french 1001 - Georgia Tech Lorraine

FRENCH 1001
ELEMENTARY FRENCH I
SYLLABUS
Summer 2012
Georgia Tech Lorraine
1001A: Hours TBD, 1001B: Hours TBD, 1001 C: Hours TBD Red Room
Instructors: Sonia Sérafin, Georgia Tech Lorraine ; Dr. Barbara Blackbourn-
Jansma, School of Modern Languages, Ivan Allen College, Georgia Tech
. Office hours: Hours TBD Everyday (TWRF or MTWR According to Schedule of
Classes)
. Office: GTL 201
. Telephone number: (03) 87-20-39-58
. Email: barbara.blackbourn@modlangs.gatech.edu
COURSE MATERIAL
. Required Textbook: Bragger and Rice. Allons-y : Le français par étapes.
6th Edition. Boston: Heinle and Heinle, 2004. ISBN 1-4130-0190-4 (With
Audio CDs).
. Required Online Workbook/Lab Manual on Quia (key required); Access Card:
ISBN 0-8384-6041-0 QUIA COURSE CODE TBD
. Course packet: Selected documents and links on each unit studied, as well
as in-class activities. Site Internet: http://allonsy.heinle.com
. Highly Recommended: A good bilingual dictionary (Robert, Robert-Collins,
Harraps)
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is designed as an introductory course for students with no
prior French instruction. The syllabus will cover the first half of Allons-
y!-- the basics of oral and written communication in the present and
compound past tenses and an introduction to French and Francophone
cultures. Class discussion and questions will take place in French to
allow students oral and aural practice of the language. Students are
welcome to meet with the instructor(s) individually or in small groups to
discuss any problems, but are requested to make all effort to stick to
French in the classroom at all times. No false beginners admitted to this
course. Credit Hours: 3. Prerequisite: None (i.e., Below 151 on the French
Online Placement Test). COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of this course, a student should be able to do the following:
1. Respond to simple questions on the most common features of daily life.
2. Convey minimal meaning to interlocutors experienced in dealing with
foreigners by using isolated words, lists of words, memorized phrases and
some personalized re-combinations of words and phrases.
3. Satisfy a limited number of immediate needs [1-3 adapted from ACTFL
Proficiency Guidelines--Speaking (revised 1999), in ACTFL OPI Interview
Tester Training Manual, 1999].
4. Identify (and respond to) basic information in French on various written
supports, including the Internet.
5. Appreciate French and Francophone culture's diversity (notably through
the final project).
6. Last but not least, fulfill his/her own goals in this course, beyond the
completion of the language requirement, or the necessary foundations for
the major/minor in French: travel? study? potential professional interest?
other?
Please state your goals as they stand now:
a. main goal: b: other goals: COURSE EVALUATION / ASSIGNMENTS
10% Participation, attendance, and in-class activities including
memorization or exercises assigned for a specific class; participation
required (quantity, quality; French only in class); see attendance/lateness
policy for further details. Make a constant effort to participate in each
class.
10% Homework: Students will complete online the workbook (WB) exercises
assigned on Quia. Late homework will not be accepted. And of course,
prepare for good participation in class, presentations, and tests.
20% Essays. They should be typed, double spaced, with a margin of 1.25
inches on all sides. The papers must be your own work. Plagiarism (as
defined in the Student Handbook) is banned. Part of the assignment is to
learn how to proof-read your own work. Accents must be typed in, not
written in pen or pencil. These papers cannot be made up since one, your
lowest grade, will be dropped. Late papers will not be accepted. All
essays have to be posted on T-square, printed AND given to instructor in
class.
15% Midterm Examination CH. 1 & 2. . No make-ups allowed. Mark your
calendar.
15% Test CH. 3 & 4. No make-ups allowed. Mark your calendar.
