Tenafly High School
Course Syllabus 2015-2016
Course Instructor: Ms. Williams
Email:
Course Description
The French 2 CPA course is designed for students having completed 6th, 7th, and 8th grade French at the Middle School, or for high school students having completed French 1 or the equivalent and who practice at least a Novice-Low proficiency in French according to the ACTFL learner ranges. In this course, students will continue to develop skills in simple reading, writing, and conversation as well as an awareness of the cultures where French is spoken. Students’ proficiency should be at least approaching the Novice-High range upon completion of the course.
The goals of this course are consistent with standards proposed by the state of New Jersey, which can be found on the following website: http://www.nj.gov/education/cccs/progressions/7/7.htm
During the year, students will have the opportunity to review structures and vocabulary previously studied, and will then build upon familiar themes to expand their skills in the four domains of proficiency: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Opportunities will be given for the students to demonstrate their ability to communicate in the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational modes as prescribed by the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, available at http://actflproficiencyguidelines2012.org .
Cultural aspects of French civilization will be addressed within each unit theme and through individual and group projects to be completed each semester. Students will be expected to access the course wiki page for links, media resources, and supplemental documents in addition to their course textbook.
Many authentic resources that enrich the curriculum will be shared with students online and will necessitate the use of smartphones, tablets, or computers with an Internet connection to complete assignments at home as well as in class. Any student who does not have access to the Internet at home will be given the chance to complete assignments before school with Ms. Williams in room 116, or may arrange to use the computers in the Tiger Study Den or in the THS Media Center during lunch or an IDT.
The evaluation of students is based upon a balanced combination of formative and summative assessments (listening, speaking, reading, writing), homework, and class participation. Since the development of communication skills in French is a main priority of the course, a significant percentage of the overall evaluation is dedicated to students’ ability to communicate ideas both in speaking and writing. The language of the classroom is French, and students are to strive to use it at every opportunity possible.
Required Sources:
Schmitt, Conrad J. and Katia Brillie Lutz. Glencoe French 1: Bon voyage!. New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2005.
Schmitt, Conrad J. and Katia Brillié Lutz, Glencoe French 2: Bon voyage!, New York: Glencoe McGraw-Hill, 2005.
Mlle Williams’s wiki page: https://mllewilliams.pbworks.com/w/page/36905570/Bienvenus%21
Required Class Materials:
· 3-ring binder
o It is requested that the binder be reserved for French class only
o Students will receive daily/weekly handouts that must be stored and organized
· Paper for notes via either:
o Spiral notebook with perforated pages, preferably with 3-holes
o Loose-leaf paper in a section of the 3-ring binder
· Folder for French class, either:
o Spiral notebooks with pockets
o Separate folder for French class only
· Earbuds/Headphones to facilitate individual audio work with a Smartphone/Personal device
· USB
· Textbook*
o Students are encouraged to use the online Bon Voyage textbook outside of class. Links to this textbook can be found on Ms. Williams’s web page and Wiki.
o Students will be provided a hard copy Bon Voyage textbook for class.
· French/English Dictionary (if you would like to have your own for classroom use)
Apps and Accounts for French class:
Create a log-in for the following resources
Students are asked to create a free account for the following online resources to be used strictly for educational purposes: Google Drive, Edmodo, Sound Cloud
Apps to download
Students are encouraged to download the following Apps to their Smartphone or tablet devices, as we will occasionally use them in class for educational purposes: Socrative, Word Reference (English-French dictionary), QR Code Reader, AudioCopy (for voice recordings on a smartphone that can be directly uploaded to Sound Cloud) or another app to voice record and share recordings.
Evaluation Policy
Grades are based on the following equation:
+ / 25% / Quizzes / Announced and Surprise Quizzes/ (vocabulary, grammar, culture)Paper quizzes or on-line assessments for quiz grade (listening, reading,
writing or speaking skills)
Quizzes are scored by points and depending on material, can vary in point
value
30% / Tests, Projects,
Writing tasks / Unit Projects (culminating activities, applying all skills from the unit)
Unit Tests (full period written evaluations)
Writing and Performance tasks
25% / Speaking evaluations / Teacher-student interviews, Presentations, Guided Dialogues, Exposés
10% / Homework / Homework assignments (checked or collected)
Formative assessments based on homework
10% / Participation / In-class participation
Warm-up activity (Echauffement)
100% / Succès!
Homework: It is given daily and/or weekly and is to be completed in full and turned in on time. It is designed to provide further practice of each day’s skills and will NOT be accepted late for credit, apart from excused absences. Since homework is posted on the class website, students should check and complete homework when they are absent. Any questions in regards to an assignment should be addressed to Ms. Williams via e-mail or during before school extra-help before the homework deadline (usually the next day). It is in students’ best interest to keep up with missed work so as not to fall behind. When homework assignments are collected, they may be graded. In this case, the grade would be based on points, determined by the number and difficulty of homework questions. On a more general basis, students’ homework assignments are checked daily and are awarded points according to the following rubric:
· 2 points are awarded for assignments that are complete, on time, out at the beginning of class, accurate, and neat
· 1 point is awarded for assignments that are incomplete, not out at the beginning of class, contain a number of careless errors, or are sloppy
· 0 points are awarded if the assignment is not on time, not in class at the time I am checking homework, not the right assignment or is done without following the instructions, or is mostly inaccurate.
Make-up work: School policy states that a student has as many days as he/she is absent to make up any assignments, quizzes, and/or tests after which time any work not completed will earn the grade of zero. All make-up work is the responsibility of the student. If the absence is not excused, no make-up is allowed. See the Tiger Q for more information.
