FR 1110 (Fall 2015)
(9971/100, 9972/101, 9973/102, 9974/103, 9975/104, 9976/105, 9977/106)
Instructor:____________________
Email:____________________
Office:____________________
Office Phone:____________________ Office Hours:________________________________________________
Course website: www.ohio.edu/people/moretti/french.html
Textbook site: www.vhlcentral.com
Bonjour et bienvenue! Welcome to French 1110, the first course in the two-semester sequence of beginning
French. This course is designed for the student who has no prior knowledge of French. This course will help you
develop your French skills in a comprehensive manner, including proficiency-building in all of the four language
skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and will introduce you to the cultural richness of the Frenchspeaking (francophone) world. The focus of the course is on the students’ ability to use the language for
communicative purposes.
FR 1110 outcome goals:
1. The successful student understands and interprets the meaning and structures of elementary spoken
language and written texts exploring such topics as family, housing, food, technology, the environment,
etc.
2. The successful student produces basic spoken language and written texts relating experiences and
personal opinions on those topics in the present tense.
3. The successful student exhibits culturally appropriate behavior in common social contexts and
demonstrates a general understanding and appreciation of the language-specific cultures and peoples.
Language use in the classroom: Expect to hear French spoken in class from the beginning. Your instructor will
strive to speak only French in class. All the instructors do the same (in all the modern languages in all good
universities). We do this to maximize your exposure to the language in the limited class time we have. You need
experience in hearing and using French for communication in order to develop communicative ability.
Required texts: ESPACES : Rendez-vous avec le monde francophone by Mitschke and Tano. Vista Higher
Learning, 3rd edition, 2015 (Textbook, Supersite Plus code with WebSAM and V-text: ISBN 978-1-62680-066-3).
Recommended text: A small French/English dictionary for in-class compositions.
Please note:
• You will spend more if you purchase the textbook and code separately, so shop smart! Only buy books
that include the required Supersite Plus code (WebSAM and V-text). Used books and books bought on
sites other than the publisher's site DO NOT include the Supersite Plus code. Shop for new textbook
packages at the bookstore, or shop vistahigherlearning.com/store (free shipping).
• The ISBN above is for a hard- bound copy of the book. If you prefer, you may buy a loose-leaf copy of the
book with your package (with Supersite Plus code: WebSAM and V-text) on the publisher site
(vistahigherlearning.com/store).
• Make sure you have a paper copy of the book (whether it is hard-bound or loose-lease format) because
you will need the book for in-class compositions. Since technology tools are not allowed for in-class
compositions you will not be able to use your book if you purchase only a V-text (online book).
Graduate students: Graduate students enrolled in French 5110 or 5120 will receive CR on their transcripts as
their final grade if they pass the class with a 60% or higher.
C- rule: In order to continue to the next course in the sequence, you must receive at least a C- (70%) in the
previous class (after deductions due to absences). For example, if you have a 71% in the class, but 5 absences,
your final grade will be a 69% and you will not be eligible to take the next class in the series.
FR 1110 (F15) Page 1 of 6
Attendance policy: Under the learner-centered framework of the Department of Modern Languages courses,
your attendance is of utmost importance. Certain circumstances may arise that prevent you from attending class;
therefore, you are allowed three (3) 55-minute absences. These three absences are not “free” but should be
used to account for events such as colds, routine medical appointments, away-games for athletes, religious
observances, court appearances, weddings, funerals, car problems, job interviews, etc. Beginning with the
fourth absence (and for each subsequent absence), 1% will be deducted from your final grade calculation. A
student who has accumulated 10 or more absences will automatically receive an “F” for the class. Use the 3 days
wisely. Note that attendance is taken on regular exam days too. Note also that 3 late arrivals equal one full
absence. Excessive bathroom breaks and early departure from class will not be tolerated.
1-3 absences 4 absences 5 absences 6 absences 7 absences 8 absences 9 absences 10 absences
no penalty
-1%
-2%
-3%
-4%
-5%
-6%
F in the course
 For instance, if you earn a 71% (C-) in the class but have 5 absences (penalty of 2 percentage points), you
will receive a 69% (D+) in the course.
