Frn 101

Franklin & Marshall College, Automne 2003

Français 101: Elementary French I
Prof. Carolyn FAY
 Heures de consultation:
Keiper 102  
 lundi: 10h00-12h00
291-3994
 mercredi:  13h00-14h00
carolyn.fay@fandm.edu
 et sur rendez-vous.

Welcome to your first semester of French at Franklin and Marshall. French 101 is an interactive introduction to French language and culture.  In this course, we will focus on the four main language skills: speaking, listening, writing and reading. We will also explore and discuss French and francophone culture though the use of authentic texts, video, music and web sites. By the end of the semester you will be able to understand basic written and spoken French, you will be able to "get the gist" of basic French texts, you will be familiar with cultural differences within the francophone world-- and you will be speaking French!

**Please note that French 101 meets 4 days a week (MWRF) from 9:00 to 9:50.

Required Materials: (available in the student bookstore)

Amon, Muyskens, Omaggio Hadley, Vis-à-vis: Beginning French, 3rd ed. (McGraw Hill, 2004)
Workbook/Laboratory Manual to Accompany Vis-à-vis, 3rd ed.  (McGraw Hill, 2004)
Student CD-ROM to accompany Vis à Vis. 

Homework Assignments for the semester ( to be completed in the workbook)
Course Program:

septembre
3:    Introduction
4:     Ch. 1
5:    Ch. 1

8:    Ch. 1
10:    Ch. 1
11:    Ch. 2
12:    Ch. 2

15:     Ch. 2
17:     Ch. 2; DEVOIRS ch. 1 & 2
18:    Révision
19:    DICTÉE/INTERROGATION ch. 1& 2

22:    Ch. 3
24:    Ch. 3
25:    Ch. 3
26:    Ch. 3

29:    Ch. 4
octobre
1:    Ch. 4
2:    Ch. 4
3:    Ch. 4; DEVOIRS ch. 3 & 4

6:    Révision
8:    DICTÉE/INTERROGATION ch. 3 & 4
9:    Ch. 5
10:    Ch. 5

13:     Congé
15:    Ch. 5
16:    Ch. 5
17:    Ch. 6

20:    Ch. 6
22:    Ch. 6
23:    Ch. 6
24:    Ch. 6; DEVOIRS ch. 5 & 6

27:    Révision
29:    Révision
30:    DICTÉE/INTERROGATION ch. 5 & 6
31:    Ch. 7

novembre
3:    Ch. 7
5:    Ch. 7
6:    Ch. 7
7:    Ch. 8

10:    Ch. 8
12:    Ch. 8
13:    Ch. 8; DEVOIRS ch. 7 & 8
14:    Révision

17:    DICTÉE/INTERROGATION ch. 7 & 8
19:    Ch. 9
20:    Ch. 9
21:    Ch. 9

24:    Ch. 9; DEVOIRS ch. 9
26:    Congé
27:    Congé
28:    Congé

décembre
1:    Révision
3:    DICTÉE/INTERROGATION ch. 9
4:    Révision
5:    Examens oraux

8:    Examens oraux
10:    Examens oraux
11:    Révision
12:    Révision

Examen final: TBA

Dates importantes à noter:

    Final day to add a course or withdrawal without record: Sept. 17
    Final day to select P/NP option: Oct. 1
    Final day to withdrawal from a course with record: Dec. 1

Répartition de la note

Interrogations (4 of 5): 40%
Dictations (4 of 5): 10%
Final Exam: 15%
Oral Exam: 5%
Participation: 20%
Homework: 10%

Requirements and Guidelines

1.  Attendance & Participation:

Regular attendance and participation in course activities are crucial to learning a new language.   We will be interacting with each other in French nearly all of the time.  Please note that all course meetings are mandatory.  You are permitted four (4) no-questions-asked unexcused absences during the semester.  After the fourth unexcused absence, your grade will be lowered accordingly.  Any student with excessive absences may earn an F for the course.      

If you must miss class due to illness, family emergency, participation in a varsity sport (letter from your coach required), or religious holiday, please notify me as soon as possible.  

