FIRST SEMESTER SYLLABUS: AP FRENCH LANGUAGE
Pebblebrook High School
Mrs. Betsey Ellingsen, Instructor, Room 107
770-819-2151, ext. 238 (S)
770-732-1329 (H)
770-722-5381 (C)
Blog address: in construction, to be provided
COURSE GOALS AND DESIGN
The course will develop students’ reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. Activities leading to these goals will include poetry recitation, skits (both prepared by students and others), short story reading, reading of magazines, newspapers and other realia such as comic strips, writing journals, internet and language lab usage
(www.richmond.edu/~paulsen; www.uni.edu/becker/french3html; www.france.com; http://college.hmco.com/languages;
www.anu.edu.au/french; http:about.com/French.; music, lyrics, dictations, and projects. Students will be encouraged to participate in French Club activities and urged to build the necessary skills and credentials to become eligible for membership in the French National Honor Society. The course is designed to provide students with a learning experience akin to the third level of college French. The teacher will use French almost exclusively (80%+), and students will be required to do the same.
PLEASE NOTE: This class is taught in conjunction with Honors French IV which requires that 2 levels of French will be in operation during the class time. This will necessitate self-motivation and a strong work-ethic on behalf of each student. The instructor will be dividing her instruction time between the two levels, teaching and facilitating an optimum working situation. What follows relates entirely to the AP French Language course.
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POSSIBLE AP COURSE MATERIAL FOR AP FRENCH LANGUAGE:
1. Une fois pour toutes, Hale Sturges II, Linda Nielsen, and Henry Herbst, Longman Group Ltd.,1992
2. Barron’s How to Prepare for the AP French Advanced Placement Exam, 2009: 2004, Barnes Educational Services-- specific practice for the AP Exam and categorized vocabulary
3. 101 French Idioms, Jean-Marie Cassagne,
Passport Books, 1995
4. French Three/Four Years; Amsco 1994 + 2007
5. AP French Preparing for the Language ,
Examination, Richard Ladd and Colette Girard,
1998
6. Sparks Charts—French Grammar
7. La Litterature francophone; Nathan; 1992;
8. Fables Choisies by Jean de la Fontaine
9. En Attendant Godot by Samuel Beckett
10. Le Fantôme de l’Opéra by Gaston LeRoux
11.Les Trois Mousquetaires by Alexandre Dumas
12. Released AP Exams in French Language
COURSE OUTLINE
FIRST SEMESTER:
TEACHING GRAMMATICAL STRUCTURES AND VOCABULARY; INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
I. August 10—August 28—Getting in touch with what we have already learned:
Grammar Review: Definite and indefinite articles, adjectives, adverbs, negation, pronouns (subject, direct and indirect, relative). Interrogatives, demonstratives, possessive adjectives, contractions, prepositions of place, comparatives and superlatives, and verb tenses (present, reflexive verbs, passé composé imparfait, future, future proche, future perfect, past conditionnel, plusque parfait. Sequences of tenses
Assessment: Exam on Verbs
Writing: Writing skills for the beginning French writer
Assessment: Short Papers using prompts; ex: “Si j’etais riche……” journal writing
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Assessment: Project writing and illustrating 5 comparisons and 5 superlatives to be presented orally
II. August 31st –October 2nd—Becoming aquainted with new verb material
literary tenses (passé simple, passé anterieur) subjunctif, imperative, and indicative moods, use of complementary infinitives after certain verbs (savoir, venir de, aller), past infinitives, infinitives with certain prepositions, present and past participles, passive voice
Assessments: Exam on Verb usage
Project about what one needs to do in certain venues; ex.: “ A la piscine, il faut….”
III. October 5—October 31st Grammatical Structures in Literature
verb synopses
Assessment: Verb Test
Transitional Words and Phrases
Assessment: Exam
French Idioms and well-known proverbs
Fables by Jean de la Fontaine
Assessment: illustration of Idioms/proverbs/fables; explanation using circumlocution in French of what one of the idioms/proverbs/fables means
IV. Nov. 2—Nov. 30—Elements of French Philosophy
General Survey of the French philosophical mind
Assessment: Short answer Exam identifying philosophies and scholars identified with each philosophy
V. Dec. 1-11 French Literature
Litterature francophone
Assessment: Reading Comprehension questions in the target language derived from Bloom’s Taxonomy and dictations from the passages read.
