Course Syllabus
Elementary French I (FRE 101 A)
Spring 2012
Course Description:
FRE 101 Elementary French I FA 3 s.h.
For the first part of Elementary French, it is assumed that the student has little or no French background. This course focuses on students communicating from day one. Students prepare grammatical material and bring questions to class. Class time is then spent on the use and practice of new material. Students are evaluated by a mid-term, a final, oral exams, journal (writing) assignments, and class participation. Quizzes may also be administered periodically during the semester. This course is not open to Native or Heritage speakers of French. Hours of class per week: 3. General Education: F.
Contact Information:
Instructor: / Robert J. JonesCourse Number, Meeting Time & Place: / FRE 101 A: TTh 9:30AMC205
Semester: / Spring 2012
Office Number: / C 207 S
Email Address: /
Phone: / (518) 736-FMCC (3622) ext. 8942
Web Page: /
Office Hours: / MTWThF 11AM & by appt.
Student Learning Outcomes for First Year, First Semester Language Courses:
Students will demonstrate a communicative competency in the target language based on ACTFL (The American Council of Teachers of Foreign Languages) scale of novice to intermediate low in the following skill areas:
-reading
-writing
-speaking
-listening
-culture
-Students will show an awareness of distinct cultural features within the target language culture as it differs from their own and sensitivity to issues of cultural diversity in the target language culture.
SUNY General Education FOREIGN LANGUAGE Learning Outcomes
Students will:
- Basic proficiency in the understanding and use of a foreign language; and
- Knowledge of the distinctive features of culture(s) associated with the language they are studying.
Course Content and Qualifications:
0-1 year High School or equivalent
The student should have little to no background in the given foreign language
Restrictions: Non-native speakers only
Basic grammar covered:simple sentence, compound sentences with conjunctions and interrogative and relative pronouns; forming questions; present tense (both irregular and regular verbs, reflexives, stem changers); compound future (going to do something)
For information on quizzes and exams, please see the section on “How You Will Be Evaluated”.
Policies:
Attendance: Since this is a skills oriented class, it is very important that everyone attend each class session. In particular, the skills of speaking and listening can generally only be worked on in the classroom, and since class participation is an important part of your final grade, your presence in class is imperative. However, I will not be taking daily attendance. I will use your quizzes as proof of attendance for financial aid and college audit purposes. When you are absent, it is up to you to find out what work you have missed and what material has been covered in class. Much of this information will be posted on the class website, but when you have missed a video episode, you will need to consult a fellow-student to find out what has happened in the continuing series.
Arriving Late: Arriving late will also reflect negatively in your participation/preparation grade. Once I have begun teaching, you will be considered late; as long as you arrive before I do, and are prepared to work, you will not be considered late. If you arrive late to class and the door and is shut and locked, you may notenter the classroom.
Leaving the classroom:You should make sure to use the "public conveniences" before class, or wait until after class. Excessive departures from the room during class will negatively affect your participation grade.
Academic Integrity Policy:
Academic integrity refers to a code of values that support and direct the education process. This code is based on legal, ethical, and educational concerns. Education in large part consists of the acquisition and demonstration of knowledge according to acceptable standards. Students must be familiar with these standards and will be held accountable for their use. Not being familiar with these standards is not an excuse for their breach.
If a student cheats or commits plagiarism on any work in class, that assignment will be given a grade of zero, and if a student commits two acts of plagiarism, he or she will fail the entire course.
Readings
All readings for this course come from the required texts:
Débuts Textbook and Workbook
Additional support can be found at the Débuts website.
How You Will Be Evaluated:
Grading: Since this is a course based on the communicative approach, it is also a production oriented class. Your grade will come from the following components:
Chapter/Lesson Quizzes 45%
Class Participation 20%
Final Exam 25%
Oral Exam 10%
Chapter Quizzes: At the conclusion of most every chapter or lesson of your text there will be a quiz. This quiz will be based on the material you have worked on in your workbooks. The quizzes are also the way I will be able to show your attendance in class. I will drop one, and only one quiz during the semester. You may not make up a quiz for any reason unless you have a valid medical excuse. These quizzes will cover such skills as listening, reading, grammar and writing.
In Class Participation: You will receive a midterm participation grade and a final participation grade the last day of classes; each will be worth 10% of your final grade. Please see attached criteria in order to know how this grade will be calculated.
Final Exam: This exam and will cover such skills as listening and reading, writing and/or various points of grammar. The final exam will generally be administered during the last week or two of classes. You may not make-up the final exam for any reason without a valid excused absence (eg. Doctor’s note, court summons, etc.).
