprehend vocabulary, phrases, and simple sentences, common to daily life.Speaking
/ Students will learn to recite and use the alphabet with proper intonation, pronounce isolated sounds progressing from monosyllabic words to multisyllabic words, pronounce phrases and simple sentences with accurate intonation, and use learned utterances appropriately in asking and answering questions.Reading
/ Students will learn to recognize written symbols, words and phrases, in isolation or in context, and interpret their implications and ramifications.Writing
/ Students will learn to copy and/or reproduce from memory in a progressive manner, letters, syllables, words, phrases, and simple sentences; make appropriate responses to questions; write guided sentences; compose dialogues and simple paragraphs combining active vocabulary and learned grammatical structures.Culture
/ Students will be able to acquire knowledge of daily life, customs, and current events; become aware of verbal and non-verbal cultural differences. They will identify francophone countries and overseas departments, know basic geographic features of France, and become cognizant of the contributions of the French to the American way of life.CREDIT INFO:This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign language requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three years of one language or two years each of two languages). Students who receive credit for French I in middle school may count this course in meeting both credit and subject area graduation requirements.
COURSE TITLE:French II
PREREQUISITE:French I(or teacher recommendation via placement examination)
DESCRIPTION:The second level course continues the emphasis on the communication skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Written work emphasizes vocabulary development, semantics, syntax, and composition with special attention to use of primary verb tenses. Vocabulary is taught in context, practiced through multimedia, and reinforced with written exercises. Since the speech of people is so interwoven into their way of life, the student examines the customs and manners of the people.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
/ Students will learn to distinguish more complex sound patterns in French, refine rhythm and intonation patterns, comprehend sentence length utterances by a variety of people, and assimilate acquired material and apply it to basic personal background and needs.Speaking
/ Students will refine and reinforce learned pronunciation patterns, combine and recombine previously learned elements in statements, questions, and answers; and initiate and sustain limited conversation.Reading
/ Students will enlarge vocabulary through the study of cognates, word families, synonyms, and antonyms; and read with increasing comprehension the materials essential for everyday living.Writing
/ Students will demonstrate good writing habits, write statements and formulate questions which will demonstrate comprehension of the present, past, and near future; vary constructions, write guided paragraphs and dialogues in which they will incorporate preceding skills; and use previously learned vocabulary and structures to compose paragraphs on designated topics.Culture
/ Students will become aware of Franco-American similarities and differences and increase their knowledge of francophone countries.CREDIT INFO:This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign language requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three years of one language or two years each of two languages.
COURSE TITLE:French III
PREREQUISITE:French II(or teacher recommendation via placement examination)
DESCRIPTION:Students increase proficiency in all phases of language study. The class provides an ongoing review of basic structures taught in the first two years. A reinforcement of the communicative skills may be encouraged through conversation, exposition, and selected readings, which reflect the customs, character, and traditions of the French. Written work involves composition, vocabulary development, and grammatical skills, with special emphasis on verb tenses.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
/ Students will distinguish more complex structures and assimilate acquired material and apply it to new text.Speaking
/ Students will incorporate complex sentence patterns, give extemporaneous oral presentations; resolve many individual difficulties in pronunciation, stress, and intonation, and use the French language as the primary means of communication in the classroom.Reading
/ Students will acquire a broader vocabulary through selected readings, expand horizons, and comprehend simple texts for personal communication, recreation, or informational purposes; and understand some main ideas and information from texts of a higher level.Writing
/ Students will manifest good writing sills, compose paragraphs in which they will apply more complex structures; convey information or ideas for social and academic purposes; and write creatively on assigned topics.Culture
/ Students will develop further awareness of francophone countries; compare some aspects of French and American culture and recognize contributions of outstanding individuals.CREDIT INFO:This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign language requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three years of one language or two years each of two languages).
COURSE TITLE:French IV Honors
PREREQUISITE:French III(or teacher recommendation via placement examination)
DESCRIPTION:Students continue building proficiency in French by thoroughly reviewing previously learned grammar and vocabulary concepts at a more expansive, rigorous mode of study. Excerpts of authentic readings from novels, short stories, plays, and other genres give the student an opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the Francophone cultures of the world and real-life application of the language. This course is the first in a sequence of two preparatory curricula for the 2012 Advanced Placement ® French Language and Culture examination.This course is taught in French.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
/ Students will sustain understanding over longer stretches of connected discourse and grasp principal ideas of more specialized presentations by native speakers.Speaking
/ Students will demonstrate ability to communicate in a variety of contexts with wider range of grammatical structures and with greater accuracy. They will also give impromptu presentations and use French for the majority of classroom communication.Reading
/ Students will read a wider variety of authentic texts with a greater consistency of comprehension alongside development of an awareness of writing styles.Writing
/ Students will express present and future time, use past tenses, circumlocute occasionally to express thoughts, write social correspondence, compose texts of several paragraphs on familiar topics, and take notes on topics using familiar vocabulary.They may also write summaries and/or compose reaction essays to authentic texts read in class.Culture
/ Students will keep abreast of French current events, acquire greater insight into the culture of the French speaking people through various media, and make cross-cultural comparisons.CREDIT INFO:This course provides one credit beyond fulfilling the foreign language requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three years of one language or two years each of two languages). This course is weighted due to the rigorous, pre-AP expectations maintained in the instructional practices for completing this curriculum.
COURSE TITLE:French V Honors
PREREQUISITE:French IVH(or teacher recommendation via placement examination)
DESCRIPTION:Students begin to focus heavily on interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational communication via their strengthened listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in contextualized themes associated with Global Issues, Contemporary Life, Family and Community, Beauty and Aesthetics, Personal and Public Identities, and Science and Technology, all required broad categories of study for pre-AP curricular study. This course is the second in a sequence of two preparatory curricula for the 2012 Advanced Placement ® French Language and Culture examination. This course is taught in French.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
/ Students will sustain understanding over longer stretches of connected discourse and grasp principal ideas of more specialized presentations by native speakers.Speaking
/ Students will demonstrate ability to communicate in a variety of contexts with wider range of grammatical structures and with greater accuracy. They will also give impromptu presentations and use French for the majority of classroom communication.Reading
/ Students will read a wider variety of authentic texts with a greater consistency of comprehension alongside development of an awareness of writing styles.Writing
/ Students will express present and future time, use past tenses, circumlocute occasionally to express thoughts, write social correspondence, compose texts of several paragraphs on familiar topics, and take notes on topics using familiar vocabulary. They may also write summaries and/or compose reaction essays to authentic texts read in class.Culture
/ Students will keep abreast of French current events, acquire greater insight into the culture of the French speaking people through various media, and make cross-cultural comparisons.CREDIT INFO:This course provides one credit beyond fulfilling the foreign language requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three years of one language or two years each of two languages). This course is weighted due to the rigorous, pre-AP expectations maintained in the instructional practices for completing this curriculum.