Approved by Faculty Senate March 30, 2009
102 Elementary French II
THIS COURSE FULFILLS FOUR CREDITS OF THE ARTS AND SCIENCES CORE REQUIREMENT IN THE HUMANTITIES AREA OF THE UNIVERSITY STUDIES PROGRAM
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course: Elementary French 102
Instructorand Contact Information:
Nancy Edstrom, Somsen 319B 457-5167 (office), 452-5533 (to contact in case of absence; 429-2661 (cell phone)
Textbooks:
Voila: An Introduction to French, 5th Edition, Text and Notebook (Cahier d’ activités et orales.
Course Description and Material to Covered: Introductory French for students who have had Elementary French 101 (same text, Voilà, Ch.1 through 8) or the equivalent, covering days, months, seasons, leisure activities, numbers from 1-100, the definite article, telling time, weather, sports, the negative, interrogative, conjugating the essential irregular verbs avoir, être, faire, aller, plus –er and –ir verbs in the present. This section will cover Ch. 9 to Ch. 19, including a review of the first eight chapters, food, the partitive, le passé compose and the imperfect, various irregular verbs, colors, clothes, direct and indirect objects, reflective verbs, the future, conditional and subjective. There will be consistent examination and drilling of vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation based on the international alphabet.
Assessment:Through regular quizzes, homework, oral activities, pronunciation practice, group exercise, a midterm and final, students will have periodic evaluations of their progress in vocab, grammar and pronunciation.
Composition of Grade:
25% Attendance and participation (absences can be compensated by make-up work and a call to le professeur reporting missed class)
25% Daily homework and exercises out of the “Cahier d’ activités écrites et orales”
25% Presentations, dialogues, and phonetical exercises
25% Midterm (10%) and Final (15%)
Grade Scale:
A (100-90%)
B (89-80%)
C (79-70%)
D (69-60%)
F (59-0%)
Pass/No credit option: “D” or higher
Retro-active credit policy:
The department recommends that students who meet the prerequisites for French, German, or Spanish 101, 102, or 201 enroll in the next higher elementary or intermediate course. By earning a grade of “A” or “B” in WSU’s language courses 102, 201, or 202, students may obtain retroactive credit for course 101 and any sequel courses below the course in which they earned the “A” or “B.” Qualifying students may apply for retroactive credit by completing the appropriate form(s) and paying a fee of $5 per credit in order to receive a grade of “P” (pass) in the appropriate course(s). For information about credit by examination, see page 23 of the course catalog. The foreign language faculty reserves the right to depart from these guidelines when warranted by exceptional circumstances.
Attendance Policy: Each missed class is worth -5 but may “enfrançais” be made up with a phone call to the professor or a colorful essay explaining the absence. Group and individual contributions to class discussion will also figure in the participation grade.
Assessment/Assignment Make-Up Policy: Since 25% of the grade is determined by daily homework and assignments, it is imperative that all assignments be turned in. It is the students responsibility to hand in work on the date due and catch up on missed class and assignments.
Academic Dishonesty Policy: Any evidence of cheating, whether it be in classroom testing (borrowing answers from a neighbor) or plagiarism could result in an F in that particular chapter or even the entire course.
Electronic Device Policy: Anyone “caught” texting will suffer participation penalty points. Be sure that cell phones are turned off before coming to class, “un portable qui sonne pourrait vous couter des points”!
Student Learning Curriculum Outcomes:
Upon graduation, students earning this degree should be able to:
LANGUAGE STRUCTURE AND VOCABULARY
1. Identify the forms and uses of various verb tenses and moods as appropriate in given contexts.
2. Select grammatically correct words, phrases or sentences, including idiomatic expressions, to complete given sentences and passages.
3. Construct sentences from specified elements, (e.g., words, phrases, and clauses).
4. Apply conventions of spelling, capitalization, punctuation and format as appropriate for given contexts.
5. Understand language as a system.
LISTENING
1. Derive essential information from oral messages in real-life situations.
2. Respond appropriately to nonverbal cues as they relate to verbal messages.
SPEAKING
In response to a given prompt, appropriately and effectively communicate a message, provide information or description, and tell a story.
READING
Demonstrate comprehension of everyday authentic materials such as instructions, newspapers, commonly used reference works, advertising copy, menus, transportation schedules, travel guides, etc.
