UCONN: French Language and Culture
Madame Kehrley(860)345-8541 x3109
Web site:
Click on: -Schools
-Haddam-Killingworth High School
-Staff & Faculty
Scroll down to “World Language”
Click on globe symbol to the right of my name. / School Mission:
The mission of Haddam-KillingworthHigh School is to provide a personalized and collective experience through which students are challenged to develop the knowledge, skills, and work ethic to contribute to a global society.
Bienvenue à la classe de français!*
*Welcome to our French class! I look forward to this year of learning and growth. The following information is important to success in this French course. Please read it carefully. Then sign the Student/Parent Acknowledgment Form. Please have your parent/guardian read, sign and fill in the information as well.
Philosophy of this course: Learning a language is more than just learning vocabulary and rules of grammar! You are learning how to use the language as a tool to communicate ideas about French-speaking cultures and the world. Our class will work as a team where we learn with each other and from each other.
Information about UCONN:
This course offers the opportunity for you to also earn credits at University of Connecticut. You must earn a C or better in order to earn this credit. The expectations of this course are those of a college-level course, and, as such, youwill be expected to monitor your own progress as well as work actively to respond to feedback from your teacher. You will be assessed throughout the year in all aspects of communication and cultural understanding.
I am required to give you a copy of the UCONN syllabus of this course. It is attached to this form. Please keep this for your records. You will likely need it if you want to transfer the UCONN credits to another university. You will also be asked to acknowledge receipt of this syllabus at the end of the course through a UCONN course evaluation.
Grades:
Grades for each marking period will be calculated based on the following percentages:
Presentational Communication 35%Interpretational Communication20%
Interpersonal Communication 35%Language10%
Final grade will be calculated as follows:
Marking Period 1 = 20%Midterm Exam = 10%Marking Period 3 = 20%Final Exam = 10%
Marking Period 2 = 20%Marking Period 4 = 20%
Expectations on assignments:
- Homework: designed to practice the language or prepare you for the next day’s lesson. BE PREPARED TO THINK AND DO YOUR BEST on all homework.
- Homework not done: At the discretion of the teacher, lunch detentions may be assigned in order for you to make up for the work you did not do as assigned.
- After an absence:You are responsible to find out what work you must make up. For excused absences, you have until the Friday of the week following your absence to turn in your make-up work for full credit. Also, watch for your name on the Ratrappagelist on the white board. This means that you owe work that may be made up for credit.
- Use of resources: By far, the best internet site (or smartphone app) is “wordreference.” DO NOT use translators of any kind. This includes using a search engine such as google to help you. This constitutes cheating. Cheating will slow your learning, and you will have consequences, which could be: zero for the assignment, discipline referral, denial of admission into or dismissal from the National and French Honor Societies. For more details, please refer to the section on plagiarism on the last page of this packet.
Classroom expectations:
- Always DO YOUR BEST. Making your best effort will help you learn the most, will earn you the best grades and will prepare you better for the AP course, if you choose to take it (I hope you do).
- BE OPEN to learning this beautiful language and to learning about new cultures and new ideas.
- PARTICIPATE: think about concepts, try new ideas with your classmates, take risks with your thinking.Push yourself and your classmates to explain, elaborate and think about the reasons that you have your ideas.
- MONITOR YOUR OWN PROGRESS: you are also responsible to assess your progress and your needs throughout this course. Please tell me what you need along the way.
d. Be RESPECTFUL to yourself, your classmates, your teacher, your classroom, your textbook and other classroom materials, your school and other cultures.
e. BeHONESTby doing your own work. Write using only wordreferenceand other appropriate resources.
f. HAVE FUN and be active in class: SPEAK FRENCH with me and with your classmates.
g. This is an advanced French course; you should find an ORGANIZATION method that works best for you.
Other policies:
a. Corrected tests and quizzes will be maintained in student folders in the classroom. Students may sign out their folder to use for studying or to show to parents/guardians. If you sign out your folder and do not return it when assigned, only your parents will be authorized to sign it out for you.
b. Lavatory needs should be taken care of before the class bell rings. It is expected that you will rarely need to leave the classroom.
c. You may bring water/flavored water to class as long it is has a closable cover; you may eat as long as you do not distract others and you clean up after yourself (please no soda or energy drinks).
d. When you are using school technology (laptops, ipods, etc), please handle it with care so that it will be available `for other students to use as well.
e. You shall observe all school rules.
