Prerequisite: NONE
This is an introductory course with special emphasis on practical vocabulary useful in everyday conversational situations. The first portion of the course will emphasize oral comprehension and speaking skills. Basic grammar, conjugation of regular and irregular verbs, the present tense, and the study of the passe compose will be covered in the remainder of the course. Throughout the year students will study various aspects of French life. Student Activities: Role-playing activities,internet lab activities,question-response drills, and listening to recorded materials will be used to practice oral mastery of materials. Student Evaluation: Oral and written exams, written assignments from both the textbook and worksheets, and flashcards prepared of vocabulary covered in the course.
This is an introductory course with special emphasis on practical vocabulary useful in everyday conversational situations. The first portion of the course will emphasize oral comprehension and speaking skills. Basic grammar, conjugation of regular and irregular verbs, the present tense, and the study of the passe compose will be covered in the remainder of the course. Throughout the year students will study various aspects of French life. Student Activities: Role-playing activities,internet lab activities,question-response drills, and listening to recorded materials will be used to practice oral mastery of materials. Student Evaluation: Oral and written exams, written assignments from both the textbook and worksheets, and flashcards prepared of vocabulary covered in the course.
Prerequisite: French 1.
French 2 begins with an extensive review of the basic areas covered in French 1. More advanced grammar concepts and vocabulary are then introduced, and composition and reading comprehension become more significant. In addition, cultural study is expanded.Student Activities: Text study, oral work, composition and comprehension exercises are used.Student Evaluation: Oral and written exercises, reports, class participation, quizzes, and tests
French 2 begins with an extensive review of the basic areas covered in French 1. More advanced grammar concepts and vocabulary are then introduced, and composition and reading comprehension become more significant. In addition, cultural study is expanded.Student Activities: Text study, oral work, composition and comprehension exercises are used.Student Evaluation: Oral and written exercises, reports, class participation, quizzes, and tests
Prerequisite: A "C" average in French 2.
This course consists of a review of all tenses studied in French 1 and French 2 and an introduction of several more complex tenses. Students will also be introduced to the more complicated grammar concepts of the language. Students will study history, geography, and major figures in music and science.Student Activities: Students will write paragraphs on directed topics as well as compositions of original ideas. Short oral reports of a cultural nature will also be required.Student Evaluation: Class participation on a regular basis, journal writings, written quizzes, oral report and tests.
This course consists of a review of all tenses studied in French 1 and French 2 and an introduction of several more complex tenses. Students will also be introduced to the more complicated grammar concepts of the language. Students will study history, geography, and major figures in music and science.Student Activities: Students will write paragraphs on directed topics as well as compositions of original ideas. Short oral reports of a cultural nature will also be required.Student Evaluation: Class participation on a regular basis, journal writings, written quizzes, oral report and tests.
Prerequisite: A "C" average in French 3.
This course is devoted to developing the students’ ability to communicate in French. Focus will be on the refinement of speaking skills through directed conversation and spontaneous discussion. There is also a strong focus on vocabulary build and the study of idiomatic expressions appropriate to conversation and writing. A study of French contributions will also be included in an overview of literature,history and general culture.Student Activities: Oral participation in lecture materials through questions and summaries; compositions and short reports; oral presentations; written research paper during the second semester; written tests and quizzes.Student Evaluation: Class participation on a regular basis, journal writings, written quizzes and tests, oral report
This course is devoted to developing the students’ ability to communicate in French. Focus will be on the refinement of speaking skills through directed conversation and spontaneous discussion. There is also a strong focus on vocabulary build and the study of idiomatic expressions appropriate to conversation and writing. A study of French contributions will also be included in an overview of literature,history and general culture.Student Activities: Oral participation in lecture materials through questions and summaries; compositions and short reports; oral presentations; written research paper during the second semester; written tests and quizzes.Student Evaluation: Class participation on a regular basis, journal writings, written quizzes and tests, oral report
help with french (for parents)
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILD SUCCEED IN FRENCH CLASS
Learning a foreign language is a new experience for most students and it can be challenging. First, it is important as a parent, that you understand how the grades work in French class. The curriculum is designed to be balanced, meaning that with a reasonable amount of daily work and effort, students should obtain acceptable grades.
Basic grades, as described below, are typically assignments done at home and earned throughout the week until the student is tested:
- Repeat sheets: for all vocabulary in every chapter
- vocabulary retention: nightly review of learned material with online flashcards (Quizlet)
- workbook: in class and/or at home.
- others: extra-credit up to 10 points per quarter or 100% average grade, small projects or in class activities.
I always tell my students that these grades are a “given” and are meant “to help them not hurt them” because they mostly require to be completed and turned in on time. If student do so, two things happen:
- Students do better on the chapter test and quizzes
- it gives them a “cushion”: if they don’t perform as well during testing, their overall grade does not plummet
Assessment grades are typically vocabulary quizzes, chapter tests. Chapter tests reviews are done the day before testing. It is important to clarify that students need to know their material by heart if they wish to obtain a good grade. Details, such as repetition, spelling, following directions are crucial. Too often, students “mostly” study, which leads to inconsistent performances and disappointing grades. In addition, studying the day before testing is usually insufficient because learning the French language is completely new for most students.
