French III/IV Course Syllabus

Instructor: Lindsay Van GilstClassroom: HUM 224Office: HUM 221

Phone number: 962-5150

Email: (Please include your student’s full name in the subject of your email)

MATERIALS NEEDED: Three-ring binder with dividers, loose-leaf paper, agenda, pens and pencils.You are required to keep a Verbes and Notes section in your binder, but you may organize everything else according to your own preferences. Optional materials: French-English dictionary, French verb book (e.g. 501 French Verbs),highlighters. Please also bring any ONE of the following: a box of tissues or dry erase markers.

You will be provided with a workbook and textbook, which you need to bring to class every day. Our class textbook is T’Es Branché?

COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this classyou will develop increasing proficiency in the three modes of communication (interpersonal, interpretive and presentational), moving from concrete to more abstract topics while exchanging detailed information (some examples: expressing feelings and emotions, persuading others, and telling future plans). You will learn the specific language and cultural knowledge needed to communicate appropriately in complex social situations, such as staying with a host family, exchanging gifts, and working in France.

FRENCH III/IV TOPICS: Possible thematic units for the combined French III/IV class are:

review/travel, fairy tales/storytelling, living and working in France, national parks, art, war, cultural identities, the media, going to the movies. Topics are subject to change at instructor discretion based on class interests/needs and available resources.

AP STUDENTS: You will be provided with the official seven-page AP syllabus. As an introduction, you will study most of the topics mentioned above, supplemented with additional resources. You will also be given alternate assignments more appropriate to your advanced level. Listening: To move from the intermediate to pre-advanced level, you will be exposed to both text-based activities and authentic listening tasks. Via the internet, you will view and hear streaming video and audio of the news, music videos, and interviews. Full length versions of several films will also be used. Reading: You will be responsible for reading outside of class. This includes passages available in your textbook, poems, short stories, and online news articles and blogs. You may select stories from the teacher’s library and the book room; we will read Le Petit Prince together. Reading will often be linked to writing or speaking. Speaking: Discussions will be conducted one-on-one with the teacher, the French 4 group, and as a class. To develop your speaking, you will respond to conversational prompts such as interviews, debates, and storytelling. You will prepare questions or comments for discussion based on activities and readings completed at home. You will develop questioning strategies from simple to higher order and discourse strategies to sustain conversation. Writing: You will write frequently and in a variety of ways. This includes long paragraph descriptions, narratives, compare/contrast essays, persuasive essays, letters/emails, dialogue, reviews, reflections, and AP prompts. In your binder, keep close track of new thematic vocabulary, expressions, useful conjunctions and structures, and solutions to your writing errors.

GRADING: Assessment components include listening, speaking, writing, and reading French, as well as cultural knowledge. In the grade book, your assignments will be labeled as “Practice” (homework and class activities) and “Assessments” (writing, projects, exams, and quizzes).Practice will account for 40% of youroverall grade and assessments 60%.

CLASS WEBSITE: Our Google classroom code is:b8btl7. On the Google classroom page you will find yourmake up work, grading rubrics, notes, flashcards, and important reminders. If you are asked to bring in food or supplies for a project, details will be posted there for your parents to see.

MAKE UP WORK:

  • Find out what you missed by checking the Google classroom page. Just find the Word document for the appropriate month (e.g. “Make Up Work – August”). The document is updated at the end of each school day.
  • You should also ask a “homework buddy” to get you up to speed and provide notes from classes that you missed.
  • When turning in a missed assignment, please write ABSENT and the date(s) of your absence on the top of the paper. (e.g. ABSENT 8/21)
  • Per school policy, you will have 24 hours per absence to make up any work that you missed.
  • Make up tests: Because tests often involve speaking/listening components, most make-up assessments must be taken before or after school. You will be given a reasonable timeframe in which to make up your test. (On average, a make up quiz takes less than 5 minutes, and a make up test takes 15-25 minutes.) Tests not taken by the deadline cannot be made up! If the timeframe provided absolutely will not work for you, please let me know ASAP.

LATE WORK: Each student will receive three late work passes per semester. These passes allow you to submit up to three late assignments over the course of that semester, no questions asked. To take advantage of this privilege, the following rules must be strictly adhered to:

  • The assignment must be submitted within two days of the due date.
  • The assignment must have a late pass stapled to it.
  • Late passes can NOT be used for major projects or presentations.As you will always know about these projects well in advance, 20% will be deducted from projects each day until they are submitted.
  • No more than three late assignments will be accepted per student per semester. Lost late passes will not be replaced. Late passes may not be copied. Late passes from semester 1 do not roll over to semester 2.
  • You may lose your late pass privileges if you cheat on any assignment.
  • Note: The assignment will be marked in the grade book as “late,” but will receive full credit.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY: The following constitutes cheating in this class: using any unauthorized aide during assessments (electronic devices, notes, etc.), discussing content material with students who have not yet taken an exam, talking during an exam, copying information from another student’s exams or assignments or allowing a student to copy from you, using an online translator, and any other form of plagiarism.Consequences for cheating: a zero for that assignment or exam, disciplinary referral, loss of late pass privileges, parents will be notified.

CLASS PROCEDURES

  • On time = In your seat when the bell stops ringing.
  • At the start of each class, get out your premières activités and homework and begin the warm-up. You may check the make up work box if you have been absent.
  • Electronic devicesand ear buds should be off and out of sight.If your family has a private emergency during school, make sure they know to contact the front office.

OTHER

  • Online dictionary: Online dictionaries are a great resource! Just remember to use an actual dictionary, NOT Google translate. I recommend
  • The top student: One outstanding student in each class is selected for an award presented by the Alliance Françaised’Albuquerque at the end of the year.

Bonne rentrée et bonne continuation!

Mademoiselle Van Gilst

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I have read and understand the expectations and rules for French III/IV as stated in the 2017-2018 course syllabus. If I have any questions, I will contact the instructor for further explanation.

I understand that I am responsible for the completion of all homework, class work and assessments. If I miss an assessment, it is my responsibility to arrange to make it up before/after school when necessary.

Class Period ______

Name ______Signature ______Date: ______