Metro Academic & Classical High School French 3/4
Instructor: Dr. Corinne Wilson Room: 229
E-mail:
COURSE DESCRIPTION & OBJECTIVES
In this level 2 French course, students will (1) improve their communication skills (listening, speaking, reading, and writing); (2) increase their understanding of the French-speaking cultures; (3) continue to make connections with other disciplines and acquire information in French; (4) further their ability to make cultural comparisons; (5) use their French language in communities both within and beyond the school setting. By the end of this course, students will have gained the Novice-Mid ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) levels of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Students will hear French almost exclusively.
TOPICS
The textbook used is Bon Voyage 1 (chapters 10-12), Bon Voyage 2 (chapters 1-6) and the topics covered are: Sports; Summer and winter; Daily routine; Cultural activities; Health and medicine; Technology; Train and air travel; Bank and postal services; Foods and food preparation.
ASSESSMENT
Tests 30% (formula to increase grade with complete remediation) 4-5 unit tests/semester
Quizzes 20% 4-5 vocabulary quizzes/semester + 2-4 essays/semester
Projects 10% 2 oral presentations/semester
Attendance/Participation/Homework 20% (Calculated at the end of each semester)
Final Semester Exam 20% (Earned at the end of each semester)
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
- Attendance: Students are expected to attend class and be in class on time as participation is crucial to being successful in learning a foreign language. Students earn 5 points (5 “euros”) for being present and on time. In case of an absence, it is the students’ responsibility to catch up with all the missed work and assignment prior to coming back to the next class. Students and/or parents must send an email with an excuse for being absent.
- Homework: Students are expected to review their notes and textbook to complete the homework individually. Understanding will be tested daily in the form of a quiz or an exit slip and rewarded 5 points (5 “euros”). Not graded, but lack of study = 0 points. Students may use the library or compute lab to check for homework if they do not have a computer at home.
- Do Now: is an individual five-minute written activity given at the beginning of each class and is worth 5 points (5 “euros”). It consists in a daily question, prompt or short assessment on previous class material. Students who are tardy will get no do now credit.
- Participation: Participation is essential and required. It consists in contributions to class, good note taking, and use of French during class as well as active listening and being on task during all class activities. Students may receive 5 points + (5 “euros”) per class.
- Reflection: At the end of every session, students will indicate in French orally what area of study they will focus on to improve, and receive 5 points (5 “euros”) for it.
Students will make progress and build on their skills when they practice using what they have learned. At the end of each semester, the sum of students’ points (“euros”) will determine their Attendance/Participation/Homework grade (20%). The goal is to reach 1,000 euros to get 100% for each semester (40 sessions, 25 euros/session, equals 1000 euros).
Formula: Students will need to remediate their unit test weaknesses in order to benefit from the formula (that will boost their test grades only). They will be given tutoring opportunities and 3 tries to get an 80% or more on each skill that needs remediation in order to earn the formula.
Expectations:
Students are expected to:
·strive to be IB learners: Inquirers (ask questions); Knowledgeable (learn new things); Thinkers (use their head); Communicators (share their ideas); Principled (do what is right); Open-minded (listen to others); Caring (be kind with others); Risk-takers (try new things); Balanced (take care of themselves); Reflective (think of how to improve).
·be prepared for class every day: bring (1) the Bon Voyage textbook (2) a notebook - and loose leaf paper - in which they collect ALL of their French-related material (3) a pen or pencil, (4) a red pen for correcting homework, (5) be ready for a surprise quiz (be on top of their homework and read their notes daily).
·be polite: Respect others as well as yourself (no cell phone use, or any sort of class disruption allowed). Students will pay 10 points (10 “euros”) for each disruption (toilet breaks included).
·be productive in and out of class: take good notes, review their notes, learn daily, even when they do not have class the next day; make arrangements for makeup work, quizzes, or tests prior to the next class.
·be honest: copying someone else’s homework, project quiz or test; having a parent, friend or tutor do ALL, part, or help rewrite a paper or project for you; and translation from the Internet are all instances of cheating.
I have read the syllabus and understand both the expectations and my responsibilities.
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Student: print name and sign Date
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Email address: print legibly
Parent responsibilities: Parents must make sure students attend school and complete their assignments (available for all to see online under Metro/Teachers/Corinne Wilson/Français 3-4/Programme), and send an email when their child is/will be absent.
I have read the French 3/4 syllabus and understand my son/daughter’s responsibilities for the year in progress.
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Parent or guardian: print name and sign Date
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Email address: print legibly