10% Final Project (in groups). To be prepared in groups of 3 or 4, the
project will address a particular aspect of French and/or Francophone
culture to be determined by the students in each group. Each student will
present a section of the group project (5 minutes max.). Delivery,
originality of the material presented, and sources will be subject to
peers' and instructor's evaluation. Particular attention will be paid to
the coherence of the group project as a whole. Practice and time yourself
to 3 minutes. Use any props which will make you talk more interesting and
easy to follow for the audience: pictures, maps, charts, realia, etc. Be
attentive when taking notes; it is best to put the information into your
own words as you are taking notes from your sources. Prepare documentation
of your sources to turn it, including Internet sites. Do not read the
report. You may have brief notes, but they must be on index cards.
Reading a report will result in a reduction of one letter grade on the
project.
20% Final Examination. No make-ups allowed. Mark your calendar. The
exams will test grammar and vocabulary acquisition as well as listening and
reading skills.
COURSE POLICIES:
Welcome to my office!
Do not hesitate to come and see me as often as you want! You can also make
an appointment if the office hours are not convenient to you, or just drop
by. Especially, come as soon as you feel you have any problem and/or need
help with anything. Take at least two appointments with me to discuss
honestly your progress and difficulties. I will make sure your questions,
concerns or suggestions get the attention they deserve. I will be happy to
inform you on your grades. I will also be happy to help you as much as I
can with your homework assignments, your latest essay/project, any issue
pertaining to the course, the French program at Georgia Tech, or queries on
France and Francophone cultures. When I am not in my office, the best way
to reach me is to email me, rather than leave a message on my office voice
mail.
Attendance, Academic Honesty
Your presence and active participation in class is essential. Daily class
attendance is required. Please be on time too. Being late once or twice
is understandable, but half a point off will be deducted from your final
grade for each additional occurrence of lateness. Two unexcused absences
allowed (an excused absence has to be documented by a letter from doctor or
Dean); one point off your final grade for each additional unexcused
absence. Cell phones off in class. Georgia Tech offers accommodation to
students with disabilities: please see www.adapts.ga.edu.
This course complies with GT Academic Honor Code: please see
www.honor.gatech.edu. I am interested in your work, and not in that of a
friend or material copied form the internet or any other source. Avoid
plagiarism at all costs, and always quote all your sources. Any form of
cheating (be it on an essay or a test or any other assignment) is
discouraged and will affect your grade. Internet-based tools make it
extremely easy today to find out whether somebody pasted material from the
internet or other sources.
Organization
The work on each of the chapters is task-oriented (see schedule below).
Prepare these tasks well in advance, especially when you have to present in
groups. Visuals are appreciated; use of PowerPoint or web files is
welcome. You may always see me before a presentation to discuss what you
plan to do or other issues. You need up to an hour a day to prepare for
each class session. Read the pages assigned for each day thoroughly. You
will have not only to know the material but also to apply it. Use your
dictionary (-ies) especially at the end of each chapter to look up for
words and their constructions with prepositions used and/or irregular stems
(a good dictionary will give you constructions, stems and examples of
sentences). Take a study partner and work with her/him, especially on oral
activities and presentations. However, the written work given to me should
be your own (see above).
STUDY TIPS
1. Never miss class. Use every opportunity to speak, hear and read
French. Keep on trying to keep a conversation going. This course will use
the latest ACTFL-designed techniques in order to enhance your oral
proficiency. Be willing to take risks, trying out the new structures and
vocabulary you are learning. Students who play it safe (stick to the
simple, reliable forms instead of trying new ones) will only hold
themselves back. There is no disgrace goofing with something you didn't
know; but progress comes from learning from it and doing better next time.
2. Make a constant effort to participate in each class. The classroom is
the primary focus for all second-year work. As you are novice speakers,
you should not be afraid to make mistakes. They are a necessary part of
the learning process. Never fear to ask for help: often the same thing
puzzling you is confusing others too. Get help fast when you need it; do
not let problems develop. Take at least two appointments with the
instructor to discuss honestly your progress and difficulties.
3. Do not fall behind in your work. Be organized: do your homework in
time. 'Catching up' is extremely difficult in an intermediate language
course. Success depends largely on regular contact with the material (In
practicing a skill, four 15 minute-study periods with full concentration
may work better for you than one-hour sessions). Don't be satisfied with
knowing the material. Be s