SY2010-2011
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE TITLE:
French I
PREREQUISITE:
None
DESCRIPTION:
Students experience an introduction to the French language and to
the culture of the French-speaking world. The basic objectives are
to help each student attain an acceptable degree of proficiency in
the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, and to
present the language within the context of the contemporary
French-speaking world and its culture.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Culture
CREDIT INFO:
Students will learn to recognize the French alphabet, distinguish
sounds in French, discern intonation patterns, and comprehend
vocabulary, phrases, and simple sentences, common to daily life.
Students will learn to recite and use the alphabet with proper
intonation, pronounce isolated sounds progressing from monosyllabic
words to multisyllabic words, pronounce phrases and simple sentences
with accurate intonation, and use learned utterances appropriately in
asking and answering questions.
Students will learn to recognize written symbols, words and phrases,
in isolation or in context, and interpret their implications and
ramifications.
Students will learn to copy and/or reproduce from memory in a
progressive manner, letters, syllables, words, phrases, and simple
sentences; make appropriate responses to questions; write guided
sentences; compose dialogues and simple paragraphs combining active
vocabulary and learned grammatical structures.
Students will be able to acquire knowledge of daily life, customs, and
current events; become aware of verbal and non-verbal cultural
differences. They will identify francophone countries and overseas
departments, know basic geographic features of France, and become
cognizant of the contributions of the French to the American way of
life.
This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign
language requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three
years of one language or two years each of two languages).
Students who receive credit for French I in middle school may
count this course in meeting both credit and subject area
graduation requirements.
SY2010-2011
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE TITLE:
French II
PREREQUISITE:
French I
DESCRIPTION:
The second level course continues the emphasis on the
communication skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
Written work emphasizes vocabulary development, semantics,
syntax, and composition with special attention to use of primary
verb tenses. Vocabulary is taught in context, practiced through
multimedia, and reinforced with written exercises. Since the
speech of people is so interwoven into their way of life, the student
examines the customs and manners of the people.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Culture
CREDIT INFO:
Students will learn to distinguish more complex sound patterns in
French, refine rhythm and intonation patterns, comprehend sentence
length utterances by a variety of people, and assimilate acquired
material and apply it to basic personal background and needs.
Students will refine and reinforce learned pronunciation patterns,
combine and recombine previously learned elements in statements,
questions, and answers; and initiate and sustain limited conversation.
Students will enlarge vocabulary through the study of cognates, word
families, synonyms, and antonyms; and read with increasing
comprehension the materials essential for everyday living.
Students will demonstrate good writing habits, write statements and
formulate questions which will demonstrate comprehension of the
present, past, and near future; vary constructions, write guided
paragraphs and dialogues in which they will incorporate preceding
skills; and use previously learned vocabulary and structures to
compose paragraphs on designated topics.
Students will become aware of Franco-American similarities and
differences and increase their knowledge of francophone countries.
This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign
language requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three
years of one language or two years each of two languages.
SY2010-2011
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE TITLE:
French III
PREREQUISITE:
French II
DESCRIPTION:
Students increase proficiency in all phases of language study. The
class provides an ongoing review of basic structures taught in the
first two years. A reinforcement of the communicative skills may
be encouraged through conversation, exposition, and selected
readings, which reflect the customs, character, and traditions of the
French. Written work involves composition, vocabulary
development, and grammatical skills, with special emphasis on
verb tenses.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Culture
CREDIT INFO:
Students will distinguish more complex structures and assimilate
acquired material and apply it to new text.
Students will incorporate complex sentence patterns, give
extemporaneous oral presentations; resolve many individual
difficulties in pronunciation, stress, and intonation, and use the French
language as the primary means of communication in the classroom.
Students will acquire a broader vocabulary through selected readings,
expand horizons, and comprehend simple texts for personal
communication, recreation, or informational purposes; and understand
some main ideas and information from texts of a higher level.
Students will manifest good writing sills, compose paragraphs in
which they will apply more complex structures; convey information or
ideas for social and academic purposes; and write creatively on
assigned topics.
Students will develop further awareness of francophone countries;
compare some aspects of French and American culture and recognize
contributions of outstanding individuals.
