FR 101 Section 001: Elementary French I
Fall, 2010
4 Credit Hours
Primary Instructor: Martha Jeffries
Core Designation: Humanities, Foreign Language
French 101: Elementary French Fall 2010
Instructor:______________________Office:_______________________
Office Hours:___________________ Email:_______________________
Telephone: ____________________
Bonjour et Bienvenue! Welcome to first-semester French at the University of Alabama. French 101 introduces students to the French language and to the many peoples who speak French throughout the world.
EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of this semester, students are expected to have developed basic communicative skills through practice in reading, listening, speaking, and writing to be able to:
· Read, with basic understanding, general interest articles in French newspapers and magazines, and simply structured stories written in French
· Understand clearly-articulated speech in French within the limits of the vocabulary and topics covered in class
· Talk with speakers of French on a variety of practical topics covered in class
· Write in French on a variety of practical topics covered in class
Upon completion of this course, students should have gained basic knowledge about the grammar of French, insights into English grammar and into how languages work in general, and a greater understanding of francophone cultures and of American culture as seen by foreigners, especially by native speakers of French.
CLASSROOM POLICIES
1) PUNCTUALITY: On-time arrival is expected out of courtesy for your professor and fellow classmates. Late arrivals will count against your participation grade. Consistent late arrivals to class or early departures may be considered as absences.
2) ATTENDANCE: Class attendance is required and reflected in your final grade. You are allowed to miss a total of 4 classes (for the M-F courses) or 2 (for the M-W). Each absence from 5 to 9 (or 3 to 4 for the M-W class) will reflect a 10% grade reduction for the attendance portion of the semester. A student who misses class too often disrupts the course. As such, those missing a total of 10 classes (for the M-F courses) or 5 classes (for the M-W) cannot receive higher than a grade of “D” for the total course (no matter what the other grade components are). The instructor’s records are the sole authority in determining student attendance.
You are responsible for obtaining information about work missed during absences.
Extended absences of more than two consecutive class meetings should be reported to the instructor by email. Students with an excused absence are allowed to make up the missed work if feasible. Medical or other official documentation is typically required to establish an excused absence, and the instructor determines the validity of excuses.
3) PREPARATION: Because the study of a foreign language is cumulative — with each new lesson building on grammatical structures and vocabulary from previous lessons — it is also extremely important that you do not fall behind in your work in French. Before each class session, you are expected to read carefully the lesson (that includes grammar explanations, vocabulary or readings) and learn the material in order to be able to participate in classroom activities and discussions. Minimal class time will be spent on grammar explanations. It is your responsibility to make sure that you understand all grammar and to get help outside of class if you don’t. Your professor is available for additional help during office hours and by appointment.
4) ORGANIZATION: Think of class time as practice time. In this course, you can expect to engage in group and pair work to develop your communication skills. The instructor will speak French in class. At times, you will not understand every word. It is normal. Simply keep listening for words that you recognize and other cues to help you understand what is going on. Gradually, you will understand more and more. A successful language learner is a willing guesser who accepts the uncertainty of not knowing every single word.
The program outlined below may be modified as needed throughout the semester. It is an outline to be generally followed, and not meant as an exhaustive daily description of task or homework.
Fall 2010 Special days and Testing Schedule DAYTIME CLASSES
Introduction Aug. 18
Première étape, deuxième étape Sept. 2, Contrôle 1
Labor Day Sept. 6, NO CLASS
Chapitre 1 – Ma famille et moi Sept. 20, Contrôle 2
Chapitre 2 – La vie quotidienne et les loisirs Oct. 1, Contrôle 3
Activité Orale 1 Oct. 12-13
Chapitre 3 – En ville Oct. 18, Contrôle 4
Mid-Semester Break Oct. 29, NO CLASS
Chapitre 4 – La maison et le quartier Nov. 1, Contrôle 5
French Convention NO CLASS
Chapitre 5 – Dans le passé Nov. 15, Contrôle 6
Mid-Semester Break Nov. 18, NO CLASS
Chapitre 6 – L’enfance et la jeunesse Nov. 23, Contrôle 7
Thanksgiving Holiday Nov. 24-26, NO CLASS
Chapitre 6 continuation, review Nov. 29-Dec. 3
Activité orale 2 (Final Exam): Monday, Dec. 6th, 3:30 to 6:00 as per the University Final Exam Schedule (room to be announced)
Fall 2010 Special days and Testing Schedule EVENING CLASSES
Introduction Aug. 18
Première étape, deuxième étape Sept. 1, Contrôle 1
Labor Day Sept. 6, NO CLASS
Chapitre 1 – Ma famille et moi Sept. 20, Contrôle 2
Chapitre 2 – La vie quotidienne et les loisirs Oct. 4, Contrôle 3
Activité Orale 1 Oct. 13
Chapitre 3 – En ville Oct. 18, Contrôle 4
Chapitre 4 – La maison et le quartier Nov. 1, Contrôle 5
Chapitre 5 – Dans le passé Nov. 15, Contrôle 6
Chapitre 6 – L’enfance et la jeunesse Nov. 22, Contrôle 7
Thanksgiving Holiday Nov. 24-26, NO CLASS
Chapitre 6 continuation, review Nov. 29-Dec. 1
Activité orale 2 (Final Exam): Monday, Dec. 6th, 3:30 to 6:00 as per the University Final Exam Schedule (room to be announced)
ASSESSMENT
Students will be assessed through daily active and productive classroom participation, regular attendance, completion of assigned homework including listening/speaking activities, three written assignments (rédactions), written exams at the end of each chapter (contrôles), two oral exams (activités orales). See descriptions and weighting system below for each assessment category.