 Note: The attendance policy does not distinguish "excused" from "unexcused" absences; all absences
count towards the maximum. Ten (10) absences is an F. (10 absences is an F regardless of the
chronology.) In case of extended absence due to severe illness, hospitalization or disability, please
consult with your instructor.
 Please note: Regardless of the reason for the absence, NO documentation will be accepted as valid if it
is turned in after final grades for the course have been submitted.
Disabilities: We are committed to ensuring equal opportunity for students with a disability. This is a
collaborative process and effort among the Student Accessibility Services, the student and the instructor.
Students with disabilities should provide the instructor with written notification of their disability via the Office
of Accessibility Services and make a direct request for accommodations to establish the means of providing
accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids within one week of the beginning of the course. If
you have any condition (physical/learning disability), which will make it difficult for you to perform class work as
delineated in this syllabus or if you require special accommodations, it is YOUR responsibility to notify your
instructor the first week of class.
Tutoring: Tutoring in French is available through both the Department PACE Tutor and Tutoring Services.
 The Department PACE tutor's services are offered on a walk-in basis and are free for all students. The
Department tutor's days and times are posted at http://www.ohio.edu/people/coski/tutor.html and you can
get additional information from your instructor. Most tutoring is done in Gordy Hall.
 Tutoring Services offers one-hour appointments in almost any subject for a fee. Peer Tutoring through
Tutoring Services is free for students who are registered with Student Accessibility Services, the Office of
Multicultural Student Access and Retention, College Adjustment Program, Commuters and Veterans, and
Athletics. Most appointments are held in the Academic Advancement Center, Alden 101. To schedule an
appointment, with Tutoring Services, visit www.ohio.edu/tutoring and log in to Tutor Trac. Please keep in
mind that tutoring is not a guaranteed service, so book appointments early.
 Concerns about your class/classroom/grades/disputes: should be first discussed with your instructor (please
ask for a special appointment if you cannot meet his/her office hours); if the need arises, you should then
contact the coordinator of First-Year French, Brigitte Moretti-Coski, [email protected]. When emailing either
your instructor or the coordinator, please fill in the "subject" line with the reason and ask for an appointment.
If you have questions about grades, ask your instructor (grades are NOT to be discussed either during class
time or via e-mail, make an appointment), if you want to dispute a grade after you have asked and discussed it
with your instructor, it should be done in writing.
FR 1110 (F15) Page 2 of 6
Academic dishonesty: The Ohio University Student Code of Conduct prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty.
These include, but are not limited to: cheating; plagiarism; forgery; furnishing false information to the University;
and alteration or misuse of University documents, records, or identification. In addition, assignments that are
totally/partially taken from an external source such as published information (book, web page, etc.), produced
by a translation program or by another person will receive NO credit. All forms of dishonesty will be reported to
the Director of the program. Possible consequences include a grade of zero on the assignment, course failure,
and/or referral to judiciaries.
Technology use in the classroom: Students may not use their phones in class. Students caught using phones (or
any other technological devices) during a quiz, a composition, a midterm or the final will receive a zero.
Final grade determination:
100-93
92-90 89-87
A
AB+
86-83
B
82-80
B-
79-77
C+
76-73
C
72-70
C-
69-67
D+
66-63
D
62-60
D-
59-0
F
Grading procedure:
Final exam: 20%
Midterms: 20%
Oral exams: 15%
Compositions: 15%
Quizzes: 10%
Homework: 10%
Participation: 10%
Final exam: The final is cumulative. See date on the schedule. All FR 1110-1120 sections follow the Combined
Sections Examination Schedule. If you have a conflict with another final exam, you will be granted an alternate
exam date if required by the O.U. policy (http://www.ohio.edu/registrar/). In case of an emergency
hospitalization please confer with your instructor. Note that weddings, birthday parties, divorces, vacations,
plane tickets, oversleeping (even if the electricity goes off), your sibling's graduation, job interviews, internship
interviews, routine medical appointments, car problems, etc. are NOT valid reasons to request an alternate date
for the final exam.
Midterms: Both midterms are cumulative. No make-ups are given. If you are absent on a midterm day your final
exam grade will replace the grade for the missed midterm. [Note that attendance is taken on midterm days.]