VI. Comprehensive Final Exam, one class period during week of 12/14-12/18, 2009
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Student Requirements:
· A notebook (3-ring binder, pocket folder, folder with brads) with dividers for Warm-ups, Notes, Assessments, Activities
· Writing instrument—dark pen or pencil
· Small size dry erase marker
· Highlighter
· Sticky notes for annotation
· Lined paper—either college or wide ruled
· Regular attendance—Instructor will notify parents when you have missed 5 classes, and guidance will be notified when you have missed 7 classes
· Arrival on time to class; Pebblebrook Tardy policy will be strictly enforced.
· Good attitude.
· Respect for your classmates, instructor, and yourself
THE INSTRUCTOR STRONGLY ENCOURAGES THAT THE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN AP FRENCH LANGUAGE WILL TAKE THE AP TEST IN THE SPRING!!!
Don’ts: The following “don’ts” have to do with appropriate things to bring to school. Some materials should be kept at home. Do not come to class with an active cell-phone. It must be turned off and HIDDEN. If not, it will be confiscated, and your parents will have to pick it up in the office. Do not come to class with an I-POD, MP3 players, “bluetooth” phone appliances. My class policy IS NOT to allow electronic devices as they impede the learning of a foreign language. They will be confiscated. Do not come to class with toys, hand-held video games, a PSP, stuffed animals, photos to share, or cameras. They also will be confiscated. If you refuse to hand over your contraband, instruction will continue, but be assured that your parents will be quickly notified as well as your administrator as you will have demonstrated insubordination. Please follow Pebblebrook’s dress code policy. I can’t teach and you can’t learn when distracting clothing is worn.
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Classroom Management: World Languages Discipline Plan
First intervention: Warning and parent called
2nd intervention: Time out in another classroom and parent called
3rd intervention: Written home detention (a motivator) which student needs
to copy and which requires parent’s(s’) signature.
4th and Final intervention: Referral to administrator
Tardy Policy—we will follow Pebblebrook’s policy.
General Daily Procedures: Students begin by doing daily warm-ups. During this time attendance will be taken. Warm-ups will be counted as extra credit points for summative exams. In the warm-ups I normally will check for mastery of material previously introduced. After reviewing the warm-up the class undergoes an opening which they will memorize. Then the instructor will introduce the essential question(s) of the day. After that homework is reviewed or new material is introduced by active instruction. A period of activity meant to support the new or old instruction occurs. At the end of class day’s learnings are summarized. A student has homework every day (ie., studying the day’s lesson) even if no written work is assigned.
Make-up work: A student is given the same amount of time to turn in missed make-up work as per EXCUSED absence. For example, a student misses 2 days of school with an EXCUSED absence, he/she has 2 extra days to turn it in. If a student misses a test, he/she will take it the day of return or by appointment with the instructor. Being absent the day before a test does not mean that your student can’t take the test on the proper day. It just means that he/she had an extra day to study.
Grade Weights:
Tests, Projects, Major Assessments 35%
Quizzes 25%
Homework/Classwork 15%
Weekly Reading Comprehension 10%
Final Examination 15%
Grand Total 100%
Grade Scale: 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 74-79=C; 70-73=D; <70=F
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***This syllabus is subject to change in order to accommodate specific situations, and you will be notified if any changes occur.
****STUDENTS AND PARENTS: PLEASE READ AND SIGN THE ATTACHED SIGNATURE SHEET INDICATING THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS SYLLABUS AND ARE AWARE OF THE POLICIES INVOLVING FOOD IN THE CLASSROOM AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES. PARENTS: PLEASE FILL OUT THE INFORMATION REQUESTED AND RETURN BY THE DUE DATE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TEACHING YOUR STUDENT THIS YEAR!
Student/Parent Signature Sheet
(TO BE RETURNED BY MONDAY, AUGUST 17TH)
PRINTED NAME OF STUDENT (FIRST AND LAST):
PRINTED NAME OF PARENT/GUARDIAN (FIRST AND LAST):
To BE FILLED OUT BY PARENT/GUARDIAN: There are times when I need to contact you about your student. Please indicate the following:
HOME PHONE:
CELL PHONE:
WORK PHONE:
EMAIL ADDRESS (IF APPLICABLE):
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
1) I do not allow food to be eaten in the classroom unless it involves a classroom activity.
