COURSE PROSPESTUS/SYLLABUS

UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
SOJOURNER-DOUGLASS COLLEGE
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

Course Number: FRN 120 HEGIS CODE: FRNCredit HRS: 3

Course Title: French I

Prerequisite: Entry into a regular college program.

Catalog Description:

This course provides a study of the essentials of French Grammar, simple conversation and reading of French.

Course Description:

This course is designed to introduce students to basic communication skills using the French language. Students will make connections and comparisons between Francophone cultures and communities and their own. Students will develop skills in four areas – reading, writing, speaking, and listening by mastering basic expressions, structure and vocabulary of the French language. Also students will study various cultures and ethnicities of French speaking people, with a focus on indigenous populations and persons of African descent.

Course Goals:

Students will:

Communicate by engaging in conversations to provide and obtain personal and professional information, and expressions needed for interaction within the French-speaking world;

Extend knowledge, understanding, and hidden culture of French speaking peoples;

Connect the study of the French language and culture with other disciplines;

Compare the cultures and ethnicities of the Francophone world with those of their own language; and

Interact with the Francophone community in the classroom and beyond the school setting.

Course Objectives:

At the end of the course, the students will be expected to:

  1. Communicate in French using verbal dialog, written expression, and through technology;
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the French language when spoken and written by native language speakers;
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  1. Compare their cultural experiences with those of the Francophone population throughout the French speaking world;
  1. Acquire information about other fields of study through the use of the French language; and
  1. Show evidence of using the French language both within and beyond the classroom setting.

Course Format:

The instructional approaches will include lectures, readings oral and aural practice in class and at home, e-mails and on-line research, cooperative learning, independent study, and use of authentic French language videos/DVDs and CDs.

Course Requirements:

HOME ASSIGNMENTS:

Students are expected to complete the oral, reading and written assignments and activities as indicated in the weekly course outline. Students will present their researches orally to the class as indicated in the course outline.

IN-CLASS PRESENTATIONS:

Students will complete at-home individual assignments as indicated in the weekly course outline.

RESEARCH PROJECTS:

1) The Francophone World (Week 3)

Students will select a French speaking country to explore its cultural and historical relevance with focus on the indigenous or African population. Students will be given several approved media to elaborate on their research. All research must be accompanied by a written text (in English) and visuals designed to persuade, inform, or express personal ideas. Students must include references beyond those provided.

This research project is 20% of the student’s grade.

2) Introduction of oneself (Week 6)

Students will use a tape recorder to introduce themselves. On the tape, students will:

  • Say the greetings;
  • State the day and the time;
  • State their names;
  • State where they are from; and
  • Describe themselves.
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  • Tell how many classes they have, at what time, if the classes are easy or difficult, if they like or dislike the classes they take;
  • Tell the activities they like and dislike to do; and
  • Say good bye.

This research project is 20% of the student’s grade.

LITERATURE PROJECTS:

1) La petite Fadette (Week 9)

Students will research the life of George Sand and read “La petite Fadette” (page 506, 507, 508) in the text book.

Students will complete the activities A, B, C, D and E page 509.

This research project is 20% of the student’s grade.

2) “Dors mon enfant” (Week 12)

Students will research the life of Elolongué Epanya Yondo and his influence on the Negritude movement.

Students will read the poem “Dors mon enfant” page 511 and complete the activities page 510 and 511.

This research project is 20% of the student’s grade.

Student Evaluation and Assessment:

In-class and Home Reading, Oral and Written Assignments20%

Research Assignment 120%

Research Assignment 220%

Research Assignment 320%

Research Assignment 420%

Teaching/Learning Resources Required:

The instructor and students will make use of the videos, compact discs, and computer lab for access to Internet resources, electronic mail, and websites.

Course Outline:

Week 1: Discussion:Overview of the syllabus, Standards for Foreign Language Education, and Bien Dit! (Rouge) textbook; Website Overview:

Computer Lab Assignment for Week One; La Culture: Why study French

Assignment:Website: Computer Lab Assignment for Week One; La Culture: What is the Francophone World? Practice Le Vocabulaire: “Chapitre Un”

Week 2: Discussion:Greetings, Introductions, Textbook:

Textbook: Pages 6 -9 (A Paris): Activities 1, 3, 7, 8; Pages 10 – 15 (Les Nombres de 0 à 30: Activities 12, 13, 14, 15; Grammaire 1: Subjects and Verbs: Activities 17, 18, 19, 23 (Oral test Week 4), 24

Assignment:Website: Chapitre Un; La Culture: Les Image de Paris; Computer Lab Lesson for Week 2; La Culture Les Nom Français; Le Vocabulaire: Chapitre Un; Bring 100 file cards to class; Complete file cards for Computer Lab Assignments: Vocabulary Pronunciation Chapters 1.1 and 1.2