Oral Exam: This exam will take place during the last week of classes, or during the final exam period, and is meant to test your oral proficiency in the target language; the material will be based entirely on what has been covered in class. The nature of the exam is that of a conversation which you will have with a classmate during the oral exam period, and you will have this conversation in the presence of the instructor only.
Extra Credit: During the course the semester, you may complete one of the following assignments to earn up to an addition 10% extra credit. You may turn in this project at any time after the middle of the semester, but it must be turned in, complete, no later than the day of your final exam. All extra credit assignments must be approved and discussed with me before work can proceed.
Multimedia
A target language vanity web page, describing who you are, what you like to do, etc. Page should include a list of target language links that you find interesting. Remember not to include anything about yourself that you do not want the whole world to know. These pages may be published on or linked to the course’s homepage. Format and contents must be approved by the instructor. The content and use of language should be appropriate to the course’s intended level of language proficiency.
Video Skit: this project may be done individually or in groups. Content must be in the target language, and of course rated G or PG. Subject and group must be discussed with and approved by instructor. Should be no less than 10 minutes in length. The content and use of language should be appropriate to the course’s intended level of language proficiency.
Power Point Presentation: develop a five minute Power Point presentation to be done in class during the next to the last week of class. Project must make effective use of technology and must use a level of the target language appropriate to the course level. Be sure to include photos or graphics to liven up the presentation
Culture & History
(All topics must be approved by the instructor and must include a list of references used and photocopies of all cited passages where applicable.)
Mini-Research paper on a subject related to a target language culture. Should be 4-6 typed pages and use MLA standards for citations. Must be typed, double spaced and use 12 pt font. Remember that a research paper must contain a thesis statement which expresses an opinion, theory or argument and then backs the thesis up with examples and persuasion; it is not a book report.
Power Point Presentation: choose a topic of interest to you from a target language speaking culture and prepare a ten minute Power Point Presentation to be presented during the next to the last week of class. Project must include of list of citations for sources of information and any pictures used.
Letter Grade Distribution:
A = 93%-100%
A- = 90%-92%
B+ = 87%-89%
B = 83%-86%
B- = 80%-82%
C+ = 77%-79%
C = 70%-76%
D = 60%-69%
F = less than 60%
Participation Evaluation:
Name: ______
Participation and Preparation
20 Student always demonstrated courteous and professional conduct in class.
15 Student generally demonstrated courteous and professional conduct in class.
10 Student sometimes did not demonstrate courteous and professional conduct in class.
5Student rarely demonstrated courteous and professional conduct in class.
20 Student participated in group activities with enthusiasm.
15 Student sometimes participated in group activities with enthusiasm.
10 Student participation in group activities contributed little to the work getting done
5Student rarely participated in group activities.
20 Student always came to class prepared.
15 Student generally came to class prepared.
10 Student rarely came to class prepared.
5Student never seemed prepared.
20 Student always listened when others spoke.
15 Student generally listened when others spoke.
10 Student rarely listened when others spoke.
20 Student actively volunteered in class.
15 Student volunteered from time to time.
10 Student rarely volunteered.
5 Student never volunteered.
My Expectations:
By signing up for this course, each student agrees to abide by the following covenant of learning:
1) I am here to learn; it is the only reason I am in this course.
2)I assume all other students, who are here at the same time, are here to learn as well, and I expect that they will respect my desire to learn. In turn, I will do the same.
3) Given the above assumption, I pledge to do the following:
- Show up on time to class and be ready to participate; if I show up late, I will enter quietly and do absolutely nothing to draw attention to myself
- Silence my cell phone before entering class and use it only for class activities.
- I will leave my personal life at home; it is notmy classmates' or my professor's fault that there are parts of my lifeoutside of class that are burdensome. In other words, "I will check my baggage at the door."
- I will do nothing that annoys my fellow classmates or my professor.
- Once I am in class, unless there is an emergency, I will not leave the class.
- If I have a problem with the course or with my instructor, I will handle this problem on my own. I accept that it is inappropriate to have a parent or spouse intervene on my behalf in a college course.
- I understand and accept that by remaining registeredin this course, I am signing a social contract with my fellow classmates and with my professor.
- I also understand that failure to live up to the spirit of this social contract may result in my being asked to leave the course.
- If I am asked to leave the course, I willdo so without argument or further public disgrace to my character, even though it may result in my failing the course entirely.
Students with Disabilities Policy:
Fulton-Montgomery Community College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations, including core services, to qualified students with disabilities.
For additional information, go to: