AP French Language and Culture Course Syllabus
I.
Course Description
This is a rigorous fourth year language course designed to prepare students for the AP French
Language and Culture Examination. This course provides students with opportunities to
demonstrate proficiency in the Intermediate to Pre-Advanced range. Class will be conducted
exclusively in French in order to provide students with the atmosphere necessary to develop
proficiency in the target language. Students will be exposed to a variety of authentic audio and
video recordings. Authentic written texts such as newspaper and magazine articles, as well as
literary texts, will also be key components of this course of study. The units of study for this
course will be centered on the six course themes: Global Challenges, Science and Technology,
Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, and Beauty and
Aesthetics. Students will study these themes in a variety of contexts and will develop a solid
understanding of the issues related to each one of them. When communicating, whether written
or oral, students in the AP French Language and Culture course should demonstrate a strong
understanding of the various Francophone cultures, make connections with other disciplines,
as well as form comparisons between the target language and the native language in authentic
settings.
II.
Textbooks and Other Sources
Primary Texts
1. Réseau- Pearson Learning
ISBN-9780132413923
Supplementary Texts
1.Allons au-delà! (R Ladd)
ISBN –9780133179538
2.AP French Preparing for the Language and Culture Examination ( R Ladd)
ISBN-978-0-13-317537-0 (Pearson) 2012
Web Resources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/news/
http://www.france-amerique.com/
http://www.mangerbouger.fr/
http://www.tv5.org/cms/USA/p
www.lefrancaisbis.com
www.rfi.fr
www.rtl.fr/podcasts
www.conte-moi.net/home.php
http://lingtlanguage.com
www.elanguages.org
www.commeaucinema.com
www.wordreference.com
www.radiofrance.fr
www.youtube.com
AP French Language and Culture Units
Unité # 1
La Famille et la Communauté
Vocabulaire 1-Les Rapports Sociaux (Age and Class), L’enfance et l’adolescence
Vocabulaire 2- Les Coutumes, La Famille, L’Amitié et l’Amour
Essential Questions: 1) W hat constitutes a family in different societies? 2) How do
individuals contribute to the well-being of communities? 3) How do the roles that
families and communities assume differ in the societies around the world?
Grammaire : 1) L’impératif et On 2) Les expressions temporelles : depuis, depuis que, il y a….
que, etc. 3) Passe Compose v. Imparfait
Unité #2
La Vie Contemporaine
Vocabulaire 1-La Publicité et le Marketing, L’Education et l’Enseignement, Les Fêtes
Vocabulaire 2- Le logement, Les Loisirs et le Sport, Le Monde de Travail
Vocabulaire 3- Les Rites de Passage, Les Voyages
Essential Questions: 1) How do societies and individuals define quality of life? 2)
How is contemporary life influenced by cultural products, practices, and
perspectives? 3) What are the challenges of contemporary life?
Grammaire: 1) Futur simple et Conditionnel 2) Les Adjectifs et les Adverbes
Comparatif et le Superlatif 4) Transition words
Unité #3
3) Le
Les Défis Mondiaux
Vocabulaire 1- La Tolérance, L’Economie
Vocabulaire 2- La Santé, Les Droits de l’Etre Humain, L’Environnement
Vocabulaire 3- L’Alimentation, La Paix et la Guerre
Essential Questions: 1) What environmental, political, and social issues propose
challenges to societies throughout the world? 2) What a re the origins of those
issues? 3) What are the possible solutions to those problems?
Grammaire: 1) La Négation 2) Adjectifs et Pronoms Possessifs 3) Pronoms Relatifs
Unité #4
La Quête de Soi
Vocabulaire 1- L’Aliénation et L’Assimilation, Les Croyances et les Systèmes de Valeur
Vocabulaire 2- Identité biologique, Identité linguistique
Vocabulaire 3- Le pluriculturalisme, le nationalisme et patriotisme
Essential Questions: 1) How are aspects of identity expressed in various
situations? 2) How do language and culture influence identity? 3) How does one’s
identity develop over time?
Grammaire: Le Subjonctif- présent et passé
Unité #5
La Science et La Technologie
Vocabulaire 1- La Recherche et ses Nouvelles Frontières, Les Découvertes et les Inventions
Vocabulaire 2- Les Choix Moraux, L’Avenir et la Technologie, La Propriété Intellectuelle
Vocabulaire 3- Les Nouveaux Moyens de Communication, La Technologie et ses Effets sur la
Société
Essential Questions: 1) How do developments in science and technology affect our
lives? 2) What factors have driven information innovation and discovery in the
fields of science and technology? 3) What role do ethics play in scientific
advancement?
Grammaire : 1) Les Pronoms y et en 2) La place des pronoms compléments
Présent, Gérondifs, le participe passé et présent
Unité #6
3) Participe
L’Esthétique
Vocabulaire 1- L’Architecture, Le Patrimoine, Le Beauté
Vocabulaire 2- Les Arts Littéraire, La Musique
Vocabulaire 3- Les Arts de Spectacle, Les Arts Visuelles
Essential Questions: 1) How are perceptions of beauty and creativity established?
2) How do ideals of beauty and aesthetics influence everyday life? 3) How do the
arts both challenge and reflect cultural perspectives?
Grammaire:1) Futur Antérieur, Conditionnel Passé, et Plus que parfait
Unité #7
Préparation pour L’Examen
Practice Tests and Feedback
2) Faire expressions
Assessments
The purpose of this course is to help students develop their skills in the French language. The
goal is to have students move from the novice levels of communication into the intermediate
levels of communication as outlined by ACTFL. This is a foundational course that will help the
students develop the skills to become fluent in the language. Students will be assessed
formally and informally. Informal assessments will be given every day in class. Formal
assessments will be in the form of quizzes and tests. Students will have some kind of formal
assessment every week of class. The majority of each student’s grade will be based on
performance assessments (TESTS). Students will be expected to demonstrate their ability to
communicate in interpersonal, presentational, and interpretive situations.
