COURSE INFORMATION Course Name: French Language I Course Code: FREN 101 Semester: (Sept 2010 – Jan 2011) CRN Code: 12731 Department: International Affairs Section: (Female Section) College: Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum: Day(s) and Time(s): Sunday: 9 – 9.50 Credit Hours: 3 Tuesday: 9 – 9.50 Prerequisites: none Thursday: 9 – 9.50 COURSE DESCRIPTION The course is designed for students who wish to begin learning French. It will help become familiar with the foundation of the French language and develop the four basic language skills of reading, writing, aural comprehension, and speaking. FACULTY INFORMATION Instructor: Véronique Gueudet Teacher Office Location: Office Hours: Telephone: E‐Mail: REFERENCES AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Required Textbook: Latitudes 1 + Exercise book Latitudes 1 Suggested Additional Resources: Useful Web Resources: http://www.didierlatitudes.com/latitudes1/
http://frenchtasticpeople.com/classroom/lessons/chapter-one
http://www.france-pub.com/french/french_3.htm
COURSE OBJECTIVES Students progressively extend their linguistic and cultural understanding and their ability to interact appropriately with other speakers. At the same time, they progressively develop all five of the key competencies. By the end of the course students will be able to make simple statements, and ask and answer a variety of questions. They will learn how to write simple sentences and to carry on a simple conversation with a native French speaker. COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES What the student is expected to achieve at the end of this course is derived from the description of Level A 1 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) :
“Can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases aimed at the satisfaction of needs of a concrete type. Can introduce him/herself and others and can ask and answer questions about personal details such as where he/she lives, people he/she knows and things he/she has. Can interact in a simple way provided the other person talks slowly and clearly and is prepared to help.” DELIVERY METHODS The communicative, learner‐centered and task‐based approach provides opportunities to teach oral language skills as well as written proficiency. Different tasks ‐ in real life or global simulation context, for example attending an international conference in Doha,‐ allow the student to work towards meeting the objectives and learning outcomes. This method stimulates • active classroom participation and exchanges between students, • self‐assessment and reflective, autonomous learning. LEARNING RESOURCES AND MEDIA Students will be learning with the French textbook Latitudes I (including 2 CDs) that facilitates the acquisition of a basic speaking knowledge of the French language as well as the acquisition of intercultural competencies. The exercise book (+ 1 CD) has to be used in the classroom and at home. The course will focus on the first part of the textbook (Module 1: Units 1, 2 and 3). LEARNING ACTIVITIES Listening Reading Spoken interaction Spoken production Writing KEY COMPETENCIES I can understand familiar words and very basic phrases concerning myself, my family and immediate concrete surroundings when people speak slowly and clearly. I can understand familiar names, words and very simple sentences, for example on notices and posters or in catalogues. I can interact in a simple way provided the other person is prepared to repeat or rephrase things at a slower rate of speech and help me formulate what I'm trying to say. I can ask and answer simple questions in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics. I can use simple phrases and sentences to describe where I live and people I know. I can write a short, simple postcard, for example sending holiday greetings. I can fill in forms with personal details, for example entering my name, nationality and address on a hotel registration form. Course Calendar and Assessment The weighting of the course assignments is as follows: Assessment Classroom participation