Missing quizzes or tests: If a quiz or test was announced before a student was absent and the student returns the day it is scheduled, the student WILL be responsible to take it unless new material was presented during his absence. The student should reach out to Ms. Williams by email or during before school extra-help if there is any doubt as to whether or not he or she will take the quiz or test.
/ French 2 /Tenafly High School
Course Syllabus 2015-2016
Course Instructor: Ms. Williams
Email:
Missing quizzes or tests (cont): On the other hand, if a student is absent the day of a quiz, test or other evaluation, he or she is highly encouraged to prepare for the assessment while at home and to come in to school early (during before school extra-help) the following day to make it up. This will help see to it that the student does not fall behind. Assessments can happen several times a week in World Language courses. Allow 22 minutes for quizzes and 44 minutes for tests. All tests having a listening component MUST be made-up outside of the school day. Again, school policy states that a student has as many days as he/she is absent to make up any assignments, quizzes, and/or tests after which time any work not completed will earn the grade of zero.
Handing in projects/assignments LATE
Homework will not be accepted late for credit. It must be turned it or presented in class at the time homework is being checked in order to be considered for credit (and not at the end of the day). Projects and other assignments are also expected to be turned in on the specified due date for full credit. However, in an effort to encourage students not to give up or resort to cheating, LATE work will be accepted on projects and other assignments with a penalty. For every day the project is late (for up to a total of 7 school days), 5 % will be deducted from your earned score. For projects turned in late on the original due date, up to 4 % may be deducted.
Extra help:
Extra help is available for students every morning before school (except for Tues mornings between 7:25 and 7:55) and by appointment during my free periods (see my website for a copy of my schedule). Interested students should go to room 116 any time between 7:00 and 7:45 am and should have specific questions prepared for Ms. Williams. If students have trouble with a homework assignment, they are encouraged to email their teacher (at a reasonable hour) and to come for extra help the following morning. Students who do not complete a homework assignment because they didn’t understand it will receive a zero unless they come to extra help before the assignment is due. Please note that extra help is on a first come first serve basis. Therefore, it is in your best interest to arrive early to ensure that your questions are answered. After school help can be arranged by appointment only as Ms. Williams is a coach during the fall and spring seasons.
Cheating: It is very wrong to claim someone else’s work as your own. Working together can be beneficial, however outright copying of a finished assignment is cheating, and you will not have gained much from the experience. There is also quite a bit of difference between collaboration and using another’s work without any effort on your part. Copying homework or any assignment from a source other than yourself is considered cheating. On any assessment in class, the use of outside sources such as notes (when not permitted) or communicating with others regarding an answer is considered cheating. Also, studying from any unapproved copy of an assessment (whether you obtained it yourself or you got it from another) before it has been assigned is considered cheating. All cheating offenses will be dealt with following the Tenafly Academic Integrity policy, located on the G drive.
There is one other concern specific to world language classes that violates the Academic Integrity policy. Be it known that the use of translation software, online services, or human translators is also considered cheating. Style, register, grammar, and vocabulary can be easily recognized as another’s work. Students should rely on a dictionary and/or conjugator for supplementary help on assignments when needed, but should not use translators or any of the aforementioned translation services to search for phrases, sentences, or longer excerpts in the target language. If you submit any work produced in this fashion as your own, consequences will follow as outlined in the newly adapted Tenafly Academic Integrity policy. Additional guidelines are posted on Ms. Williams’ website.
Graded assignments: All quizzes, tests, and graded assignments must be stored in the student’s designated folder and remain inside the classroom. Students may only review theses quizzes during extra help time with the teacher present. Assessments are stored this way to ensure security and to prevent lost materials.
Responsibilities and Expectations
*Textbooks at home and in class:
· Students are encouraged to use the online Bon Voyage textbook outside of class. Links to this textbook can be found on Ms. Williams’ web page and wiki.
· CDs and textbooks can be signed out to students who have trouble opening the online version of Bon Voyage.
· Students who do take a hard copy Bon Voyage textbook home are REQUIRED to bring it back each day for in-class use, unless granted special permission from Ms. Williams.
· Any student who takes a textbook from the classroom must be sure that his or her name and student number are written in the textbook, and that the textbook has been signed out with Ms. Williams’ approval.
In-class rules:
· Arrive on time, sit down, and begin warm-up (“L’échauffement”) activity immediately. Record the warm-up on the designated sheet. This will be collected and checked at the end of every unit during the final evaluation.
· Completed homework assignments should be open and placed on desk at the beginning of class to be checked by teacher.
· No gum, hats, or cell phone use inside the classroom. Cell phones may be used if for a designated educational activity.
· All cell phones must be OFF and placed on Ms. Williams’ desk during quizzes, tests, or other assessments.
· Make an effort to use French at all times.
· No food or drinks (other than water) are permitted inside the classroom (unless for an approved activity).
· Bathroom trips will be permitted when necessary, but students must sign out and back in.
Student Responsibilities:
· Know the homework assignment (on board, announced, and/or on website) and complete it in full and on time.
· Check the Edmodo group page and participate in French regularly by leaving appropriate comments and questions.
· Schedule time to use the library at Tenafly HS for a web-based assignment if you do not have access to the required technology at home.
· Be aware of quiz and test dates. You must be prepared to take any missed assessments before or after school the day you return. It is best to schedule these sessions with Ms. Williams via e-mail before you return.
· Be present in class. Frequent field trips, bathroom trips, guidance appointments and other absences affect how much you can participate and get out of class. I can only give you credit for your efforts if you are present and active in class!