French Year 2 Instructor and Contact Information: Madame Melanie Taylor 615.822.2375 x 4058 melanie.taylor@jp2hs.org Tutorials: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:15-­‐4:15 Course Description and Objectives: Bienvenue en cours de français 2! (Welcome to French 2). This course is
designed for students who have completed French level 1 or an equivalent course.
Advanced French 2 students have been recommended for the faster-paced level.
I hope you will find this class a rewarding experience. Learning a new language and
culture is a vital part of a comprehensive education, allowing you a window into many
new cultures, and giving you a new set of cognitive problem-solving tools that you
would not otherwise have.
Using a multifaceted approach with emphasis on listening, speaking, reading,
and writing, students will continue to learn to communicate at a basic level of French.
This includes an increased acquisition of conversational and situational vocabulary,
and using appropriate grammar to write short compositions in French using both
present and past tenses. Students will also engage in further exploration of
francophone places and cultures. Students are encouraged to continue to be more
comfortable speaking French. Communication is the focus while grammatically
correct sentence structure does become more important now that the basic
structures of French are in place. Advanced level students will go more in-depth with
their projects/presentations as well as producing more short compositions than the
standard level.
“The sum of human wisdom is not contained in any one
language.”
–Ezra Pound, 1885-1972
Semester One Length of Unit of Study Revisons! (Let’s review!) 1 week, 3-­‐5 class meetings In-­‐between unit involving vocab games and grammar review of essential first year French. Unit 7: On vacation! (Includes more Approx. 4 weeks past tense with the verb être, direct object pronouns, formation of adverbs, introduction to the imperfect tense, as well as traveling and hotel/airport vocabulary. Geography and names of countries in French as well as prepositions before countries and modes of transport also studied.) Unit 8: Our house! (Includes home and chores vocabulary (rooms, furniture) as well as the verbs “to know” and the imperfect vs. the past tense with related story project) Approximately 4 weeks Unit 9: À table! (Food and table setting vocabulary, the market, double object pronouns (using direct and indirect in the same sentence), making comparisons, and the verbs venir, devoir, vouloir, and pouvoir.) 2nd quarter, 9 weeks Semester 2 Culture, regions of France and food across francophone world, place of food in French culture Unit 10: Health! (Vocabulary to Approximately 5 weeks describe one’s morning routine, pain and symptoms at the doctor, the pronouns y and en, and primarily learning about and using reflexive verbs in this unit) Unit 11: La technologie (vocabulary to describe how students use technology, more with reflexive verbs (reciprocal reflexives), infinitive verbs that take prepositions, ouvrir/offrir, relative pronouns and building more complex sentences.) Describing our relationships with others and the place of technology. Approximately 5 weeks Unit 12: En Ville! (More vocabulary for different places around town, errands, and giving/following directions, the future tense, and more negation expressions such as never, no one, nowhere, etc.) Approximately 5 weeks 2 flexible weeks built in to second semester for pacing, extra week for National French Exam prep and administration. Assessment Forms and Types for French Year 2 Type Description Assessment Form Includes homework and class work
accuracy. Types of work vary and may
Homework,
Daily work to include but are not limited to
and class work
help students assignments from the textbook,
practice or workbook pages, worksheets, and
review assignments from the super site website
vocabulary and program that accompanies the textbook.
Veracross
grammar This category also includes assignments
category
concepts covered geared towards reading
code=
com prehension. Random and
in class. “HW Accuracy” periodic homework quizzes also fall into
this category.
