French 2
Teacher: Christopher Houseman Email: christopher.houseman@sausd.us
Phone: (714) 569-6300 x 69509 Room: 302
Textbook: Vallette, Jean-Paul and Vallette, Rébecca: Discovering French Nouveau 2
(Blanc), Evanston, Illinois: McDougal Littell, 2007.
Course Description
French 2 is a second-year French course designed to build on language students
acquired in French 1. Students succeeding in French 2 will be able to relate
simple narratives in the past using both the passé composé and the imparfait
(imperfect) tenses. Students will also gain familiarity and understanding of object
and adverbial pronouns and reflexive verbs. Topics discussed include: making
phone calls, planning excursions, shopping for food, and the body and health.
Dates
Sept.-Oct.
Nov.-Dec.
January
Feb.-Mar.
Mar.-Apr.
May-June
French 2 Course Calendar
Unité/Themes
Grammar
Unité 1: Qui suis-je?
passé composé with avoir
Unité 2: Le week-end, enfin!
passé composé with être
Unité 3: Bon appétit!
le partitif, expressions of quantity,
pouvoir, vouloir, devoir
First Semester Final Test
Unité 4: Loisirs et spectacles! savoir vs. connaître, object
pronouns le, la, les, me, te, nous,
vous, lui, leur
Unité 5: Vive le sport!
adverbial pronouns en and y,
hygiene, reflexive verbs
Unité 5: Chez nous
the imparfait, contrasting the
imparfait and the passé composé
Second Semester Final Test
Grading Policy
I. Classwork
Various assignments including warm-ups—25%
II. Homework—15%
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Homework will be checked the day following the day it is assigned. Students
completing homework assignments on time will receive 3 points. Students who
complete homework one day late will receive 2 points. Students with excused
absences may delay submission of homework with no penalty corresponding to
the number of days they are excused. Otherwise no homework later than one
day will be accepted.
III. Quizzes—15%
Quizzes will usually be given on Friday, and usually test vocabulary or oral
proficiency. Students with excused absences will be excused from the quiz.
IV. Projects—20% Projects are often flashcards of the words that are tested on
the weekly quizzes. There will be other projects such as reports and role-plays
from time to time. Project due dates are flexible in order to work around students’
schedules.
V. Tests—25% Students with excused absences may make up unit tests.
Make-Up Work
Students who miss class should check the binder labeled ‘French Lesson Plans’
in order to see what they missed.
Grading Scale
<90% A
70%-79% C
>60% F
80%-89% B
60%-69% D
Note: Colleges/Universities do not accept a ‘D’ grade or less when considering a
student for admission
Classroom Rules
Saddleback High School has a TRACK policy. TRACK stands for:
Tolerance
Responsibility
Achievement
Community
Keep on Track!
Guidelines for the behaviors that best represent this policy are in every
classroom on two posters: one for classroom behavior, and one for school-wide
behavior.
Students should adhere to the TRACK guidelines to achieve the best results both
socially and academically.
Tips for Doing Well in French Class
I really do want you to succeed in French class. Here are some basic ways you can do well in
this class:
1. Come to class.
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2. Focus: do not draw, write notes, do work for other classes. Be an active
learner. While others are answering questions, you try to figure out the answer
as well.
3. Participate.
4. Take notes.
5. Do your homework.
6. Review what we have learned by studying the textbook every day.
7. Pay attention to the song.
There is at least one song in every class. Many students learn better through
music than by any other method. The songs are chosen because they:
a. stress a certain grammar point we are working on at the moment
b. are a well-known part of French or francophone culture
c. have lyrics that are easy to understand
d. are good songs.
Try to understand a little more of the song each time you hear it.
8. Get to know your textbook. The textbook is a wonderful resource full of
stories, pictures, grammar explanations, cultural notes, maps, and vocabulary
lists.
9. Study outside of class. Watch a movie with French subtitles. Get a French
book, magazine, comic book, or CD-ROM from a bookstore to reinforce what you
learn in class. Go to websites such as French at About (french.about.com) to test
yourself with quizzes on-line.
10. Make connections with English (or Spanish)
The more you read in English, the more you will discover connections to French
words and phrases. The French word for teeth is dents, similar to the English
words ‘dentist’ and ‘dental’ and the Spanish dientes. Some common French
words are obscure English words, for example the phrase chef d’œuvre is
sometimes used in English rather than the more common ‘masterpiece’. Some
phrases from art, fashion, or news are taken directly from French, for example
trompe l’œil, prêt-à-porter, and coup d’etat.
11. Come in for tutoring after school. FAST (French After School Tutoring) will
be held regularly. In addition, Mr. Houseman is generally available on other days
as well.
Materials
Recommended materials include: a pen or pencil, eraser, notebook, planner, or
agenda to write assignments in, and index cards for vocabulary practice.
Equipment
Students are not to come in contact with teacher’s desk, storage, the ELMO/LCD
projector, the TV/VCR/DVD, or other equipment and materials in the room.
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Interruptions
Students should be polite when other people come into the room.
Fire and disaster drills
Students must be quiet and orderly during drills. Students will follow the teacher
and line up on the basketball court in the place designated for room 203.
Cheating
Students caught cheating on tests or quizzes will receive a grade of ‘F’ for the
semester.
National Standards—French
Communication
1.1 Students engage in conversations or correspondence in French to provide and obtain
information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions.
1.2 Students understand and interpret spoken and written French on a variety of topics.
1.3 Students present information, concepts, and ideas in French to an audience of
listeners or readers.
Cultures
2.1 Students demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between the practices and
perspectives of the cultures of the francophone world.
2.2 Students demonstrate an understanding between the products and perspectives of the
cultures of the francophone world.
Connections
3.1 Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through French.
3.2 Students acquire information and recognize the distinctive viewpoints that are only
available through francophone cultures.
Comparisons
4.1 Students demonstrate understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of
French and their native language.
4.2 Students demonstrate understanding of the concept of culture through comparisons of
francophone cultures and their own.
Communities
5.1 Students use French both within and beyond the school setting.
5.2 Students show evidence of becoming lifelong learners by using French for personal
enjoyment and enrichment.
Dear Parent/Guardian: After having read the syllabus, please complete and sign
the form attached. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to
contact me.
French 2
_______________________________________
(Please PRINT the student’s name clearly)
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I have read and understand the syllabus.
_______________________________________
(Please PRINT the parent/guardian’s name)
_______________________________________
(Parent/Guardian’s signature)
____________________
(Date)
What is the best way to get in touch with you? ___________________________
Phone numbers:
(W) ________________________
Best time to call: _____________________
(H) _____________ ___________
Best time to call: _____________________
Cell ________________________
Best time to call: _____________________
e-mail _________________________________________________
Is there anything important in terms of school success that you would like to
share with me about your child?
STUDENT DATA
(Please complete)
__________________________________________
(Please PRINT your name clearly)
Schedule
Period
Subject
Teacher
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Classroom
1.
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ASAP
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2.
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3.
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4.
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5.
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6.
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What is the best way to get in touch with you?
Phone numbers:
(Home): _________ ___________
Best time to call: _____________________
(Cell):___________ ___________
Best time to call: _____________________
e-mail: __________________________________________________________
Tell me two things that you think it is important for me to know about you:
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