A parent can help by:
- checking their child’s grades weekly on TeacherEase,
- making sure all assignments are done (posted on Google classroom),
- remind their child to study daily with online flashcards, lists, etc.
St Louis University “Advice for Learning a Foreign Language Vocabulary” link:
http://www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/languages/classical/latin/tchmat/grammar/lvocab2.html
Learning a foreign language is a new experience for most students and it can be challenging. First, it is important as a parent, that you understand how the grades work in French class. The curriculum is designed to be balanced, meaning that with a reasonable amount of daily work and effort, students should obtain acceptable grades.
Basic grades, as described below, are typically assignments done at home and earned throughout the week until the student is tested:
- Repeat sheets: for all vocabulary in every chapter
- vocabulary retention: nightly review of learned material with online flashcards (Quizlet)
- workbook: in class and/or at home.
- others: extra-credit up to 10 points per quarter or 100% average grade, small projects or in class activities.
I always tell my students that these grades are a “given” and are meant “to help them not hurt them” because they mostly require to be completed and turned in on time. If student do so, two things happen:
- Students do better on the chapter test and quizzes
- it gives them a “cushion”: if they don’t perform as well during testing, their overall grade does not plummet
Assessment grades are typically vocabulary quizzes, chapter tests. Chapter tests reviews are done the day before testing. It is important to clarify that students need to know their material by heart if they wish to obtain a good grade. Details, such as repetition, spelling, following directions are crucial. Too often, students “mostly” study, which leads to inconsistent performances and disappointing grades. In addition, studying the day before testing is usually insufficient because learning the French language is completely new for most students.
A parent can help by:
- checking their child’s grades weekly on TeacherEase,
- making sure all assignments are done (posted on Google classroom),
- remind their child to study daily with online flashcards, lists, etc.
St Louis University “Advice for Learning a Foreign Language Vocabulary” link:
http://www.slu.edu/colleges/AS/languages/classical/latin/tchmat/grammar/lvocab2.html
HELP IN FRENCH (FOR STUDENTS)
Here are a few tips to help you improve your grades in French:
- Chapter test: taken when we are done with a chapter – every week or so. The material on the test is on vocabulary and grammar. Flashcards and “repeat sheets” (rewriting word 3 to 5 times) are very efficient when reviewing for a test.
- Chapter test corrected grade: after each chapter test, teacher and students will correct test together for a grade. This is a “whole or nothing” grade (5 points)
- Repeat sheets: to be turned in before the student takes the chapter test. It is a list of the chapter vocabulary, written three times (5 points)
- Extra-credit: For every chapter, the student can turn in a crossword puzzle utilizing the chapter vocabulary. Also, on occasions, I will ask the students to bring in something of cultural nature for extra-credit. However, the extra-credit is not added to the grade until the end of the quarter or semester.
- Homework: In addition to the assigned homework, it is the student’s responsibility to review the material learned in class every day. The written homework and the student’s ability to keep up with the daily lessons is checked and graded regularly.
- Vocabulary retention: study the material covered in class every day in order to improve grades. Below are few tips on how TO LEARN VOCABULARY EFFECTIVELY:
- Think of it as a challenge not a chore – your attitude is MOST important – WANT to learn them.
- Read the words in silence several times – then try & do a memory test – how many can you do without looking?
- Cover the words and test yourself – or get someone to test you.
- Use a word fan – make a fan (fold the paper several times) & write the English on one side/French on the other & so on.
- Concentrate on the difficult words & link them to something you know eg. clay keys (the word for key is clé – pronounced clay).
- Write the words out over and over – English with French and vice versa – do more and more from memory each time.
- Make up a rhythm – tap out the words as you say them or do a rap song.
- Record the words onto tape.
- Listen to them over & over from the tape.
- Try and spell out the words with the French alphabet.
- Remember what you teacher tells you about them – think about what was said in the lesson – read your notes as well..
- Read the words out loud – fast/slow/loud/quiet.
- Break up the words – mus/ique prof/es/seur.
- Sort them by gender/groups/patterns - fruit/vegetables/which adjective follows which rule or colour code them or group them alphabetically.
- Draw the words & label.
- Write out the words with letters missing – vowels? – then gap fill.
- Les sites internet préférés de Madame Orlet
- on-line flashcards: www.quizlet.com, www.studystack.com
- verb practice: www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/vp
- verb conjugations: www.laits.utexas.edu/fi/vcr/
- activities: www.languagesonline.org.uk/
- to improve pronunciation : http://text-to-speech.imtranslator.net/speech.asp
- to make vocabulary posters: www.wordle.net
- to make crossword puzzles: www.puzzle-maker.net (ex.cr)
- voice-recording: www.vocaroo.com
- basic free audio and grammar: www.bbc.co.uk/languages
- to improve reading skills: www.wordchamp.com
- to type accents: www.typeit.org
- on-line flashcards: www.studystack.com
If the student still experiences difficulties, it is possible to provide him/her with a tutor at no cost (French 3 and 4 years students are available).
If you wish to contact me, please e-mail me: [email protected]