SEATTLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Department of Languages and Cultures

French 103, 5 credits

Spring 2008

Instructor:  Laurie Kempen                                                     Office Location:   BE4161

Office Phone:  587-6909                                                        Email: lkempe@sccd.ctc.edu

Website: http://seattlecentral.org/faculty/lkempe

Meeting Time and Place:  daily 11:00 - 11:50, BE 3192

Office Hours:  Tuesday-Friday, 9:30-10:00; Mon., Wed., Thurs. 12-1, and by appointment

Prerequisites:  French 102 or equivalent

Required Materials: 1. Espaces (Vista)

                                                2. Espaces Lab  Manual

3. Espaces Workbook/ Video Manual

4. Packet (Recueil), available in the 3rd floor Copy Center

Suggested Materials:                    

1. French/English dictionary (highly recommended)

                                                2. English Grammar for Students of French

3. Bescherelle Guide to Conjugating 12,000 Verbs

Course Description: This course is intended for those who have previously had two quarters or the equivalent of French and focuses equally on the four skills of language learning:  speaking, comprehension, writing, and reading through a variety of means, such as the textbook, games, role plays, videos, CD-ROMS, PowerPoint presentations, literary passages and written and spoken assignments. Since class time is probably the students’ only opportunity to practice oral French, we will have an oral focus in class and much of the written grammar will be practiced primarily outside of class.  Students will also do brief role-plays, creative skits and will either prepare a short presentation (3-5 minutes per person) or meet with the instructor for a brief interview (7 minutes per person).  Students are encouraged to meet with the instructor during the mid-term period to discuss their progress in the class (scheduling details may be arranged in the 4th week).

Evaluation Criteria: 

            QUIZZES (les interrogations, lowest grade dropped) 25%

            PARTICIPATION (see below for description) 10%

            CHAPTER TESTS (5) 40%

            ORAL GRADE (skits and interview or presentation) 5%

HOMEWORK AND CLASS ACTIVITIES 20%

·Reading and Writing assignments                                            5%

·Recueil, textbook exercises                                                     7%

·Cahier                                                                                   8%

                        extra credit                                                                               à+2%

Description of Course Materials and Activities:

•Les interrogations (quizzes):  There will be five 50-point quizzes (one for each chapter) that will be given on the indicated days.  They will be primarily on vocabulary and verb forms.  The lowest quiz grade will not be figured into your overall percentage for the class.

•Participation:  All students will be called on to participate on a daily basis and should be prepared to answer questions on the previous days' material.  In addition, certain days, we will dedicate more time to discussion and production of language (i.e. skits, conversation practice, learning songs, etc). 

•Chapter Tests:  There will be five chapter tests, one on each chapter.  These exams will test all four skills: aural comprehension, new structures (i.e. grammar), reading comprehension; and personal expression.

•Oral Grade:  Students will choose between an oral interview with the instructor and a 3-5 minute presentation for the class. Should you choose to do a presentation, contact the instructor as early as possible to schedule a time.

•Le Cahier (the workbook that accompanies the textbook): You may choose two sections to skip per chapter. Only one may be a writing section—those at the end of the chapter, which ask you to write a paragraph or more. Web section is always extra credit.

•Le Recueil (the packet put together by the instructor):  Daily assignments, syllabus, questionnaire, suggested topics for writing, as well as supplementary grammar explanations and texts are included in this packet, which will be available at the campus copy center, third floor.

Resources:

•Official tutors of SCCC:  There are tutors available to you for free! Take advantage of this opportunity—most schools don’t offer it! You can make an appointment to see them at the library.

•Advanced students:  Students in second-year will be encouraged to work together with you, which will benefit you both.  They have been reviewing many of the same structures you are learning for the first time.  Explaining them to you will reinforce them further for them, while giving you extra practice outside of class.

Teaching Philosophy and Student Outcomes:

I.  General Teaching Philosophy. 

      •     genius of all human beings

      •     schools' purpose is to teach students how to learn and how to think critically

      •     hands-on learning; practice makes perfect

II.  Language Learning Philosophy.  .

      •     hands-on = ALWAYS speaking French in class (except last five minutes and RARE other occasions)

      •     communicative practice; exchange of real information motivates you to find a way express yourself

      •     oral emphasis in class (most likely this is your only chance to SPEAK; you can do drills at home)

      •     virtual-reality (since we can't access true French language reality from here)

III.  Outcomes. 

• Basic elementary francophone linguistic and cultural knowledge. Students who pass this course will have basic knowledge of the fundamentals of French language, and cultures of certain francophone countries. They will master the conjugation of certain irregular verbs; study relative pronouns, reciprocal reflexives, negative and affirmative expressions; and learn the future, conditional and subjunctive.  They will become familiar with cultural, historical, geographical and linguistic elements of Belgium, Québec, Africa, the Antilles, and French Polynesia. They will be able to converse simply on topics relating to technology, cars, errands, directions, professions, the environment, and the arts.

The following  outcomes will not be assessed but are benefits to studying foreign language.

· Increased Understanding of Own Language. Students will achieve a broader understanding of their own language and their culture(s) perspectives.

· Critical Thinking. Students’ critical thinking skills will be sharpened by critically examining their language and cultural environment through occasional cultural discussions.

· Learning Habits. Studying and test-taking strategies will be discussed. Also, practicing regular review of materials, which will be necessary in this class, will give students discipline and consistent studying skills that will help them in any class or project they undertake.

· Global Village Prep. Learning a foreign language will help prepare students for an increasingly interdependent “global village,” where their language background will make them a better candidate for a wide array of jobs in many fields.