Oral exams: Both oral exams are cumulative and will be held on the days indicated on the class schedule. Each
student will be assigned a specific day/time for his/her exam. Detailed information will be posted online.
Compositions: You will be required to write formal in-class compositions. There will be detailed explanations
posted online. There are no make-ups for the compositions. If you miss one composition, the average grade of
your other compositions will be substituted for the missed composition grade. [Note that attendance is taken on
composition days.]
Quizzes: There will be many small quizzes during the term. Quizzes will be given at the beginning of class and
will typically be set to be taken in five minutes. The date, topic and preset duration for each quiz will be
determined by individual instructors and will be announced ahead of time in class. There are no make-ups for
quizzes: if you are late or miss class, you will receive a zero for the missed quiz. To account for exceptional
absences, the three lowest quiz scores will be dropped at the end of the term.
Homework: Each instructor will determine how homework is assigned and graded. Please read your instructor's
policy carefully. Exercises on the WebSAM can be found online www.vhlcentral.com.
FR 1110 (F15) Page 3 of 6
Participation: You will receive 2 participation grades during the term. Participation requires that you volunteer
answers and that you "play the game" by only using French in the classroom to communicate with your
instructor and classmates. Your instructor will grade your participation according to the following criteria:
o
o
o
o
Focus: Student answered readily when called on and followed all directions (e.g.: paired up when required,
got up and circulated in the class when asked to do so, etc.).
Respect: Student was respectful to fellow classmates and teacher. Examples of disrespectful behavior: using
a cell phone, chatting in English, talking with a classmate while the teacher is explaining something,
interrupting classmates, making fun of classmates, disrupting the class, arriving late, sleeping, not bringing
the needed materials to class, doing anything that is not related to the class, etc.
Language: Student remained in the target language to communicate with instructor and classmates. S/he
did not use English without asking permission to do so in French ("Je peux poser une question en anglais?").
Volunteering: Student raised his/her hand and volunteered answers in French in class several times a day,
everyday. Note that it is much better for your grade to volunteer many times and make mistakes than to
volunteer rarely in perfect French.
If you are completely focused, very respectful, exclusively speaking French AND you...
• RARELY volunteer an answer, the maximum you can score is 60%.
• only OCCASIONALLY volunteer an answer, the maximum you can score is 70%.
• volunteer SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, the maximum you can score is 80%.
• volunteer A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY, the maximum you can score is 90%.
• volunteer MANY TIMES A DAY, you will score 100%.
La communication en classe
Les étudiants au professeur:
Comment dit-on ___ (en français)?
Qu'est-ce que ça veut dire ___ (en anglais)?
Je peux poser une question en anglais?
Je ne comprends pas.
Je ne sais pas.
Répétez.
Épelez ____.
Prononcez ____.
S'il vous plaît.
Merci.
De rien.
How do you say ___ (in French)?
What does ___ mean (in English)?
May I ask a question in English?
I do not understand.
I do not know.
Repeat.
Spell ____.
Pronounce ____.
Please.
Thank you.
You are welcome.
Un étudiant à un autre étudiant:
Comment t'appelles-tu?
À tes (vos) souhaits!
What is your name?
Gesundheit! (Bless you!)
Le professeur aux étudiants:
Faites passer devant.
Faites passer derrière.
Un volontaire?
Essayez!
Pass (your assignments) to the front.
Pass (this) to the back.
A volunteer?
Try!
FR 1110 (F15) Page 4 of 6
Schedule
***This schedule is subject to change***
•
•
•
CCPR = Communication, Culture, Preparation, Review
The days for in-class quizzes are not marked on the schedule. The dates will be set and announced in class by each
individual instructor during the term.
Daily homework will be announced in class by each individual instructor.