Participation and Attendance – 15%
Daily practice is essential in learning a new language. Your presence and active participation in class is ESSENTIAL to your development in the French language. Your presence and participation is also essential to your classmates’ development: They can’t practice without you!
Your participation grade will be based on your attendance, punctuality, adequate preparation for each class session, active participation by responding when called upon, volunteering answers, and willingness to speak in French at all times during class.
Homework and Preparation – 15%
Homework (designed to help you practice the new structures and vocabulary) will be directly assigned on the QUIA Online Workbook/Lab Manual. Other assignments (such as rédactions) will be announced on eLearning. It is your responsibility to check due dates on homework and assignments. NO LATE HOMEWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED. It is best to break up the work assigned, since cramming too much at one time is not beneficial. Expect to spend up to 2 hours on homework outside of class for every one hour you are in class. Be prepared to orally respond about previous work in class. Homework is due at the beginning of class on the date it is due.
Rédactions – 10%
You will write three compositions (rédactions), each one to two paragraphs in length. The topics will be based on the material covered in class. The grade will be weighted equally based on grammar and content. The rédactions must be word processed in French with accents, and double-spaced.
Contrôles – 35%
Seven tests (one for the introductory chapter and one for each of the first 6 chapters of Deux Mondes) will assess your progress in the course and will cover work done in class as well as homework. See your calendar for contrôles dates. NO MAKE-UP TESTS WILL BE GIVEN. However, the lowest score will be dropped in figuring the final grade.
Activité Orale 1 – 10% et Activité Orale 2 – 15%
We learn a language in order to COMMUNICATE with others. Each leçon in your textbook focuses on a specific context in which you learn to communicate in French. Twice during the semester, we will make sure that you can perform the speaking tasks that you are learning through interviews. Your instructor will provide you with more information, as we get closer to the date of the Activités Orales. Activité Orale 1 will take place during two class periods (one for the MW class) toward the midterm of the semester (see your calendar for the date). Activité Orale 2, which will cover all material in the course, will take place during the scheduled final exam. Both components are required and NO MAKE-UP WILL BE GIVEN.
Grading – The final letter grade will be determined according to the following chart.
|
100-98% A+ |
89-88% B+ |
79-78% C+ |
69-68% D+ |
Below 50% F |
|
97-94% A |
87-84% B |
77-74% C |
67-64% D |
|
|
93-90% A- |
83-80% B- |
73-70% C- |
63-60% D- |
|
Your grades: Homework 150
Participation and Attendance 200
Quizzes 50
6 exams @ 50 points = 300
Oral exercise 50
Final exam 250
TOTAL 1000
Attendance policy: Class attendance is important and therefore reflected in the final course grade. Students are responsible for obtaining information about work missed during absences. It is highly recommended that students exchange phone numbers in class for this purpose.
Extended absences of more than two consecutive class meetings should be reported to the instructor by email or by leaving a written message in the instructor’s box. Students with an excused absence are allowed to make up the missed work if feasible. Medical or other official documentation is typically required to establish an excused absence, and the instructor determines the validity of excuses.
Any absences beyond 4 (for the M-F courses) or 2 (for the M-W) result in a lowering of the class grade. Each absence from 5 to 9 (or 3 to 4 for the M-W class) will reflect a 10% grade reduction for the attendance portion of the semester. A student who misses class too often disrupts the course. As such, those missing a total of 10 classes (for the M-F courses) or 5 classes (for the M-W) cannot receive higher than a grade of “D” for the total course (no matter what the other grade components are). The instructor’s records are the sole authority in determining student attendance.
Students who arrive late should be sure to inform the instructor (in case role has already been taken), but please do so after class is dismissed. If the instructor deems being late or leaving early as disruptive, these instances will be considered the same as absences.
All students in attendance at the University of Alabama are expected to be honorable and to observe standards of conduct appropriate to a community of scholars. The University expects from its students a higher standard of conduct than the minimum required to avoid discipline. Academic misconduct includes all acts of dishonesty in any academically related matter and any knowing or intentional help or attempt to help, or conspiracy to help, another student.
The Academic Misconduct Disciplinary Policy will be followed in the event of academic misconduct.
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