Winter 2002
FREN 106 Syllabus

Course Materials:

Mais oui! 2e edition. C. P. Thompson, E.M. Phillips.
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000.
(Text/audio CD, and workbook/lab manual)
Multimedia CD-ROM.


Grading:

Mid-term exam 15%
Quizzes (3) 10%
Writing activities (2) 15%
WWW Assignments (2) 10%
"Tour de France Virtuel"
Jeu de Rôle (2) 5%
Class participation 10%
Homework 10%
Oral Exam 10%
Final Written Exam 15%


Note: All 100-level FLLT courses use plus/minus grading (i.e. 87-89 = B+, 83-86 = B, 80-82 = B-, etc..)

Course Content:
* Exams will test grammar, vocabulary, writing, listening, reading and culture.  The format of each exam will reflect text, workbook and class activities.

*  Quizzes will test grammar and vocabulary.  They will take approximately 15 minutes of class time.  Before the quiz, go to the Mais oui! Website -

http://college.hmco.com/languages/french/thompson/maisoui/2e/students/index.html
and do both Ace Self-test Vocabulaire et Structure quizzes for the chapter you are studying. Those are mandatory! Your results are to be e-mailed to your Instructor. Pop quizzes on ODV (Observez, Déduisez, Vérifiez) will be given periodically to check your class preparation. All pop quizzes will count towards your quiz grade.

* Writing portfolios

During the course of the semester, you are required to complete two writing assignments. Although the product is important, the process of writing is the main goal of this exercise.  Consequently, this activity will comprise several stages, all of which will be kept in your personal writing portfolio.  First, there will be in-class activities to prepare you for the topic.  Next, you will develop a first draft following the guidelines of the assignment.  This draft will be returned to you with feedback from your Instructor. At this stage, you will need to rewrite your second draft making all the necessary corrections.  The final version will be submitted with a reflection sheet giving you the opportunity to evaluate your own strengths and weaknesses.  Each stage of the writing process must be included in your portfolio and must be completed on time in order to receive a final grade.  All drafts as well as the final version will be typed, double spaced, and must include international characters.  Please refer to your IMPORTANT DATES page at the end of the syllabus to know the due dates for these assignments.  Also, points will be taken off if you are absent on any of the days of the portfolio.
 

* WWW assignment "Tour de France Virtuel"  consists of two questionnaires on French cities.  You will visit two cities in France thanks to this "Tour de France Virtuel".  Instructions for this "Tour de France" are found at -

http://www.fllt.udel.edu/lang/french/fren106/TourdeFrance.html

When you have read these instructions, you can then complete a questionnaire for each city you will have visited.  The questionnaire is to be printed from the Internet and then completed and handed to your Instructor on the specified date.  You will find the questionnaire at:

 http://www.fllt.udel.edu/lang/french/fren106/questionnaire.html

* Jeu de Rôle.  They are role-plays to help you for the Final Oral Exam. Your first Jeu de Rôle will be prepared while the second one will be random.

* The Final Oral Exam consists of two role-play activities (similar to the Jeu de Rôle) and interview questions (asked by your Instructor).  Near the end of the semester, you will be asked to sign up in pairs for a 10-15 minute Final Oral Exam.  These exams take place in the classroom and/or the office of the Instructor.



Participation grades are based on the following scale:
A (90's) Always participates actively in class and small group tasks; always prepares for class and does homework; always volunteers answers; makes few mistakes.

B (80's) Almost always participates actively in class and small group tasks: generally prepares for class and does homework; often volunteers answers; makes some mistakes.

C (70's) Does not often participate actively in class and small group tasks; does not usually prepare for class and often does not do homework; answers only when called upon; makes frequent mistakes.

D (60's) Does not participate in class and small group tasks; does not prepare for class and does not do homework; shows no interest and very little ability to communicate in French..


Please note that being absent does affect your participation grade.

Course Policies:


  Attendance is very important in a language course, because skills are developed through daily use. You are expected to attend every class.  Unexcused absences will lower your final grade.