Approx. Weight 20% TESTS v/c code= Quizzes, Lesson or Unit Tests “Test” Quizzes are short assessments for specific vocabulary and/or grammar concepts. Lesson tests include listening comprehension, reading comprehension, and writing. They are in multiple choice, fill in the blank, and short answer format. They will also often involve speaking, and include but are not limited to: brief class presentations, skits, prayer/scripture recitations, and individual interviews with Madame Taylor. 25% Performance Assessments USUALLY assessments of student’s ability V/C code= to speak French. “Performance” Speaking may be combined with reading or listening skills. These assessments involve multiple skills (interpretation and communication) and allow the instructor to assess student’s ability to function in the French language. Communication is usually the primary goal as opposed to grammatical accuracy and perfect pronunciation. Projects vary and usually include both written and spoken elements. *Performance Assessments are spontaneous and cannot be specifically prepared in advance. However, students will have an idea of what to expect and will have practiced the necessary skills. There will be a minimum of one per unit. 30% Listening Assessments of the student’s listening comprehension skills Includes but is not limited to dictations, lab manual assignments, audio passages from the textbook, and usually multiple choice, fill in the blank, and short answer format. 15% Quarterly Class Participation Combination of lifelong learning objectives and daily, active participation in class Entered as a quarterly grade, this includes items such as being on-­‐time to class, having all homework completed, required binder and textbook present, active participation in all class activities, and a periodic check of the maintenance of student’s French binder, class behavior, etc. Everyone starts out at 100% in this category but points are deducted for not complying with above-­‐mentioned elements of class participation. 10% EXAMS Mid-­‐Term and Final Exams Multiple choice, fill in the verb conjugation charts, written essay or short answer written responses in French, speaking. Exams are cumulative for each term and include listening and reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, writing, and speaking. In its own category, the exams count 20% of the semester grade each term v/c code= “Worksheet” Materials:
Espaces SECOND EDITION, books and materials by Vista Higher Learning. These are
the same materials that were purchased for French 1. J
In addition to the textbook, workbook, lab manual, and supersite website access,
students are also required to keep a 3-ring binder with 6 dividers and
loose-leaf paper for note taking. This binder is to be used for French
class only. The teacher will instruct students as to how to set up and organize their
binder during the first weeks of instruction. A periodic assessment of the binder will
be included in the student’s class participation grade.
Class policies/procedures:
A French 2 student NEVER has “no homework.” Learning a new language takes practice and students
will be expected to spend a minimum of 20 minutes outside of class time each day to review
vocabulary and grammar concepts covered in class in addition to their written assignments/projects.
Because communicative practice is indispensable to the language learning process, attendance and
participation in French 2 is an important part of your grade. Learning French is more than reading and
writing. It is THE STUDENT’S responsibility to request work missed and to reschedule quizzes and
exams. This should be done during tutorial hours.
1. Late work: Late work due to excused absence will be given full credit (within a reasonable
time frame/deadline mutually determined by teacher and student) but late homework for
other reasons (i.e. Freshman homework detention, “forgot,” etc.) must be turned in at the
next class meeting to receive 70% of earned score. If the work is not turned in at the
following class meeting or a freshman fails so show up after school for freshman homework
detention, the assignment will receive a maximum score of 50% of earned score. For nonfreshmen, the 50% of earned score will be in effect until the third class meeting, after which
the grade will be a permanent zero. Please come see me after school or during tutorials to
discuss a timeline for make up work in cases of EXCUSED absence. I’m here to help you! J
2. Unauthorized aid: It is very obvious to me when you are using French at a higher level than
what you have studied. I’ve been teaching French at multiple levels for 14 years. J
Therefore, you should complete assignments with grammar and vocabulary studied in class or
from your TEXTBOOK and NEVER with an electronic or online translator, or with the help of
other people who have studied French before if they are giving you answers. Peer help only
authorized during specific in-class activities supervised by Mme Taylor. (Students will sign a
VERITAS pledge specifically related to French class which will have acceptable sources of aid
outlined.)
Additional expectations: Mind your P’s!
Practice Peace toward your classmates and treat others how you would want to be treated!
Participate actively in all class activities! Don’t talk when Madame T is talking; speak only French
during activities where speaking French is expected. Try to speak French as much as possible.
Pay attention: Know where we are and write down assignments!
Preparation/Practice: Homework and practice activities vital to your success as well as your
grade!
Positive attitude: learning a new language isn’t always easy, but stay positive! Je peux! (I can!)