This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign
language requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three
years of one language or two years each of two languages).
SY2010-2011
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE TITLE:
French IV Honors
PREREQUISITE:
French III
DESCRIPTION:
Students continue building proficiency in French by thoroughly
reviewing previously learned grammar and vocabulary concepts at
a more expansive, rigorous mode of study. Excerpts of authentic
readings from novels, short stories, plays, and other genres give the
student an opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the
Francophone cultures of the world and real-life application of the
language. This course is the first in a sequence of two preparatory
curricula for the 2012 Advanced Placement ® French Language
and Culture examination. This course is taught in French.
MAIN TOPICS:
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Culture
CREDIT INFO:
Students will sustain understanding over longer stretches of connected
discourse and grasp principal ideas of more specialized presentations
by native speakers.
Students will demonstrate ability to communicate in a variety of
contexts with wider range of grammatical structures and with greater
accuracy. They will also give impromptu presentations and use French
for the majority of classroom communication.
Students will read a wider variety of authentic texts with a greater
consistency of comprehension alongside development of an awareness
of writing styles.
Students will express present and future time, use past tenses,
circumlocute occasionally to express thoughts, write social
correspondence, compose texts of several paragraphs on familiar
topics, and take notes on topics using familiar vocabulary. They may
also write summaries and/or compose reaction essays to authentic
texts read in class.
Students will keep abreast of French current events, acquire greater
insight into the culture of the French speaking people through various
media, and make cross-cultural comparisons.
This course provides one credit beyond fulfilling the foreign
language requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma (three
years of one language or two years each of two languages). This
course is weighted due to the rigorous, pre-AP expectations
maintained in the instructional practices for completing this
curriculum.
SY2010-2011
AP French Language
Course Overview
En Bonne Forme is the primary textbook. It serves as a source for all essential grammatical structures.
Literary excerpts from En Bonne Forme and other texts as well as mixed media sources serve as a
springboard for grammar, speaking, listening, reading and writing skills development. Language skills are
further refined through prepared oral presentations, debates, and written responses to questions presented in
class. Through writing and speaking on a wide range of topics, students expand their vocabulary, develop
their writing style in French, and improve their critical thinking skills—all in the target language. The use
of English in the classroom is not permitted. Listening skills continue to be developed by participating in
classroom discussions, viewing and discussing French films and listening to French songs and recordings
by francophone speakers. Periodically, students assess their progress by taking Released AP Exams.
COURSE PLANNER
First Quarter
·
Grammar: present, (immediate past, near future, use of depuis)
imperative.
Topics: school (ideal student), poetry of Jacques Prévert.
·
Grammar: past tense, imperfect past (use of depuis), pluperfect.
Topics: marriage, celebrations, childhood memories.
·
Grammar: subjunctive mood (past and present) and stem changing verbs.
Topics: friendship, emotions.
·
Students read Le Petit Prince d’Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Second Quarter
·
Grammar: infinitive (present and past) with prepositions (à and de),
reflexive verbs and passive voice.
Topics: family, young people, cinema.
·
Grammar: future, future anterior
Topics: New Year resolutions.
·
Grammar: conditional (present and past), conditional with si clause
Topics: the environment
An exam is given at the end of the 1st Semester with components that resemble
the AP Exam.
Third Quarter
· Grammar: nouns and adjectives (placement, agreement (regular and
irregular)
Topics: health, describing people and things, housing.
·
Grammar: articles
Topics: food, eating habits.
·
Grammar: relative, demonstrative, possessive and personal object
pronouns (past participle agreement)
Topics: poverty, descriptions, ceremonies, travel.
SY2010-2011
Fourth Quarter
· Grammar: comparative, superlative and present participle (gerund)
Topics: roads and driving.
TEACHING STRATEGIES
The expectation is that French will be used by all students at all times during class.
Students’ class participation grades reflect a strong requirement that they use only French in the classroom.
