French 101
Dr. Karen Sorsby

Contact Information

Materials Required: Horizons Student CD Rom kit: text, listening CD, CD Rom, workbook, answer key, dictionary.

Materials Recommended: found in the general books section of the book store, Bescherelle: Complete Guide to Conjugating; Quick Study French Vocabulary; Quick Study French Grammar

Pre-Requisites: None. French 1 satisfies General Education are C (Arts and Humanities) category 2 (Languages and Literatures).

Extracurricular Requirement: The GE requirements for the College of Humanities and Fine Arts state that you are expected to attend or participate in four (4) events related to your study in this GE course. You may be interested in events related to French about which I will give you information as the term progresses. In order to demonstrate your understanding of how these events/activities relate to French, you will write brief summaries and critiques (in English). These are due at the end of the semester.

Course Descriptions

Class Schedule

101 - Sorsby

101 - Black

201 - Sorsby

303 - Sorsby

480 - Sorsby

460 - Black

French 1 covers the first five chapters of the text. French 2 covers chapter 6-10. There are no further class meetings besides the 4 days we meet. The monday session in the lab covers the "activity" mentioned in the schedule.

Course Activities and Objectives: To progress toward communication in real-life situations; to speak and listen in a way which is culturally appropriate for a French-speaking area; and to be able to decipher ordinary written types of materials such as ads, newspaper inserts, etc.; to write coherent and detailed paragraphs, as detailed below in numbers 1-5.

1. Grammar Instruction: Throughout the entire first year course there is a strong emphasis on teaching grammar in meaningful contexts rather than abstract form. In French 001, a begining French course, the focus is on the major concepts of French grammar and on pronunciation. However, the course emphasis is on working with language as a means of communication.

2. Speaking: In French 001 speaking is important for classroom performance. Most of all the students' oral performance takes the form of interpersonal communication. Speaking excercises used in this class integrate current lexicon and grammatical structures into meaningful communicative contexts wherin students atually exhange information and compare opinions.

4. Reading: In French 001 students begin to be systematically trained to use effective reading skills. However, reading is limited to the selections in the basic textbook. These selections include dialogues and short cultural situations constructed exclusively for pedagogical purposes, but the book also offers students a rich selection of realia in the CD Rom, video, and text that involves some reading.

5. Writing: In French 001 students are required to begin cohesive writing both at, and above the sentence level. There is a strong emphasis in the course on the writing of paragraphs both in your personal study and on tests.

Testing and Grades:

1. 5 one-hour long tests and one shorter test in the preliminary chapter. 50%
Each will be cumulative of previous work. Your lowest score among the tests on the preliminary chapter and chapters 1-4 will be dropped. Your score on chapter 5 will not be dropped.

2. Speaking tests in connection with each chapter, the lowest grade will be droped, except for chapter 5. 25%

3. Participation. Active participation implies regular attendance, of course. Merely attending class will not earn credit, however. You are expected to participate fully in all in-class activities and to complete outside written activities in order to receive full credit in this area.

4. Calculating grades. I will score tests and assignments on the basis of 100 points and the theoretical maximum points for the class will be 1000. The final grade will be averaged as follows.

Policies:

1. Attendance: After 5 unexcused absences your final grade will be negatively affected. Excused absences are for illness or other serious reasons only and must be documented with a letter or note (from your doctor, for example). Tardies and leaving class early for non-emergency reasons will count as unexcused absences. Your final grade will be lowered after 5 unexcused absences.

2. Due Dates: All assignments and tests are due as of the date indicated; no make-ups. No work accepted after the end of the semester.

3. Credit for course: All speaking and written tests required in order to receive credit for course, except as indicated above.

4. This class is conducted in French. The professor will make every effore to help you feel at east and to encourage your efforts to speak French, but the success of the class depends partly upon you. If you participate actively and treat other students' efforts with courtesy and respect, you will be contributing to a lively, stimulating class as well as enjoying your own progress in French.

5. By enrolling in this class you accept the rules governing academic honesty available from Kendall 107, Provost's Office.

Calander

Calander and tests dates are targets only and will be adjusted at the instructor's discretion. The actual test day will be announced in advance in class.