INTRODUCTION TO FRENCH (FR 109)

Syllabus (including Web tasks)

COURSE GUIDE 

Dr. Anne P. McConnell. Library 318, Ext. 2202. e-mail: amcconnell@smcvt.edu

Office hours: Monday 3:30-5:00 (4:30-5:00 in Prevel Lounge); Wednesday 9:30-10:30; (6:15-7:15 Prevel Lounge); Thursday 1:00-2:30.

TEXTS AND MATERIALS

Oates / Oukada. Entre Amis. 2nd ed.

Oukada / Nagosky / Cummings / Altman. Entre Amis : Cahier d'activités. 2nd ed.

Oates / Oukada. Homework tape to accompany Entre Amis.

GOALS

This course aims at beginning to develop your proficiency in French. It is the first of a sequence of three courses (the following two will be three credit hours each) that will provide you with the tools to reach proficiency at the intermediate level. This means that you will learn to communicate and interact, in French, in real-life situations. Of course, communication will be enhanced and reinforced by reading and writing, and you will become familiar with the francophone cultures of the world.

Because communication in French is our goal, the language of the class will be French.

Although the course is labeled "introduction," many of you will have studied French before. We will begin quickly, and you may feel that you don't have to work too hard at first, since much will be familiar to you. You will begin to come across material that is new or that you don't remember quite soon, however, so develop good study habits from the beginning.

IN THE CLASSROOM

If you observe the following suggestions, you will find that learning French will be easier and much more fun.

Learn to be a good listener. The most important thing to remember is to relax. Don't panic because you think you don't know what a question, a word, etc. "means."

Don't worry about how to translate new terms into English. Translation is one of the most difficult skills to learn. You will not be tested on your ability to translate, so trying to practice it is inefficient.

Play the game. Since French is the classroom language, we must often rely on all sorts of activities to learn to communicate. Use "body English," drawings, situations, etc. to get your meaning across. If you refrain from phrasing a sentence in English first, you'll be surprised at how much you can say with very little vocabulary.

Don't hesitate to make jokes when you can. Try being inventive (you don't always have to answer a question truthfully!). Help your classmates when they need it.

The "Helpful Hints" on pp. x-xi of your textbook give excellent ideas for becoming a successful language learner.

THE TEXTS

No assignments are given in the text until the material is presented in class. Most of what we do in class is repeated and reinforced in the text, so keep in-class note-taking to a minimum, and listen and participate instead. Use the text as a reference when you are doing exercises. Be sure to use the homework tape which accompanies your text wherever you find the symbol for it in your book.

The approach used in our text does not involve much drilling in the classroom. You will be responsible for repeating, reviewing and drilling on your own time. We hope to install some tutorial software on Mikenet very soon.

Exercises in the Cahier will be assigned as we go over each point. Lab and video exercises in the Cahier will generally be assigned as we complete a chapter. You may be responsible for correcting some of your own exercises, in which case you must turn in the corrected version to earn complete credit. In all cases, exercises must be turned in on time to receive full credit.

Exercises are not generally graded, but count as part of your participation grade. They will be marked with either a "+" (nearly perfect), a check mark (acceptable) or a "-" (you'd better study this point again!).

Don't hesitate to bring a difficult exercise to me for help. Remember, the longer you wait to ask for help, the more catching up you have to do!

THE LABORATORY, THE VIDEOS

Laboratory and video exercises are an essential part of the course. They provide you with a chance to develop good speaking and comprehension skills, to repeat and assimilate what you only said once in class, and to perfect your knowledge of grammar, vocabulary and culture.

Keep up with the lab work. Again, this depends on you, to a great extent.

The language lab is located in St. Edmund (room 217). Since many of you may not be able to spend enough time there, I am trying to arrange for you to be able to take copies of the lab tape home with you. Most videos will be viewed in class. If not, other arrangements will be made.

GRADING

Your semester grade is based on the following:

Class participation (45% of grade)

Attendance. You can't participate if you're not there. Absences in excess of 3 lower your participation grade.

Oral participation. All the class activities involve speaking. A willingness to contribute and to limit yourself to French will raise your grade. Remember, I notice whether you are talking or not, not whether you made a mistake.

Ungraded homework, labs and video exercises. Remember that these do you no good if you complete them after you have had a test or quiz based on them! For that reason, credit is reduced for each class day the exercise is handed in late.

Quizzes, chapter tests, oral presentations. (45% of grade)

Quizzes (lasting from 5 to 10 minutes) usually target a single point or points. Oral presentations (usually short skits) count as quiz grades.

Chapter tests (lasting from 15 to 25 minutes) will resemble the exercises you have done in the Cahier and the activities we have done in class.

Final exam. (10% of grade)

The final will resemble an hourly in its makeup.