[retour à l'accueil]

BACK TO TOP
Required texts:
Siskin, H. Jay et al. Débuts: An Introduction to French, text, workbook, listening comprehension CDs, and CDRom
A good French/English dictionary
Box of 1000 flashcards

Other materials to be used in class (will be provided):
Chemin du retour, film
CDRom for Débuts

Course objectives: In French 1001 you will learn enough French to enable you to:
1. Comprehend the language in areas of immediate need and on very familiar topics. Emphasis will be on learning to listen for a specific purpose, and working on making this information meaningful to you.
2. Speak the language well enough to satisfy immediate needs. You will learn to greet others, introduce yourself, handle basic social transations, and talk about a variety of topics of common interest in the present, near future, and past tenses. In addition to learning to initiate conversation and inquiry, you will learn the basics of French pronunciation.
3. Read simple, connected discourse and scan for specific information.
4. Write simple expressions and short paragraphs with fewer errors than when you speak.
5. Display awareness of everyday culture in the Francophone worlds, as manifested in both verbal and non-verbal behavior.

The communicative skills to be emphasized in French 1001 are grouped around the following subjects: Introducing and describing people, school, nationalities, dates and time, family, housing, fashion, shopping, food, body parts, weather and seasons, and professions.

BACK TO TOP
Study and Preparation:
As in all 4 credit courses at UMM, you will need to put in 8-9 hours of study time outside of class every week to earn a C in this course. Breaking up that time into smaller segments proves helpful to many learners of a second language. Assignments for each class are to be prepared prior to class time.

Daily participation:
Because speaking and listening skills are crucial course goals in French 1001, it is essential that you attend class daily and that you are on time for class. Class time will be spent using the language, so do all assignments and look over designated textbook sections BEFORE class. DO NOT FALL BEHIND, as the compounding nature of language learning makes it extremely difficult to catch-up.

Exams:
There will be four written exams (including the final), which will cover vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing and listening skills, and 3 oral exams, which will cover vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, comprehension, and communicative success. Makeup exams will be allowed ONLY with a written Chancellor’s or medical excuse signed by a doctor (not a nurse or a call-in). All exam dates can be found on the course calendar below.

Attendance and Participation:
You will be graded for participation in class. In order to learn a foreign language, you need to be exposed to it as much as possible on a regular (daily) basis. In order to receive the highest possible score, it is essential that you come to class prepared, participate voluntarily every day, and make an effort to speak as much French as possible. Absences will be excused ONLY with a Chancellor’s excuse or a medical excuse signed by a doctor (not a nurse or a call-in). If you have more than three absences during the term, your grade will be lowered and you will not be given the option of turning in assignments late. In addition, you will receive 3 points per class for being present and for participating (3=actively engaged; 2=partially engaged; 1=mostly disengaged). If you miss class or sleep through class, you will receive a 0 in participation for that day WHETHER OR NOT THE ABSENCE WAS EXCUSED!!

Workbook/Atelier/Lab Work/LTC:
As in previous years of this course, you will be given 3 points each week for attending the Language Teaching Center (LTC) and for doing some exercises on the Débuts website and/or using the French CD roms and other multimedia tools available there. A new feature of the LTC requirement this year is that this time is now more structured, and you will have a TA present to help you with your work. This extra hour outside of class is called your “atelier” (workshop). Your TA will grade your participation and attendance in the atelier. You are required to attend the atelier one hour a week, but you are encouraged to go to the LTC at other times to work on material on your own. You will receive extra credit for extra time spent in the LTC working on your French. If you go to the LTC at a time outside of the atelier hours, the LTC will keep track of the amount of time that you spend there each week so be sure to check in and check out. The more time you spend in the LTC working on your French, the more you will benefit.

******The Academic Assistance Center can help you with study habits or provide a FREE tutor******

Accesibility:
My highest priority is for our classroom and coursework to facilitate participation and exchange, which is essential for meaningful learning. An important part of that goal is to guarantee to persons with any kind of disability access to class sessions, course materials, and the activities of the class. Disability Services (362 Briggs Library x6179) will contact me with specific accommodation information if you are registered with them. Please feel free to come talk to me personally if you have questions or concerns; it may help us both if I know more about your specific needs. Communicating with me early in the term is essential, so please come talk to me within the first week or so of the semester.