Homework/Classwork
Students will staple and turn in all completed homework and classwork at the end of every
week. This will include board work that students complete daily. This will be turned into the
basket by the teacher’s desk.
Makeup work/Late Work
Students have three days according to CCSD regulations to turn in work after an absence. All
assignments are turned in on Friday. If you were absent that week you have until the following
week to turn it in. Please turn it in separately from your current week’s homework and mark it
as MAKE UP WORK. This helps with correct identification. All assignments are due on Friday,
so I do not accept late work from students who were in class but chose not to complete the
assignments on time.
Extra Credit- THERE IS NO EXTRA CREDIT GIVEN IN THIS CLASS, SO PLEASE DO NOT
ASK.
Grading System
Students will be given grades based on a five point rubric. These points represent the different
levels of performance in the three modes of communication. These points are represented by
the following grades.
Score
Points in Grade book
Letter Grade
5
8 pts
A
4
7 pts
B
3
6 pts
C
2
5 pts
D
1
4 pts
F
0
0 pts
F – for not taking the assessment after
being given ample opportunity to
take it.
Quarter and Semester Grades
Quarter and Semester Grades are based mainly on student performance in the three modes of
communication. Homework/Classwork and Quizzes are designed to help the students practice
the skills and assess what needs to be done to prepare for the major assessments. These
major assessments are worth 90 % of the student’s grade. Students must study, learn, and
practice the language in order to get a good grade in the class. Students cannot make up for
bad grades by doing extra credit or through making up homework assignments. Students must
perform on the assessments in order to get a good grade. Except for semester exams,
students will be given the opportunity to retake major assessments. These opportunities will
take place on their own time after school or before school. If students do not take advantage of
these opportunities, the original grade on the assessment will stand. All grade information can
be accessed through the Parentlink system which helps parents and students monitor student
progress. Parentlink can be accessed both through the school or district website. Use this tool
to your advantage.
Quarter Grade Breakdown
Classwork/Homework
5%
Quizzes
5%
Assessments
Speaking (Conversational and Presentational)
30 %
Interpretive (Reading and Listening Comprehension)
30 %
Presentational (Formal and Informal Writing)
30 %
100 %
Semester Grade Breakdown
First or Third Quarter Grade
40 %
Second or Fourth Quarter Grade
40 %
Semester/Final Exam
20 %
100 %
Class Participation- The Key to Success
Active participation in this class is essential to success in this course. Classroom activities are
designed to help students learn and grasp material. These lessons are active and require the
participation of every student. The student will be required to speak French in class and will
have to speak in front of others. Failure to participate in these types of exercises will result in
the student failing the class. Students are also expected to come to class prepared with a
notebook and writing utensil. They are expected to take notes and complete all assignments
given in class, as well as those given for homework.
Citizenship Grade
The citizenship will be determined by the overall classroom behavior of the student. Classroom
participation also plays a role in this grade. Things that can negatively affect a citizenship grade
are tardies, foul and inappropriate language, and lack of participation. If a student receives a
referral within a quarter, he or she will receive a “U” in citizenship.
Classroom Rules and Procedures
1. Respect your fellow classmates, your teacher, and the contents of the classroom at all
times.
2. Come prepared to learn by bringing your notebook, pen/pencil, and textbook if
necessary.
3. Food and gum interfere with communication. Please leave these items in your backpack
or locker.
4. Speak up. Ask questions. Ask for clarification the minute you are confused.
5. Communication is the focus of this class, but not on cell phones. Make sure that cell
phones are turned off and put away while in class.
Failure to abide by classroom rules and procedures will result in the use of progressive
discipline.
Progressive Discipline Procedures
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Verbal Warning
Verbal Warning
Parent Contact
Detention
Referral to Administrator
Academic Dishonesty Policy
Cheating
What is it?
1) Giving or receiving information on assessments
2) Using any type of unapproved aide during formal or informal assessments (electronic
devices, cheat sheets, etc.)
3) Copying software
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
Copying information from another student’s tests, quizzes, homework, and projects.
Discussing content material with students who have not yet taken an assessment.
Parental help beyond that of assistance.
Talking during an assessment
Plagiarism: Copying the essential character of another’s work, whether visual or written,
and submitting it as your own.
Students that are caught cheating are immediately subject to a zero on the assessment or the
assignment on which they cheated. They are also subject to further disciplinary action if the
behavior continues which could lead up to a disciplinary referral. Work hard and do well. Do
not cheat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tardy policy
Tardies are an unnecessary distraction to the classroom. If students show up late to class three
times within a quarter they will be subject to an “N” on their citizenship grade. If the student
continues to be tardy they will be subject to a disciplinary referral after the fifth and a “U” in
citizenship.
Please read through this course expectations and discuss this information with your student. When you
have completed this task please fill out this form and have your student return this form to the
instructor. Thank you
Course: (Circle one) FRENCH I
Period: (Circle one)
1
FRENCH II H
2
3
FRENCH III H
4
5
AP French Language and Culture
6
7
Student Last Name: ____________________________________________________
Student First Name: __________________________________________________
Parent or Guardian Full Name: _______________________________________________
Phone Number where parent can be reached: ______________________________________
Best time to contact: _________________________________________________________
Email address: ________________________________________________________
This signature signifies that I have read the course expectations and understand its contents.
Student Signature: __________________________________
Date: ___________________
Parent/Guardian Signature ___________________________________ Date: ____________________