Please avoid problems by coming to see me! It is better to come with a few questions and fix
small problems before they turn into larger ones. I love to teach French and want you to do well! I
look forward to working with you AGAIN! Allons au travail! (Let’s get to work! J)
-Mad T
Parents/Guardians:
I have read Mme Taylor’s French syllabus with my
student,_______________________(student name) and I understand the policies.
_____________________________________________________________(print name)
_____________________________________________________________(signature)
_______________(date)
VERITAS Agreement: JP2 FRENCH CLASSES
Students shall not use any aids for assignments except those listed below. Any student found or suspected with a high level of evidence of using
unacceptable aids on a classroom or homework assignment will be given a zero for that assignment. For projects, presentations, essays,
quizzes/tests, exams, or exam essays, the student will be referred to the VERITAS Council. Note that at any point within a given assignment the list
of acceptable and unacceptable/unauthorized aids may be altered. An online translator such as google translate or native/experienced French
speaker’s help is not permitted on ANY assignment.
Homework: Students shall work on homework ALONE. No student shall copy any assignment from another student. All homework is explained in
class with the first example from each exercise done together. There is no excuse for not making an honest effort to complete ALL SECTIONS of a
homework assignment. Incomplete homework or rushing/scribbling in answers during passing time or at the very beginning of class will result in an
automatic 70% starting score. To complete homework, students are only allowed to use the textbook, class notes, or French/English
dictionary (though dictionaries are really discouraged until French level 3 due to lack of ability to use them properly until further study of French has
occurred). Students should use vocabulary that is at THEIR CURRENT FRENCH LEVEL in order to avoid the temptation to use an online or
personal translator.
French Workbooks and Lab Manuals (listening activities): Students may not under any circumstance turn in answers on loose-leaf paper in
place of the workbook page(s). The paper will not be accepted for a grade and the student will earn a zero. It does not matter if the student states
that he/she “used another student’s workbook that had not yet been filled out.” There is no way to check the student’s story, and in any case, it
represents a lack of organization and responsibility on the part of the student to have his/her workbook ready for class. If a student loses a workbook
or workbook page, he/she should make a photocopy from a fellow student’s workbook before classmate has begun the assignment, or see Madame
Taylor after school or during tutorial hours. Students will be given one month to replace a lost workbook after which no more photocopies will be
accepted and zeros will be earned on all remaining workbook page assignments.
Class work: Class work should be completed individually with a student’s own resources (i.e. dictionary, class notes, textbook). When group/partner
work is permitted, all group members should participate actively; group members should not copy from each other’s work.
Presentations, projects, essays: Anything requiring research should be documented and cited. NO ONLINE TRANSLATOR shall be used! Students
should see the teacher with rough drafts for feedback. If these opportunities are taken seriously with the best personal attempts at completing the
task, students will feel less pressure to translate via an unauthorized source when the due date arrives. No student shall take personal credit for
parts of an assignment that he/she did not complete. This also represents a form of cheating.
Bottom line: If you are not sure how to say/write something in French, re-phrase it to say it in a different way using French that you have
learned. DO NOT USE AN ONLINE TRANSLATOR. See Madame Taylor with any questions you have! I am a kind and helpful Francophile
who loves to help you learn French. You can’t say the same thing about your computer. J
Name________________________________
Date________________________________
I pledge VERITAS/Je jure VERITAS______________________________________________________ (signature)
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
JPII French Espaces Supersite Agreement I understand that if I do not have my supersites (and/or WebSAMS, if applicable) done at the time Madame Taylor enters them into veracross, it is up to ME to PHYSICALLY show up during tutorial times or right after school if I wish to receive late credit. During this time, I may ask her to log on, verify that I did complete them late, and watch her update my grade showing this in veracross.Failure to do so will result in the zero remaining on end of quarter grades. Just remember it this way: “If I do them late, I am the one who must go through a little extra disruption to my schedule to ensure that I receive the late credit.” Any supersites not completed within 10 days of due date will not be accepted. Print Name___________________________________________Signature____________________________________________________ Date:_____________________________________________ *(10% penalty per day is automatic penalty on supersite as of 10/30/13)