Why French?  Besides being a beautiful language associated with fashion and glamour, French is a primary or secondary language not only of countries in Europe (France, Switzerland, Belgium), but of all of the former colonies of France, including North and West Africa, as well as certain Caribbean and American countries or regions.  Since France, like England, was one of the major imperial powers up until the 1960's, there are many countries world-wide where French is still used in either bureaucratic and or/ personal affairs.  French also remains the diplomatic language used on passports and in some international events, such as the Olympics.

Tips for Success and Class Policies:

•   Remember that language has meaning.  People with limited and/or over-structured exposure to language learning tend to think of a language as a set of rules (grammar) and words (vocabulary), all of which must be memorized.  Learning a foreign language by memorization alone would be an arduous and boring task.  Spoken language has existed for about 500,000 years or more and written French and English have only been around for 1000 years.  "Correct" language is actually the dialect of one social class, that which is in power when codification and standardization decisions are made.  Remember that language is primarily a means of communication between people, whether that exchange is oral, written, electronic or other. As a first-year student, you will make mistakes. This is expected and not a problem. Relax and enjoy your new language acquisition process!

•     Come to class regularly.  Remember that when you miss class, you not only miss any explanations that are made, but much more importantly you miss what cannot be made up:  individual and group practice of the target language.  Many times your classmates are depending on you for your contribution to whatever we are working on, especially when we are doing role plays and skits that have been previously prepared.  Other times, we will be doing comprehension activities that count towards your grade. Unless you miss class due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances, your absence and/or late arrival shows a lack of respect both for the instructor and your fellow classmates. Please let the instructor know if you have to miss class, either by phone or email.

•     Always speak French in class.  The only way to learn to speak a foreign language is to practice. We’ll have a French-only policy in class, although the instructor may occasionally reduce grammar explanation time by resorting to English. 

•     Participate.   Every student that attends class will be called on to participate daily. Have the courage and patience to speak out in class. Remember, if you come to class 10 minutes late, you're participating only 80% of the time, even if you attend daily. Remember, too, that each individual has different strengths and experiences.  You may be intimidated by someone else who speaks or understands much better than you.  Perhaps they have more experience in French than you.  Perhaps your strengths lie in written French. In any case, get into the habit from the VERY beginning of participating as much as possible.  If you do this, it will get much easier as time goes by. To give you an incentive to be right on time, extra credit cultural information will be given out at the beginning of classes.  If you share with those who are late, you're only encouraging their disruptive behavior.

•     Review and practice regularly outside of class.  I cannot stress this enough.  Much of what is expected of you needs to be done outside of class.  The more you practice at home, the easier and more successful class time will be for everyone. 

•     Please come see me if you ever have questions or problems regarding the class. If you ever feel overwhelmed or confused about anything, come see me immediately and we'll clear things up.  DO NOT put off questions or problems because everything in this class builds on previous material.  YOU can make a difference in your experience, learning and grade if you take the initiative to confront whatever difficulties you might encounter as soon as possible.

•     Turn in assignments on time.  Assignments need to be turned in at the front of the classroom before class starts.  No late assignments accepted except in the case of an emergency or illness.

•     No make-up quizzes.   If you need to miss a quiz day, you can make up a significant amount of points through extra credit options.  Also, one quiz will be dropped, so there will be no reason to make up any quizzes.  Only in cases of documented illness or emergency will a make-up exam be given. 

	lundi	mardi	mercredi	jeudi	vendredi
le 31 mars	introduction	Unité 11.21	Unité 11.21 r. 6, 7	Unité 11.21 r. 8	révisions, quiz, Leçon 21
le 7 avril	Unité 11.22	Unité 11.22 r. 9	Unité 11.22	Unité 11.22 r. 10	Révisions, Unité 11
le 14 avril	Examen, Unité 11 Cahier, Unité 11	Unité 12.23	Lecture I 390-393 Écrivez les réponses	Unité 12.23 Dialogue: directions 4, p. 414	Unité 12.23 r. 11
le 21 avril	révisions, quiz, leçon 23	Unité 12.24	Unité 12.24 r. 12	Unité 12 r. 13	Composition IA : « Ma vie en 10 ans » Révisions, Unité 12
le 28 avril	Examen, Unité 12 Cahier, Unité 12	Unité 13.25	Lecture II 462-465 Écrivez les réponses	Unité 13.25 r. 18	Unité 13.25 r. 19
le 5 mai	quiz, Leçon 25	Unité 13.26	Unité 13.26 r. 21	Unité 13.26 Dialogue : 7, p. p. 436	Composition IB Révisions, Unité 13
le 12 mai	Examen, Unité 13 Cahier, Unité 13	Unité 14.27	Unité 14.27 r. 23	Unité 14.27 Lecture III 498-501 Écrivez les réponses	Unité 14.27 r. 24
le 19 mai	Révisions, quiz, Leçon 27	Unité 14.28	Unité 14.28 r. 25	Unité 14.28 r. 26	Comp. IIA « Une lettre au géographe », p. 501 Révisions, Unité 14
le 26 mai	congé	Examen, Unité 14 Cahier, Unité 14	Unité 15.29	Unité 15.29 r. 27	Unité 15.29 Lecture IV 534-537 Écrivez les réponses
le 2 juin	Unité 15.29	revisions, quiz, Leçon	Unité 15.30	Unité 15.30 p. 528, ex. 2,3	Unité 15.30 Composition IIB
le 9 juin	Révisions, Unité 15	Examen, Unité 15 Cahier, Unité 15		Bonnes vacances!!