Syllabus FrenchLanguage Course 1102
September 2016 – April 2017 (6 credits)
Professor: Arlette Sinquin
- Universitydegree: D.U.E.L. (Diplôme universitaire d’étudeslittêraires)Literarystudies, minor Linguistics and Sociology – Université Nanterre (Paris, France)
- Baccalaureateclassicalstudies (literature, latin, philosophy) – Lycée Molière (Paris, France)
- Credit course in Interpersonal Communication/ Introduction to Logic (Philosophy Dpt) – Normandale College (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA).
- Seminar (in Spanish) one year Anthropology & Pre-Columbian cultures of Meso-America – Museo Nacional de Arqueologia (Mexico City).
Experience:
- Professor of French (language, grammar) at CBU since 2013
- Professor of French in a private language school (in Wakefield, Quebec) 2007 to 2013 - training professionals and Federal civil servants for accreditation in French. Preparation for bilingual test,oral communication and writing – beginner to advanced levels.
- Professional editor/translator for 15 years – 1991 to 2006 at the Canadian Council on Social development, Ottawa, ON. Position as Communications associate in charge of the Translation Bureau, editing and terminology development.
E-mail:
Note: If you have questions or need more explanations about a topic, I am available for ½ hr after the class. Otherwise by appointment at my office at CBU. You also can reach me by e-mail anytime.
Course description
This course is an introduction to French conversation – beginners level B – designed for students who have already been introduced to the basics of French language (for example, at the Core French Program of the Nova Scotia public school, up to Grade 11 French) but have notgone through French immersion and do nothave a bilingual understanding of French.
The intent will be to create an atmosphere in the classroom that is congenial, dynamic and leads to interesting exchanges and communication between students from diverse backgrounds and from the international community at CBU. Students will be encouraged to create mini-informal dialogues to practice day to day conversationstyles.
If you are not sure of your level, please schedule an appointment with the professor prior to registering for this course to determine which French level you should be enrolled in.
Course Objectives
This course has been designed to give the students a functional understanding of everyday conversation in French with an emphasis on pronunciation, as well as the basics of grammar at a beginner’s level (verb tenses covered will include prêsent, futurprogressif, passé-composê, imparfait, conditionnelprêsentand impêratif). Upon completion – and with regular attendance – this course should allow the students to proceed at the lower intermediate level and so on. French as a second language is a strong asset in the workplace and can open new career opportunities – not to mention the pleasures of travelling off the beaten path in the many francophone countries and learning about other cultures, making new contacts, networks and friendships along the way.
Textbooks
-Conjugaison progressive du français (avec 250 exercices) by Odile Grand-Clêment,
Publishers CLE International. Niveau dêbutant (includes CD).
-It is recommended to have a French/English dictionary (Petit Larousse or Le Petit Robert)
-Materials for exercises will be distributed in the classroom.
Grades
Attendance: 10%
Active participation in the classroom: 30% (including homework)
Midterm (Oral Test, last class of Fall semester – date TBD): 20%
Final exam (April – date TBD): 40%
The active participation in the classroom includes answering, proactively asking questions and creating dialogue with fellow students, and reading aloud assignments.
Since it is a beginners’class – and a Language course – there will not be a formal Midterm exam, but a general conversational testwith each student engaging in small dialoguescovering the materials seen between September and December. The exact date will be determined later and announced in class.
The final exam will take place in April at the end of the course and will include all the materials covered. There will be a general revision in the classroom in the 3 weeks prior to the exam. The exact date will be determined by the Registrar’s Office and posted on CBU’s Website.
Through interactive dialogue and information about French culture, cuisine, lifestyles, travel tips and maps, etc. the professor will do her best to get you motivated and interested in pursuing the learning of the French language. Don’t hesitate to ask questions anytime or ask for extra help if needed.