Week 3: Oral Review: Numbers, Subjects and Verbs, La Francophonie

Discussion:Present Chapitre 1.2: Dans la Salle de Classe;

Textbook: Pages 18 - 23, Activities 31-34; Page 28 - 29 Télé-roman

Assignment:Practice for oral dialog exam next week - Page 15 Activity 23 (On se Présente); Website:

Computer Lab Assignment Week Three 2.1;

Le Vocabulaire: Chapitre Deux;

Begin research project La Francophonie–Due Week 5: Website –La Culture: French-Speaking Countries

Week 4: Oral Review:Oral Dialog Exam Page 15 Activity 23 (On se

Présente);

Discussion Review Page 30: Correspond en français;

Textbook: Pages 41-47-Activities 2-13; Page 48 Activity18

Assignment: Website - Computer Lab Assignment Week 2.2.;

Prepare Presentation: French-Speaking Countries

Week 5:Discussion: Individual Presentations: French Speaking

Countries

Oral Review:Pages 52 – 59; Activities 25 – 35.

Assignment:Website: Computer Lab Assignment: Week 5

Week Six File Card Exam Chapters 1 and 2 (Pages 35 and 69)

Week 6: Review: Written Exam with File Cards Pages 35 and 69

Discussion:Page 62 - 63 Télé-roman;

Textbook:Pages 76 - 85; Activities 1, 3, 4; 6, 11, 18

Assignment:Website: Computer Lab Assignment: Week Six 3.1; Le Vocabulaire Chapitre Trois;

Week 7Oral Review: Adjectives Cognates, Negatives, Definite/

Indefinite Articles;

Discussion: La Famille; Activities, possessive adjectives

Textbook: Activities 22, 23, 24, 26

Assignment: Website Computer Lab Assignment Week 7;

Comlete a Family Tree using Page 90 as a guide

Week 8:Oral Review: Family Tree

Discussion: Adjectives, Personal and Family descriptions

Textbook: Pages 100-101 Télé-roman,

Assignment: Website Computer Lab Assignment Week 8: 4.1;

Le Vocabulaire Chapitre Quatre

Website - Performances and Presentations: Prepare “Ma Biographie” to present Week #10;

Week 9: Oral Review: Characteristics; La Famille; Adjectives

Discussion: Pages 368-369: Québec

Textbook: Pages 110- 115; Activities 1, 3, 4, 5;

Assignment: Website: Computer Lab Assignment Week 9 - 4.2; Complete “Ma Biographie” to present Week #10

Week 10: Oral Review: Present “Ma Biographie”

Discussion: Professional Vocabulary / Prepare for Final Exam

Textbook: Résumé: Vocabulaire Pages 213, 251, 323, 357; Télé-roman 206-207

Assignment: Website Computer Lab Assignment Week 10; Complete Assignment: French for Professionals

Holidays (Les Fêtes);

Week 11: Oral Review: French for Professional/Vacations and

Travel/Shopping

Discussion: Preparation for Final Exam, Negritude: Black Poetry from Africa and the Caribbean

Assignment: Website: Preparation for Final Exam due weeks 14 (written) and 15 (oral); La Culture: La Negritude

Week 12: Oral Review:First Oral and Written Rehearsal for Final Exam

Discussion: Verbs “porter” and “Acheter”

Textbook: Pages 366-367 (Le Cirque du Soleil)

Assignment: Website: Practice Beginning/ #1-7 French Seminar/French Proficiency Exit Exercises

Week 13: Discussion: Review: Verbs/pronouns; clothing/meals

Edit written projects

Textbook: As needed

Assignment: Prepare for second Oral and Written Rehearsal for Final Exam; Website: Practice Beginning/ French Seminar/French Proficiency Exit Exercises

Week 14: Final Exam: Submit final Written Exam

Textbook: N/A

Assignment: Review for Oral Presentations

Week 15: Final Exam: Present Final Oral Exams Presentations

TEXTBOOK:

Textbook, CD, and Bibliography

Textbook: To be purchased by students

DeMado, John. Et al. Bien Dit! French I New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, Inc., 2008.

Bibliography:

EF Educational Tours. International Travel for Teachers and Students. Cambridge, MA. EF Educational Tours, 2005.

http://cuip.uchicago.edu

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/cote.html

http://killian.french.sbc.edu/franco.html

http://www.arts.uwa.edu.au/AFLIT/FEMEChome.html

http://www.howard.edu/library/Assist/Guides/French_african_Lit.htm

Other Requirements:

  1. Students must be present to receive credit for in-class assignments.
  2. All assignments are to be word processed according to guidelines

established by Sojourner-Douglass College.

Prepared by: Dr. Judith Smith

Title: Instructor

Date:November 2008