WRITING
In response to an assignedtopic, write a well-organized, cohesive passage of several paragraphs (approximately 200-250 words) that carries out a specific task such as narrating an event in the appropriate tense(s); describing a person, place or thing; analyzing a situation or text; persuading through rational argumentation.
University Studies Humanities Requirement Outcomes:
- Identify and understand specific elements and assumptions of a particular Humanities discipline
Through lectures, texts, classroom discussions, guest speakers, use of technological resources (e.g. media and online materials), and a variety of assessments (e.g. tests, quizzes, drills, presentations, feedback, and collaborative learning), students will:
- understand language as a system
- practice and master the sounds of L2 (Target language)
- study grammatical concepts and analysis
- gain level-appropriate proficiency in the target language
- appreciate the two-fold nature of language learning (cognitive and behavioral response)
- correct L1 (native language) interference
- consciously analyze features of language that are automatic in L1
- contrast with those features which must be acquired in L2
- comprehend language as the clearest and most fundamental reflection of a culture, civilization, and social reality
- Understand how historical context, cultural values, and gender influence
perceptions and interpretations
Through lectures, texts, classroom discussions, guest speakers, use of technological resources, and a variety of assessments, students will:
- learn that native speakers classify, define, structure, and conceptualize the world in categories that may differ from those of the students
- discuss how these categories establish and reflect different cultural, social, historical, and gender expectations
- explore through examples “invisible” cultural differences and deal with them constructively and creatively
- study the contemporary cultures of the French-speaking world
with regard to historical, social, and linguistic differences despite the “common” language
- Understand the role of critical analysis (e.g. aesthetic, historical,
literary, philosophical, rhetorical) in interpreting and evaluating expressions of human experience
Through lectures, texts, classroom discussions, guest speakers, use of technological resources, and a variety of assessments, students will:
- consistently compare and analyze the target language and variant cultures in order to produce culturally accurate interpretations of aesthetic, social, historical, and linguistic material
- acquire the ability to understand and speak L2 actively
- perceive and experience the world through the medium of a new language and culture
- view their native language and culture with greater objectivity
- learn to differentiate the subtleties distinguishing the cultures of the French-speaking world
SEMESTER CALENDAR
Jan. 12-14: Review of Ch. 1 through 8, Voilà
Jan. 20 to 23: Start Ch. 9 (the partitive, food vocab, pouvoir and devoir)
Jan. 26 to 30: Finish Ch. 9, start Ch. 10 (clothes & colors; numbers above 100;
Passé composé with avoir; finir & mettre)
Jan. 31 (Sat., 9 to 11:30 a.m.) and Feb. 8 (Sun. 5:30 to 8): Review session with focus on
Requested topics and Ch. 10 (partial substitute for week of Feb. 16-19)
Feb. 2 to Feb 5:Finish Ch. 10, Ch. 11 (house vocab; numbers above 1000; vendre; passé
Composé with être; the interrogative)
Feb. 9 to Feb. 12: Finish Ch. 11, start Ch. 12 (work vocab; the perfect; qui & que)
Feb. 16 to Feb. 19---students will see film and meet for special presentations
(Majority of class time made up in Jan. 31 and Feb. 8 sessions)
Feb 23 to 26: Ch. 12, presentations; start Ch. 13 (shopping & restaurant vocab;
Venir & voir; expressions of quantity)
Mar. 2 to 5: WSU BREAK
Mar. 9 to 12: Ch. 13 and 14 (post office & phone vocab; dire & lire & écrire; the
Direct object; past participle agreement)
Mar. 16 to 19: Ch. 14
Mar. 23 to 26: Ch. 15 (body and health vocab; reflective verbs; adjectives & adverb
Comparisons
Mar. 30 to 31 and April 1 to 2: Ch. 16 (love & marriage vocab; reciprocal verbs;
Savoir & connaître)
April 6 to 9: Ch. 17 (t.v. & film vocab; the pronoun “en”; croire & suivre & vivre)
April 13 to 16: Ch. 18 (travel vocab; the future; the pronoun “y”; personal pronouns)
April 20-24: Abbreviated look at Ch. 19 & 20 (selected vocab from Ch. 19 & 20; the conditional; ce qui et ce qui; the subjunctive); review for final April 27 to 30: Exam week
April 27 to 30: Exam week (FINAL EXAM)