1. French 106 is an approximately 58-hour course in elementary French.  Successful completion of the course presupposes 58 class hours of direct contact with the French language, in much the same way that a laboratory course or any skill-licensing course presupposes a predetermined number of contact hours or practical hours.

Nevertheless, students are allowed two absences for which it is not necessary to present a written excuse.  If any of these two absences occurs on a day when oral and written exams, quizzes or any graded activities (peer-editing) take place, students must bring a letter from a physician or the Academic Dean of the appropriate college to document the reason for the absence.  The first two absences are not two free absences; they are two unexcused absences that will not result in a lowering of a student's grade.  Students are still responsible for any and all information presented in class.
After two absences for any reason, a student's final course grade will be lowered by 3% for each additional absence. This excludes absences after the second which are due to religious holidays, illness, accidents or other exceptional circumstances. Such absences should be reported promptly and will require written documentation as explained above.  No such excuses will be accepted one calendar week (7 days) beyond the day on which the absence occurred.  For more detailed information, please refer to our Department Policies and Procedures.

2.  100-level language courses cannot be taken on a pass/fail basis if the courses are being used to satisfy a requirement or as prerequisites of a course used to satisfy a requirement.

3.  No make-up work is accepted for any kind of unexcused absence or late arrival to class.  In addition, any request for alternate due dates for any graded assignment due to a prior commitment must be made in writing to your Instructor before the end of the DROP/ADD period (Monday, January 7, 2002).   Any request for alternate dates for any graded assignment must contain documentation and/or written proof to support it.  All request received on /or before January 7 will be considered in a timely fashion on a per case basis and any decision regarding your request will be communicated to you by your Instructor.

4. Any late assignments (homework, portfolio) will receive a lowered grade (10% for each day your paper is late).

5.  In order to get the most out of this course, it is highly recommended that you spend at least one hour preparing for every 50-minute class period. Studying includes reviewing pronunciation, listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and culture.

6. You may ask only your Instructors for help with the written activities.

7. Graded written and oral activities may be unannounced.

8. The syllabus schedule is to be used as a guide.  Readings, activities, and quiz dates may vary slightly according to the needs of the class. You are expected to check this online syllabus every day, as assignments may be modified according to the pace of the class.

Please note:

1. Do not make travel plans during scheduled classes.  This is not an excused absence and any work missed, including exams will not be rescheduled.
2. If you have a problem or a question about the course, please see your Instructor as soon as possible.
 
 

Daily Syllabus

Key to symbols used on syllabus:

TX = Textbook WB = Workbook ODV = Observez, Déduisez, Vérifiez (TX)
Jan. 2 (W) Goal: You will learn about the importance of studying French and become familiar with the syllabus. You will learn to describe different kinds of weather.
             Homework: Reading: "To the Student" TX iii, iv, v, vi
Learn Vocabulaire actif, TX p. 196.
Reading: ODV p 179-180, ODV p. 200-201.
Writing: WB p. 71 A&B
Prononciation p. 196-197
Jan. 3 (R) Goal: You will learn to say what happened to you. You will learn to talk about television.
Homework:
Writing: WB p. 64-66 A, B, C. p 72-73 C, D. p. 75 B
Reading: ODV p. 209-211
Jan. 4 (F) Goal: You will talk about your favorite pastimes.
Jeu de Rôle
            Homework:
            Reading: TX p. 216, ODV p. 219-220
            Writing: WB p. 74 A, p. 76 D
            WWW assignment for 1st city due
Jan. 7(M) Goal: You will learn to invite and respond to invitations.
            Homework:
            Ace Self-test Chapt 6 (Vocabulaire et Structures)
            Writing: #C TX p. 221
            Audio program Lab. manual WB p. 209-217
            Bring WB to class (Chapt. 6 video manual)
Jan. 8 (T) Goal: You will learn to talk about travels.

* Quiz 1

Homework:
Reading: Note Culturelle TX p. 236, vocabulaire actif p. 236
ODV p. 238-239
Write 10/15 sentences about your last week-end.
Jan. 9 (W) Goal: You will learn to develop strategies to improve your writing skills.
You will learn to read critically a classmate's writing to help him/her improve.

