FR 201 Section 002: Intermediate French

UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA

Programme de langue et de littératures françaises

Fall 2010

FR 201: Français – Niveau Intermédiaire

 

 

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Bonjour et Bienvenue! Welcome to French 201 at the University of Alabama. French 201 is the third semester of the University’s four-semester sequence of introductory French language courses. In this intermediate course, you will continue to develop your oral and written communication skills in French as you explore various themes in French and Francophone culture. You will review grammatical concepts that you have seen before, discover new ones and significantly develop your vocabulary base through print and other media dealing with daily life culture as well as history and civilization.

PREREQUISITES

French 102, or French 103, or departmental placement.

 

EXPECTED LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon completion of this course, students are expected to gain intermediate competency in communication skills to:

·         Read French cultural and literary material related to daily activities, personal relationships, social interactions, health, French and Francophone history and civilization

·         Talk with speakers of French on a variety of practical topics including aspects of French and Francophone cultures

·         Understand French spoken at normal speed by speakers of French on the various topics mentioned above

·         Write in French on the various topics mentioned above using appropriate vocabulary and accurate structures

 

GENERAL CLASS RULES AND GUIDELINES

 

1) ATTENDANCE: Class attendance is a requirement of the utmost importance. You are allowed to miss a total of 3 classes, for any reason. Beginning with your fourth absence, your final course grade will be reduced by 3% points per day, regardless of the reason for it.

2) PUNCTUALITY: Out of courtesy for your professor and fellow classmates, you are expected to arrive in class on time. Late arrivals will count against your participation grade. Excessive late arrivals will result in a reduction of your final course grade, at the professor’s discretion.

3) GRAMMAR: You are expected to read the grammar explanations for each chapter, learn the material, and do the exercises on your own. 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) TEST DATES & DUE DATES: Test dates and due dates will be adhered to in all classes. Tests cannot be rescheduled or made up unless you have made arrangements with your professor prior to the test date. Late assignments will result in a reduction of your final grade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 3 classes (for the MWF courses) or 2 (for the TTh). A student who misses class too often disrupts the course.  As such, those missing a total of 6 classes (for the MWF courses) or 4 (for the TTh) cannot pass the course regardless of the reason for the absence (health, personal, athletic, etc.). 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: 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 will engage in group and pair work to develop your communication skills. This class will be conducted in French.

 

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 MWF CLASSES

 

Introduction                                         August 18

 

Reprise                                                Aug. 30

 

Labor Day                                         Sept. 6, NO CLASS

 

Reprise/Unité 1                                                Sept. 15, Contrôle 1

 

Unité 2                                                 Oct. 1, Contrôle 2

 

Unité 3                                                 Oct. 18, Contrôle 3

                                             

Mid-Semester Break                         Oct. 29, NO CLASS

 

Unité 4                                                 Nov. 5, Contrôle 4

                                               

French Convention                             NO CLASS

 

Unité 5                                                 Nov. 22, Contrôle 5

 

Thanksgiving Holiday                       Nov. 24-26, NO CLASS

 

Révision                                             Nov. 29, Dec. 1, 3

 

 

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, four written assignments (rédactions), written exams at the end of each unité (contrôles), a presentation and an oral exam (activité orale). See descriptions and weighting system below for each assessment category.

 

 

Participation and Attendance – 15%

Daily practice is essential when learning a language. Your presence and active participation in class is REQUIRED. Your participation grade will be based on your attendance, punctuality, adequate preparation for each class session (you are expected to study the assigned material before coming to class), active participation by responding when called upon, volunteering answers, and willingness to speak in French at all times during class.

 

Homework and Preparation – 10%

Homework assignments will be announced via eLearning and are designed to help you practice the new structures and vocabulary. 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.  Please check over your returned homework.  Errors may have been marked, but not corrected for you. Homework is due at the beginning of class on the date it is due. It is your responsibility to check due dates. NO LATE HOMEWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED.

 

Rédactions – 15%

You will write four compositions (rédactions), from one to two pages 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 – 30%

Five tests, one for each of the first five Unités of À votre tour!, 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.

 

Présentation – 10%

Each Unité of À votre tour contains a section called Interlude Culturel, which presents cultural background on historical and contemporary issues in France and the French-speaking world as well as on individuals. Pairs of students will choose an issue or an individual (in Unités 1-5) to present to the class in a 10-minute exposé. Students will submit, a week before their presentation, a detailed outline of the presentation (worth 10% of the presentation grade). You can include audio or visual aids but let your instructor know in advance so that s/he will have the necessary equipment (do not plan on filling your 10 minutes with any significant amount of audio or video, otherwise you may be required to add extra time to your presentation). You cannot simply read your presentation but you can use 3”x5” note card. The presentation should end with an interesting question to the class to encourage discussion.

 

Activité Orale Finale – 20%

For this final oral activity, which will take place during the scheduled final exam, you will be expected to discuss with a partner a trip to a French-speaking region of the world that you would like to take. Your instructor will provide you with more information, as we get closer to the date of the final activity. NO MAKE-UP OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS COMPONENT.

 

 

 

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-

 

 

 

If you are registered with the Office of Disability Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss any course accommodations that may be necessary. If you have a disability, but have not contacted the Office of Disability Services, please call 348-4285 or visit 133-B Martha Parham Hall East to register for services. Students who may need course adaptations because of a disability are welcome to make an appointment to see me during office hours. Students with disabilities must be registered with the Office of Disability Services, 133-B Martha Parham Hall East, before receiving academic adjustments.

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.

In the case of a tornado warning (tornado has been sighted or detected by radar; sirens activated), all university activities are automatically suspended, including all classes and laboratories. If you are in a building, please move immediately to the lowest level and toward the center of the building away from windows (interior classrooms, offices, or corridors) and remain there until the tornado warning has expired. Classes in session when the tornado warning is issued can resume immediately after the warning has expired at the discretion of the instructor. Classes that have not yet begun will resume 30 minutes after the tornado warning has expired provided at least half of the class period remains.

UA is a residential campus with many students living on or near campus. In general classes will remain in session until the National Weather Service issues safety warnings for the city of Tuscaloosa. Clearly, some students and faculty commute from adjacent counties. These counties may experience weather related problems not encountered in Tuscaloosa. Individuals should follow the advice of the National Weather Service for that area taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. Whenever the National Weather Service and the Emergency Management Agency issue a warning, people in the path of the storm (tornado or severe thunderstorm) should take immediate life saving actions.

When West Alabama is under a severe weather advisory, conditions can change rapidly. It is imperative to get to where you can receive information from the National Weather Service and to follow the instructions provided. Personal safety should dictate the actions that faculty, staff and students take. The Office of Public Relations will disseminate the latest information regarding conditions on campus in the following ways:

• Weather advisory posted on the UA homepage
• Weather advisory sent out through Connect-ED--faculty, staff and students (sign up at myBama)
• Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA at 90.7 FM
• Weather advisory broadcast over Alabama Public Radio (WUAL) at 91.5 FM
• Weather advisory broadcast over WVUA 7. WVUA 7 Storm Watch provides a free service you can subscribe to that allows you to receive weather warnings for Tuscaloosa via e-mail, pager or cell phone. Check http://www.wvua7.com/stormwatch.html for details.