2) According to Pebblebrook School Policy (page 18 of the student handbook): Cell Phones should not be SEEN, heard, or used during the school day (7:55AM-3:25PM). 1st offense: Cell phone is confiscated and logged in the main office; 2nd offense: Cell phone is confiscated and logged in the main office and student is assigned two days of ISS; 3rd offense: Cell phone is confiscated and logged in the main office, and student is assigned 1 day of Saturday School. I WILL KEEP A STACK OF FILE FOLDERS IN WHICH TO PUT ANY DEVICES THAT I CONFISCATE. NO AMOUNT OF BEGGING OR HARASSMENT WILL GET THE PHONE BACK TO YOUR CHILD OTHER THAN FROM THE OFFICE. Refusal to surrender a cell phone or electronic device when asked by instructor will result in a four day out-of-school suspension.
3)In my classroom any VISIBLE electronic device—ex. Cell phones, IPODS, MP3 players, hand-held video games such as PSP, Bluetooth, ear buds, cameras will be confiscated and logged in the main office, and you as the parent will have to come to the school to claim them. Electronic devices prohibit effective instruction. And I will not accept the excuse: “Oh, I didn’t know it was turned on.”
Our signatures indicate that we have read the syllabus, the course description, and the above information:
Signature of Student: Date signed:
Signature of Parent/Guardian Date Signed:
Comments (continue on back if necessary):
Student/Parent Signature Sheet
(TO BE RETURNED BY TUESDAY, AUGUST 18TH)
PRINTED NAME OF STUDENT (FIRST AND LAST):
PRINTED NAME OF PARENT/GUARDIAN (FIRST AND LAST):
To BE FILLED OUT BY PARENT/GUARDIAN: There are times when I need to contact you about your student. Please indicate the following:
HOME PHONE:
CELL PHONE:
WORK PHONE:
EMAIL ADDRESS (IF APPLICABLE):
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING:
1) I do not allow food to be eaten in the classroom unless it involves a classroom activity.
2) According to Pebblebrook School Policy (page 18 of the student handbook): Cell Phones should not be SEEN, heard, or used during the school day (7:55AM-3:25PM). 1st offense: Cell phone is confiscated and logged in the main office; 2nd offense: Cell phone is confiscated and logged in the main office and student is assigned two days of ISS; 3rd offense: Cell phone is confiscated and logged in the main office, and student is assigned 1 day of Saturday School. I WILL KEEP A STACK OF FILE FOLDERS IN WHICH TO PUT ANY DEVICES THAT I CONFISCATE. NO AMOUNT OF BEGGING OR HARASSMENT WILL GET THE PHONE BACK TO YOUR CHILD OTHER THAN FROM THE OFFICE. Refusal to surrender a cell phone or electronic device when asked by instructor will result in a four day out-of-school suspension.
3)In my classroom any VISIBLE electronic device—ex. Cell phones, IPODS, MP3 players, hand-held video games such as PSP, Bluetooth, ear buds, cameras will be confiscated and logged in the main office, and you as the parent will have to come to the school to claim them. Electronic devices prohibit effective instruction. And I will not accept the excuse: “Oh, I didn’t know it was turned on.”
Our signatures indicate that we have read the syllabus, the course description, and the above information:
Signature of Student: Date signed:
Signature of Parent/Guardian Date Signed:
Comments (continue on back if necessary):
SECOND SEMESTER
TEACHING TOWARDS THE TEST
I. January 8-February 1—Francophone Countries
Introduction to the Advanced Placement French
Language Examination—Barron’s Chapter 1 + 2
Listening Comprehension Activities
Dialogues
Project on French-speaking countries
Existentialism
Introduction and background information about
Samuel Becket
Waiting for Godot
II. Feb. 4-February 29—Redaction de Textes
Reading Comprehension—Barron’s Chapter 3
Reading Passages and Multiple-Choice
Questions
Pronunciation exercises
Oral presentation of comic strip material
Litterature francophone
Radio and TV, French Videos
Waiting For Godot
III. March 3- March 28—Liberte, Egalite, Fraternity—Short History of France
Extemporaneous Speeches, dialogues
Oral Presentations on a famous French person
Writing—Barron’s Chapter 4
IV. March 31-May 2—France Today, France Tomorrow
Speaking and Grammar Review—Barron’s Chapters 5 + 6
Released AP Exam Practice
Model Exam Practice
Written Presentation on modern French technology
Technology
Minitel
French Blogs
French chat rooms
V. May 5—May 22—The end is in sight!
AP Exam administered sometime between
May 5- May 9
More Practice AP Exams
Final exam—each student will prepare a powerpoint
presentation: Qu’est-ce qu’on a fait, appris cette
annee? and then present it in French.