You will be assigned a daily participation grade from me.  What constitutes good participation?
      • coming to class on time and prepared
      • volunteering for activities
      • listening to others when they speak
      • making an effort
      • not being afraid to look or sound silly
      • speaking in French!  

En français, s'il vous plaît...  Even though this is an elementary level course, the majority of class will be conducted in French.  I will help you and if you are really stuck you can always ask to
speak in English: "En anglais, s'il vous plaît?"

2.  Academic Integrity:  

You are responsible for reviewing and observing College policies governing academic honesty, as explained in the 2002-2003 Catalog in the section “Academic Honesty”  on page 178.

3.  Interrogations et Dictées:

There will be 5 quizzes and dictations in French 101. There will no makeups given of either. However, you will be permitted to drop the lowest grade of each, allowing you to miss one quiz and dictation. Plan carefully! The quiz and dictation dates are indicated on the syllabus.  The “no-makeups” policy applies to excused as well as unexcused absences.

4.  Devoirs:

For every chapter in Vis à vis, you will complete selected written and laboratory work in the
workbook that accompanies your textbook.   See the accompanying homework assignment
sheet for procedures and specific exercises. The due dates are indicated on the syllabus.  No late assignments will be accepted for credit.  Please be advised that you will generally turn in the homework for two chapters at a time: pace yourselves carefully.  The purpose of the homework is to give you additional practice with the material, allow you to work at your own pace, and help you identify concepts that you may want to clarify with me.  The homework will also be a useful study tool for tests.


N.B. * You will need to complete the listening portion of the homework using the Vis à vis audio tapes available in ATS (basement of Stager).  You may either listen to the tapes there, or use the tape-copying service so you can work at home.  (You will need to bring a blank 60 minute cassette tape.)
**You will also find the audio files available as MP3s on Edisk, which you can download to your computer.
***After completing the assigned written and listening exercises in the workbook, please self-correct them in a different color pen, using the answer key in the back of the workbook.  This way, you will have immediate feedback on your answers.  I will examine your homework carefully, answer any questions you may have, and correct open-ended exercises for which there is no answer key.  
Please note:  you will of course complete the exercises as best you can BEFORE checking your answers with the answer key.  Copying the answers directly from the key constitutes a violation of Franklin and Marshall College's policy on academic honesty.  Any student who cheats on the homework will automatically receive an F for the overall homework grade and will be reported to the Committee on Student Conduct.   

5.  Préparation:

Before class, you are expected to study the pages in Vis à vis which I will assign on a daily basis.  We will review everything in class, but very quickly.  Often there will be a lot of vocabulary to memorize.  Most language learners find that studying small amounts of vocabulary frequently and regularly helps them absorb more in the long run.  We will discuss specific language learning strategies in class.  

6.  Examens:

At the end of the semester there will be a short oral exam and a final comprehensive exam.  Details to come.

7.  Philosophie du Professeur:

For some,  learning a foreign language is exciting and easy; for others it can be quite frustrating.  Some people are visual learners and have trouble with purely auditory information, whereas others learn languages best by hearing them.  I try to accommodate all types of learners in my classroom --but there are two things that I require of everyone: 1) that you work hard, and 2) that you have fun with the language.  Learning a foreign language takes time: you should spend at least an hour on French everyday (outside of class) reviewing your classnotes, reading ahead in the textbook, memorizing vocabulary, practicing with flash cards, doing oral and listening activities in the language lab, as well as working on written homework.  Students who "catch on" to French quickly are the ones who do some of the above everyday.  However, just because coursework is rigorous does not mean that it cannot be enjoyable; in fact I believe it should be enjoyable.   This is my philosophy: we will work hard and have fun (On travaillera dur, tout en s’amusant!)

During the course of the semester we will play games, put on short skits, listen to music,
watch video clips and hopefully even sample a few specialities of la cuisine française!

I am always available to talk with you and provide extra help if I can. Please do not hesitate to let me know if you have concerns about your progress.  Feel free to drop in during my office hours, or make an appointment.  The best way to contact me is via email: carolyn.fay@fandm.edu.  

Bienvenue et bon courage!