Use of cell phones:
Cell phones are allowed in the classroom for educational purposes only. Students will keep cell phones on their desks during activities that allow them. Any use of cell phones other than expressly stated by the teacher is absolutely prohibited in the classroom. If a student is found violating this rule, he or she will lose the privilege of using a phone in class. If a student is found using a phone under other circumstances, the teacher will confiscate the phone. First offense: cell phone confiscated until the end of class; second offense: cell phone brought to office; you will be able to get it after school, if the administrator who has it is available.
Prerequisites to Advance to French AP
For the student, learning a language requires a commitment as an individual and as a member of a learning and communicating group. It requires hard work, practice and enthusiasm. We, in the Department of World Languages, strive to provide the best learning environment possible with rigorous, interesting assignments which help the student grow and develop.
Since language acquisition is a cumulative process, our experience indicates that the student who does not earn a sufficient score in the last marking period of a course will not succeed in the following course because he/she has not acquired the necessary language skills. Therefore, the department policy for the recommendation of a student to move on to the next course in the sequence includes the following prerequisites: (1) the appropriate prior course and (2) teacher recommendation based on the student’s work and skills.
A student who does not meet these requirements will not be recommended to continue on to the next course in the series. However, if the student does wish to continue, he/she may be recommended to repeat the course in order to gain the necessary skills which he/she is lacking.
More information on advancing to the next level of French, on plagiarism and on other World Languages Department policies may be found in our World Languages Department Manuel, available through a link on my website (or in printed form, upon request).
Student/Parent Acknowledgment Form
Dear Parent or Guardian,
I am excited about our French course this year. Working together as a class on communication skills and cultural topics will be interesting and challenging. There is much work to do. I hope that your child is excited about the new year and all that can be learned.
If acquiring the required materials (see page 1) is an issue, please contact me. I have spare materials that I would be happy to share confidentially with your child.
After you and your child have read this packet, please sign the acknowledgments below.
Sincerely,
Madame C. Kehrley
Student:
I have read and understand all policies in this course introduction. I understand the requirements to advance to the next level of French. I understand the expectations on use of resources (page 1) and the World Language Department’s policy regarding plagiarism (page 4 of this packet).I also acknowledge receipt of the UCONN course syllabus. I commit myself to this class with a positive attitude and will work to the best of my ability in order to succeed.
Name: ______
Signature: ______Date: ______
Parent/Guardian:
I have read and understand all policies stated in this packet. I understand the requirements to advance to the next level of French. I understand the expectations on use of resources (page 1) and the World Language Department’s policy regarding plagiarism (last page of this packet).
Name: ______
Signature: ______Date: ______
Contact information:
Please list contact information for either or both parents/guardiansin order of preference for how I contact you. Please include your email address and at least one phone number (cell, work, home…).
______
______
______
______
Is there any additional information that you would like to share with me about this student that would assist in his or her success in this course?
______
______
______
______
World Languages Department
Plagiarism
Plagiarize (v.) – To steal and use (the ideas or writings of another) as one’s own; to appropriate passages or ideas from another and use them as one’s own.
Source: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1980)
The World Languages Department expects and requires students to present their own work. Plagiarism will not be tolerated in any way, shape, or form. The Department adheres to the rules and regulations regarding plagiarism as set forth in the Student Handbook. Plagiarism carries strict penalties. Students who submit plagiarized work will receive a zero for that assignment and will be referred to the administration for disciplinary action. This may include loss of credit for the assignment, detentions, denial of prizes, and denial of admission into National Honor Society, SociétéHonoraire de Français, and Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica.
Teachers will educate students as to the common forms of plagiarism and the proper ways to avoid it. Students with any questions regarding plagiarism should consult their teacher prior to submitting an assignment.
Plagiarism is theft. If you use anyone else’s ideas or writing, photographs, graphics, and don’t give him credit, you are stealing. That includes any on-line source (e-magazine, e-newspaper, images, photos, blog comments, etc.). This also includes copying a classmate’s homework assignment. If you give a copy of your own work to another student, and that student copies it, you are assisting plagiarism.