Week 1
Aug. 24-Aug. 28
Introduction
Vocabulary 1A
Grammar 1A1
Grammar 1A2
Week 2
Aug. 31-Sept. 4
CCPR (Communication, Culture, Preparation, Review)
Vocabulary 1B
Grammar 1B1
Grammar 1B2
Week 3
Sept. 7-Sept. 11
[Monday, September 7 = Labor Day (No class)]
CCPR
Vocabulary 2A
Grammar 2A1
Week 4
Sept. 14-Sept. 18
Grammar 2A2
CCPR
Composition in class 1
MWThF sections 1: Thursday, September 17
MTuWF sections: Wednesday, September 16
MTuThF sections: Thursday, September 17
MTuTh sections: Tuesday, September 15
Vocabulary 2B
Week 5
Sept. 21-Sept. 25
Grammar 2B1
Grammar 2B2
CCPR
CCPR
Week 6
Sept. 28-Oct. 2
Midterm 1 (Unités 1, 2) [All sections] Monday, September 28
Vocabulary 3A
Grammar 3A1
CCPR
[Friday, October 2 = Reading Day (No class)]
Week 7
Oct. 5-Oct. 9
Grammar 3A2
Composition in class 2
MWThF sections: Wednesday, October 7
MTuWF sections: Tuesday, October 6
MTuThF sections: Tuesday, October 6
MTuTh sections: Tuesday, October 6
Vocabulary 3B
Grammar 3B1
Week 8
Oct. 12-Oct 16
Grammar 3B2
CCPR
Oral Exam 1 (Unités 1, 2, 3):
MWThF sections: Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16
MTuWF sections: Wednesday, October 14 and Friday, October 16
MTuThF sections: Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16
MTuTh sections: Thursday, October 15
1
sections meeting on MWThF = 100, 102, 104 / MTuWF = 101, 103 / MTuTh = 105 / MTuThF = 106
FR 1110 (F15) Page 5 of 6
Week 9
Oct. 19-Oct. 23
Vocabulary 4A
Grammar 4A1
Grammar 4A2
CCPR
Week 10
Oct. 26-Oct. 30
CCPR
Composition in class 3
MWThF sections: Wednesday, October 28
MTuWF sections: Tuesday, October 27
MTuThF sections: Tuesday, October 27
MTuTh sections: Tuesday, October 27
Vocabulary 4A
Grammar 4B1 (prendre/boire)
Week 11
Nov. 2-Nov. 6
Grammar 4B1 (partitives)
Grammar 4B2
CCPR
CCPR
Week 12
Nov. 9-Nov. 13
Midterm 2 (Unités 1, 2, 3, 4) [All sections] Monday, November 9
[Wednesday, November 11 = Veterans’ Day (No class)]
Vocabulary 5A
Grammar 5A1
CCPR
Week 13
Nov. 16-Nov. 20
Grammar 5A2
CCPR
Composition in class 4
MWThF sections: Thursday, November 19
MTuWF sections: Wednesday, November 18
MTuThF sections: Thursday, November 19
MTuTh sections: Tuesday, November 17
Vocabulary 5B
Week 14
Nov. 23-Nov. 27
Grammar 5B1
CCPR
[Wednesday, November 25-Friday, November 27 Thanksgiving Break (No class)]
Week 15
Nov. 30-Dec. 4
Grammar 5B2
CCPR
Oral Exam 2 (Unités 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
MWThF sections: Thursday, December 3 and Friday, December 4
MTuWF sections: Wednesday, December 2 and Friday, December 4
MTuThF sections: Thursday, December 3 and Friday, December 4
MTuTh sections: Thursday, December 3
Finals week
Dec. 10
Final Exam (Unités 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) [All sections]
Thursday, December 10, at 2:30 p.m. (Room TBA)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Important University Dates:
August 28, Friday
• Last day to add a fall semester class without instructor's approval
September 4, Friday
• Last day to register for fall semester
• Last day to add a fall semester class (instructor's permission required)
• Last day to remove (drop) a fall semester class from student's academic record with possible fee adjustment
• Last day for removing Incomplete grades incurred during last enrollment (if not removed, I grade will change to F)
October 30, Friday
• Last day to withdraw from (drop) an individual class on your fall semester schedule [Note: Course remains on student's academic record with
WP/WF grade and no fee adjustment]
December 4, Friday
• Last day to withdraw (drop all classes) from the University for fall semester [Note: Courses remain on student's academic record with WP/WF
grades and no fee adjustment]
FR 1110 (F15) Page 6 of 6