Tutor‐marked Oral Exercises, presentations, Grade Weighting
20%
20%
Deadline Assessment role plays, etc… Tutor‐marked Written Exercises (3 x 10% each)
30%
Final Written Exam 30%
Total 100%
Grades are not negotiable and are awarded according to the following criteria: Description
Percentage
Grade Points Letter Grade A B+
B C+
C D+
D F I Excellent
Very Good
Very Good
Good
Good
Pass
Pass
Fail
Incomplete
90‐100
85‐<89
80‐<85
75‐<79
70‐<75
65‐<69
60‐<65
Less than 60
‐
4.00
3.50
3.00
2.50
2.00
1.50
1.00
0.00
‐
COURSE REGULATIONS Participation Class participation and attendance are important elements of every student’s learning experience at Qatar University, and the student is expected to attend all classes. A student should not miss more than 25% of the classes during a semester. Those exceeding this limit of 25% will receive a failing grade regardless of their performance. In exceptional cases, the student, with the instructor’s prior permission, could be exempted from attending a class provided that the number of such occasions does not exceed the limit allowed by the University. A student who misses more than 25% of classes and has a valid excuse for being absent will be allowed to withdraw from the course. Late or Missed Assignments In all cases of assessment, students who fails to attend an exam, class project or deliver a presentation on the scheduled date without prior permission, and/or are unable to provide a medical note, will automatically receive a fail grade for this part of the assessment. CONTENT DISTRIBUTION WEEK/DATE WEEK 1 WEEK 2 P. 10 COMMUNICATION GOALS MEETING SOMEONE AND ASKING FOR SOMEONE’S NAME INTRODUCING ONESELF GREETING AND GETTING IN TOUCH
Apply appropriate social LANGUAGE SKILLS (GRAMMAR, VOCABULARY…) Alphabet (spelling)
French first names Countries (+Gender) Informal/formal « you » (tu / vous) Verbs “être“, “s’appeler” Unit 1 WEEK 3 P.11‐12‐13 WEEK 4 P.14‐15‐16 WEEK 5 P. 17‐18‐19 WEEK 6 P.20‐21 Unit 2
WEEK 7 P.22‐23 WEEK 8 P.24‐25‐26 WEEK 9 WEEK 10 P.28‐29 WEEK 11 P.30‐31‐32 conventions in formal and informal contexts Maintain an interaction by responding to and asking questions: “Quelle est votre profession? Je travaille dans la finance. Et vous?” Terms of address “Bonjour, messieurs‐dames! Salut, Sandra!”
Verbs “travailler”, “aimer” Job, workplace, hobbies, activities Days of the week UNDERSTANDING Instructions for the class Numbers from 0 to 10 (listening and reading for key words to assist understanding)
APOLOGIZING WELCOMING A VISITOR REVISION CLASS SUNDAY, OCT. 24: ASSESSMENT (WRITTEN EXERCISES) INTRODUCING ONESELF IN A PROFESSIONAL CONTEXT Sharing information ORAL ASSESSMENT INTRODUCING SOMEBODY
ORAL ASSESSMENT: Speaking ‐ guided conversation ‐ exchanging information ‐ role‐play AID HOLIDAY REVISION CLASS THURSDAY, NOV.25: ASSESSMENT (WRITTEN EXERCISES) EXPRESSING ONE’S LIKES AND DISLIKES Tourism and geography (France) Prepositions “à”, “de”
Verb “avoir” (age, …) Nationalities Possessive adjectives
Negative sentences Conjugations
Numbers from11 to 69 Tourism and geography (Europe) Vocabulary: sports, favorite activities… Verbs “aller à”, “faire du, de la, de l’” Unit 3
WEEK 12 P.33‐34‐35 WEEK 13 P.36‐37‐40‐41 WEEK 14 P.38‐39 WEEK 15 P.42‐43 WEEK 16 TALKING ABOUT PROJECTS
Near‐future tense
Numbers after 69
Self‐assessment Possessive adjectives
TUESDAY, DEC. 14: ASSESSMENT (WRITTEN EXERCISES) ORAL ASSESSMENT REVISION CLASS TRAINING FOR DELF A1 TUESDAY, DEC.28: FINAL WRITTEN EXAM UNIVERSITY EXAM WEEKS
Conjugations Vocabulary: family in France ASSESSMENT RUBRICS Final written exam Listening
Comprehension questionnaires dealing with two or three very short
recordings on everyday life (played twice).
Maximum duration of recordings: 2 mins
Approximately
15 minutes
Reading
Comprehension questionnaires dealing with two or three written
documents on everyday life.
15 minutes
Writing
Two part test:
- filling in a record, a form
- writing simple phrases (postcards, messages, stories etc) on
everyday topics.
15 minutes