Please don’t be afraid to ask questions in class, even if you think everyone else already understands. Chances are that at least one other person is confused as well. Please don’t hesitate to come see me during office hours or make an appointment if you have further questions or concerns.

BACK TO TOP

TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN THE FRENCH CLASSROOM

1) BE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT FRENCH! This course may simply be a General Education requirement for you, but you have the opportunity to learn a lot about another language, several Francophone cultures, and grammar that will help you with your native tongue. Jump in with both feet! Do research on-line about French and Francophone countries! Come to conversation table to practice! Seek out opportunities to speak French! Have fun with this class!

2) STUDY A LITTLE EVERY DAY: According to University of Minnesota policy, “for undergraduate courses, one credit is defined as equivalent to an average of three hours of learning effort per week (over a full semester) necessary for an average student to achieve an average grade in the course.” Our course is a 4 credit course, which means that, to receive a C, you should expect to engage in 12 hours of learning effort per week. Four of those hours will be class time (3 for class, and 1 for atelier), leaving eight hours that you should study outside of regular class time EACH week. Spend some time reviewing old material and some working on new material and written assignments. You should also keep up with flashcards, work on conjugation tables, and focus on details, such as spelling and accents. Mastering the basics, reviewing old material and studying new concepts all along the way will ensure your continued success in French.

3) DEVOTE YOUR ENERGY TO DIFFERENT SKILLS: You cannot pass this course if you devote all your energy to exams. To succeed in the course, you must 1) attend class regularly and participate enthusiastically, 2) complete all assignments on time, 3) memorize vocabulary and grammar on a daily basis, 4) spend at least an hour a week in the LTC, and finally, 5) do your best on the written exams and graded speaking activities.

4) USE YOUR WORKBOOK EFFECTIVELY: The workbook is designed to be practice tests for you to use on your own so that you can guage your progress and identify areas to which you need to devote more attention. Exercises from the workbook are assigned before we go over a concept in class to help you get a handle on things on your own. Study targeted concepts in the Débuts textbook before you try the workbook exercises. Keep your textbook open to these sections while you work on the accompanying workbook exercises, and refer frequently to the textbook as a guide. Complete the workbook exercises when I assign them—DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE DAY BEFORE THE EXAM!!! Once we go over the concept in class, revisit your work and revise your answers with a contrasting color. Then use the answers provided in the back to self-correct. This will help you understand your own learning process and help you recognize your own progress, prioritize concepts as you prepare for the exam, and synthesize material for improved long-term retention.

5) ASK QUESTIONS! Chances are that other students will benefit from clarification, as well. You are welcome to visit me during my office hours or by individual appointment for help on current assignments, suggestions for effective studying, to work on a specific skill (speaking, listening…) or to discuss your performance. In addition, I encourage you to take advantage of the Academic Assistance Center or to work with a ********FREE******** peer tutor!

6) FORM STUDY GROUPS! Studying with others will greatly increase your retention of vocabulary and grammatical points—and you’ll have more fun.

7) COME SEE ME! If anything is confusing, or if you would like more help with something, stop by my office hours. I am very happy to help you.

BACK TO TOP

 
University Grading Standards:
A: achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet course requirements
B: achievement that is significantly above the level necessary to meet course requirements
C: achievement that meets the course requirements in every respect
D: achievement that is worthy of credit even though it fails to meet fully the course requirements
S: achievement that is satisfactory; equivalent to a C- or better
F or N: represents failure (or no credit) and signifies that the work was either:
1. completed but at a level of achievement that is not worthy of credit, or
2. was not completed and there is no agreement between the instructor and the student that the student would be awarded an incomplete.
I: incomplete, a temporary grade that indicates coursework has not been completed.
Incompletes will only be assigned when, due to extraordinary circumstances, the student was prevented from completing coursework on time. An I requires a written agreement between the instructor and the student specifying the time and manner in which the student will complete the course requirements during the next year.

BACK TO TOP

Programme du cours

BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP

BACK TO TOP

EXAMEN FINAL:
SECTION 1 (9:15): 8:30-10:30 am, Thursday, Dec. 22nd
SECTION 2 (10:30): 11:00-1:00 pm, Tuesday, December 20th