Use of on-line translators is prohibited. Your teachers want to know how you would say it, not how a computer would. Students are encouraged use paper dictionaries. It is a slippery slope to use an on-line dictionary. It quickly leads to over reliance and electronic translating. On-line translating and having a native speaker translate for you are both considered cheating.
There are two simple ways to avoid plagiarism. First, never give copies of your work to anyone. You may discuss assignments, but don’t share work. Second, always give credit. Teachers will assist students in the way to properly cite your sources, as well as ways to avoid accidental plagiarism.
UCONN COURSE SYLLABUS
FREN 3267: French Language and Culture
Christine Kehrley
Haddam-Killingworth High School
2015 – 2016
UCONN Course Description: Three credits. The study of French and Francophone culture through fiction, non-fiction, journalism and film. Emphasis on perfecting both oral and written expression through discussion, presentations, and composition on assigned topics.
COURSE MATERIALS:
Teacher supplied materials (selected readings, articles and grammar exercises)
Dictionary: wordreference (app/website)
Textbook reference: Discovering French Nouveau 3
COURSE PHILOSOPHY: Learning a language is more than just learning vocabulary and rules of grammar! You are learning how to use the language as a tool to communicate ideas about French-speaking cultures and the world. Our class will work as a team where we learn with each other and from each other.
GRADING:
Marking period grades:Presentational Communication: 35% Interpretational Communication: 20%
Interpersonal Communication: 35% Language10%
Final grade: Each of 4 marking periods: 20%; each exam (midterm and final): 10%
COURSE POLICIES
• Participation
It is expected that all students will participate actively in all activities. This means speaking often in French, contributing ideas to discussions, explaining ideas, giving evidence of ideas, listening to and responding to classmates’ ideas.
• Late Work Policy
Late work will be accepted for reduced credit.
• Plagiarism
The World Languages Department expects and requires students to present their own work. The Department adheres to the rules and regulations regarding plagiarism as set forth in the Student Handbook. Plagiarism carries strict penalties. Students who submit plagiarized work will receive a zero for that assignment and will be referred to the administration for disciplinary action.
Plagiarism is theft. If you use anyone else’s ideas or writing, photographs, graphics, and do not give him credit, you are stealing. That includes any on-line source (e-magazine, e-newspaper, images, photos, blog comments, etc.). This also includes copying a classmate’s homework assignment. If you give a copy of your own work to another student, and that student copies it, you are assisting plagiarism. Finally, use of on-line translators is prohibited.
COURSE CALENDAR: all coursework integrates the study of francophone cultural perspectives, practices and products. All units will include participation and assessment using the three modes of communication: interpretational (viewing films/videos; reading fiction/non-fiction both online and print); interpersonal (discussion, blogs); presentational (oral presentations; formal/informal compositions).
Unit / Essential Question / Context / Linguistic goals1 / What role can travel play during our youth? / Travel to France (Les voyages forment la jeunesse.) / Vocabulary associated with travel, country names; prepositions associated with country names; future tense; use of relative pronouns qui and que; reading authentic French websites; reading articles about youth travel in France
3 / Is the Earth an endangered species? / Environmental issues in France / Vocabulary associated with ecology and the environment; subjunctive mood (introduction); reading articles about environmental issues
4 / What does it mean to get involved? / French perspectives toward getting involved to make the world a better place (includes organizations with such a goal) / Vocabulary associated with society, its issues; writing formal vs. informal correspondence; analyzing French web sites ; conditional mode; reading articles, excerpt from Indignez-vous, poetry; viewing film Au revoir les enfants; viewing videos of organizations and their activities
5 / What makes something beautiful? / French painting of the nineteenth century / Vocabulary associated with art and nineteenth century society; subjunctive mode (expansion); verbs like peindre; reading articles about artists, their styles.
6 / How does one represent a culture? / Quebec culture / Reading short story, poetry; vocabulary associated with Quebec culture and cuisine; irregular verbs; choosing the appropriate verb tense for a context; introduction to reading the passé simple; viewing Canadian culture website short movie Le Chandail
7 / What is delinquency? / Challenges that young people face in French cities and their consequences / Vocabulary associated with cities, social issues, delinquency; review of object pronous
8 / How do age, culture and history interact with emotions? / French short stories/German occupation/theatre of the absurd / vocabulary associated with short stories, emotions; review of imperfect; verb se sentir; passé simple