Speaking:
Students will listen, speak to one another and read aloud in French. Every day students will narrate,
describe and explain reading contents, images, picture sequences or other visual cues either to a partner, the
teacher or a tape. Throughout the year, students will prepare picture sequence presentations and questions
for homework to be taped in class the following day using cassette players. After the recording, students
listen to themselves and comment on their own performance. The teacher listens to the recordings and gives
them feedback as well as a grade. Later in the year, the picture sequence will be spontaneous.
In addition, students will prepare different subjects to present to the class (such as: newspaper articles,
poetry recitation, TV5, surveys, debates, roleplay, speeches and discussions).
They will work in small groups to prepare skits and dialogs. These are sometimes videotaped, so that they
can reflect on their performance.
Assessment: use of picture sequence, dialogs, skits, story–telling, reports, free response and class
participation.
Listening:
Throughout the year, students will be using a variety of authentic audio and video recordings to develop
their listening skills:
Students will be doing listening exercises from En Bonne Forme, from the AP French, Preparing for the
Language Examination and from Quant à Moi throughout the year.
Students will listen to music selections and do exercises based on them.
Students will view film clips (with/without French subtitles) to later discuss and write about the different
themes.
Assessment: audio textbook exercises, debate, extemporaneous responses to film/television clips, cloze
exercises from music clips
Reading:
Vocabulary building: throughout the year students will receive thematic vocabulary lists and corresponding
exercises. As they read from their textbook or any other source, they note the new vocabulary they
encounter. When reading and presenting to the class, they share a list of vocabulary with the class.
Students will be reading the literary excerpts from En Bonne Forme and Quant à Moi.
Other sources for reading will come from former AP exams, newspaper articles, the Internet, or other print
sources.
Students are strongly encouraged to read independently and prepare a written or oral summary pertaining to
these readings.
During the 1st Semester, students will be reading Le Petit Prince and completing vocabulary, grammar and
comprehension exercises pertaining to the text.
Assessment: textbook quizzes/tests on vocabulary and reading passages, summaries of written media
sources.
Writing:
SY2010-2011
Students will be writing regularly. They will be answering the questions following the readings from each
chapter of En Bonne Forme. They will write essays routinely on themes based from their primary textbook,
from other text sources and from selected topics from the AP French, Preparing for the Language
Examination and Quant à Moi texts. The essays will be planned to reflect the grammar they are reviewing
at the time.
To encourage the use of idioms and proverbs in their compositions, students will be presented with a new
idiom/proverb every week.
Assessment: journals, compositions, creative and persuasive writings, timed writings, cloze activities,
reports and research projects.
Text Resources
Renaud Dietiker, Simone and Dominique Van Hoof . En Bonne Forme.
7th ed. Houghton Miffllin Company, 2001.
Ladd, Richard and Colette Girard. AP French, Preparing for the Language Examination
2nd ed. Prentice Hall, 1998.
Amiry, Laila.How to Prepare for the AP French 2nd ed. Barron’s, 2004.
Bragger, Jeannette and Donald B. Rice. Quant à Moi 3 rd ed. Thomson and Heinle, 2005.
Additional Sources:
Muyskens, Judith A., Linda H. Harlow, Michèle Vialet and JeanFrançois
Brière. Bravo 5th ed. Thomson and Heinle, 2005.
Sturges II, Hale, Linda Cregg Nielsen and Henry L. Herbst. Une Fois Pour Toutes. 2 nd
ed. Longman, 1992.
Schunk, Susan and Janet Waisbrot. Explorations 4th ed. Thomson and Heinle, 2001.
St. Onge, Susan, Ronald St. Onge, and Katherine Kulick. Intéraction.
6th ed. Thomson and Heinle, 2003
Films:
·
·
·
·
·
Cyrano de Bergerac
Jean de Florette
Manon des Sources
Le Petit Prince
Amélie
Web sites:
www.lemonde.fr
www.lefigaro.fr
www.tv5.org
www.rfi.fr
www.paroles.net
www.french.about.com
www.yahoo.fr
SY2010-2011
CREDIT INFO:
This course provides one credit toward fulfilling the foreign
language requirements for an Advanced Studies Diploma. All
students enrolled in AP classes are expected to take AP
examination. AP final grades are “weighted” by 1.0 if the student
passes the course and takes the related examination.