Jeu de Rôle

Homework:
ODV: p. 240-241
Writing: re-write a dialog for #6 p. 236 using as much vocabulaire actif as possible.
Jan.10 (R) Goal: You will learn to talk about what you like to do on vacations.
You will learn about Tunisie and Sénégal.
 
            Homework: Notes culturelles TX p. 248.
Reading: ODV 249-251.
Writing: TX p. 242 C, WB p. 85 D
Jan. 11 (F) Goal: You will learn how to refer to places. You will learn how to ask for information.
Homework:
Reading: TX p. 253-254. Culture et Réflexion. TX p. 256
Writing: WB pp. 83- 89
 Ace Self-test Chapt 7 (Vocabulaire et Structures)
Jan. 14 (M) Goal: You will learn how to ask for information.

* Quiz 2
                        Homework:
                        Writing: Type a letter of 20 sentences  describing the city
                        you have  have visited and what you have seen/done/eaten there.
                   Reading: TX p. 266 1-2
Jan. 15 (T) Goal: You will learn to develop strategies to improve your reading skills.
             Homework:
                     Reading: ODV p. 279-280.
                     Writing: TBA
 
Jan. 16 (W) Goal: You will speak about your childhood.
            Homework:
                 Writing: WB p. 95-96 A & B.
                 Reading: ODV p. 281-283 top of the page.
                 TX p. 286-287 5, 6B
 
Jan. 17(R) Goal: You will learn to discuss relationships.
              Homework:

Reading: TX p. 295
Writing: WB p. 98-99 C, D, A, B, C.
Jan. 18 (F) Goal: You will demonstrate mastery of material learned to date.
EXAM 1              Homework: WWW activity "Tour de France Virtuel".
 Questionnaire for a second city. Note: this is also going to be used for a writing activity
Jan. 21 (M) No class
Jan. 22 (T) Goal:  You will talk about what makes you happy.
Homework:
ODV p. 172-174. ODV p. 317-318.
Jan. 23 (W) Goal: You will learn to talk about your childhood. You will learn to compare and contrast.
             Homework: Writing: WB ex. A, B, C p. 109- 111.
Ace Self-test Chapt. 8 (Vocabulaire et Structures)
Jan. 24 (R) Goal: You will familiarize yourselves with important celebrations in France.
* Quiz 3             Homework:
            Writing:  Your local high school invites you to write a short article for the school newspaper about your trip to France. Compare and  contrast the two cities. Recount what you have done
and seen in both cities as well as conditions/descriptions (use passé composé et imparfait).
Jan. 25 (F) Goal: You will read and discuss a literary text. 
                 Homework: TBA
Jan. 28 (M) Goal: You will speak about what you do each day.
             Homework: Reading: ODV p. 352- 353, ODV p. 354-355.
Writing: WB A p. 121.
Jan. 29 (T) Goal: You will learn to describe clothes.

Jeu de Rôle

Homework:
Writing: WB ex. B p. 122, ex. A, B, C p. 123-124
Reading: ODV p. 364-365.
Jan. 30 (W) Goal: You will learn to describe parts of the body and what to do to stay in shape.
Homework:
Writing: WB p. 124-126 A, B, C.
Study for oral exam by reviewing Chapt. 6-10 and the Jeu de Rôle done in class.
Jan. 31 (R) Goal: You will interact with a partner in a Jeu de Rôle situation and respond to general questions posed by your instructor.
            Homework: Review for exam
Oral exam (afternoon)


Feb. 1 (F) FINAL EXAM?

FRENCH 106

IMPORTANT DATES

Exam 1: Friday, January 18
Final Written Exam: Feb. 1??
Final Oral Exam: Thursday, January 31

Quizzes:
#1 Tuesday, January 8
#2 Monday, January 14
#3 Thursday, January 24

WWW assignments:
#1 Monday, January 7
#2 Tuesday, January 22

Jeu de Rôle: You will be graded for two of these during the semester on a random basis. See syllabus for dates when this activity will be done in class.

Writing assignments:
#1 Monday, January 15 (re-write&reflection sheet due Tuesday, Jan. 22)
#2 Friday, January 25 (re-write&reflection sheet due Wednesday, Jan. 30)