French 21F: French Level II, First Semester
Inroduction
Overview
Bienvenue à French 21F! Are you ready to continue your voyage through the Frenchspeaking world? Fasten your seatbelts and get ready because you are about to enhance
your knowledge of French language, traditions, customs, and cultures. To be eligible to
take this course, you must have successfully completed French 11F and 12F, or the
equivalent of one year of high school French.
In this second-year French course, you will discover many new concepts about French
language and culture. Some of the material covered is easy, and some is more difficult.
Please don’t get discouraged! Try your best. The lessons will lead you through the course
material in the most organized and clear way possible. And if you ever have questions the
lessons don’t answer, you can always contact your instructor.
Course Topics
French 21F will build upon the French you learned in your first year. You will learn more
vocabulary and grammar structures. You will read authentic material and write letters. At
the conclusion of this course, you will be able to participate in simple two-way
conversations. You will be able to describe friends and family, celebrations, party
preparations, food shopping, school places and events, computer terms, and your daily
routine.
In addition, you will read some excerpts from French literature, including poems and Le
Petit Nicolas. You will also be able to write short compositions using the passé composé,
reflexive verbs, adjectives, and object pronouns. You will increase your comprehension
by watching Le Secret de la statuette. Finally, you will enhance your knowledge of the
francophone culture.
Textbook
This course will use the Bien dit! level 2 textbook published by Holt, Rinehart, and
Winston. If you look over the table of contents for the textbook and skim through the
pages, you will see that each textbook chapter is divided into sections. Below is a
summary of each section.
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Géoculture. Some chapters are preceded by Géoculture sections. You will learn
about geography, art, architecture, food, and celebrations. In this course, you will
learn about Paris, Quebec, and Rennes.
Chapter Opener. This gives you an overview of what you will be learning in
each chapter.
Vocabulaire. The vocabulary sections focus on real-life situations and functional
phrases to set a foundation for communicating in French. Large photos taken in
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real French-speaking settings help you create a context for the vocabulary you are
learning.
Grammaire. Grammar is introduced using colors and highlighting to emphasize
key points. Each grammar concept is introduced using the vocabulary previously
learned in the chapter to create opportunities for real-life communicative
situations.
Application. Here you can synthesize the vocabulary and grammar that you have
learned. The Un peu plus sections review a short grammar topic that builds on
what you already know.
Culture. The culture sections describe products and practices in the francophone
world. Culture appliquée introduces you to a topic and then provides a hands-on
activity. Comparaisons challenges you to compare a francophone country with
the United States. Finally, Communauté asks you to think critically about your
own community. In addition, throughout the chapter there are Flash culture
sections that provide brief cultural information in two or three sentences.
Télé-roman: La Secret de la statuette. This is a video story that will have you
guessing throughout the course. You will learn the French language in context as
the story progresses. The story will conclude at the end of French 22F.
Lecture et écriture. Here you will read authentic texts in French. Every reading
has a corresponding strategy to help tackle reading confidently as well as pre- and
post-reading activities.
Prépare-toi pour l’examen. This section provides review activities, and grammar
and vocabulary summaries for each chapter. There is also an online self-test.
Révisions cumulatives. These sections follow each chapter and offer connections
between the material you have just learned and the material in previous chapters.
Online Textbook
In addition to the traditional textbook, you will also use the online Bien dit! site, which
expands on the contents of the book. A portion of your fees for this course pays for
access to the site. The syllabus for the course includes a link for you to request
registration to the online textbook. If you haven't already done so, click the link now to
request your username and password.
Note: Even if you took French 11F or 12F, you will need a new username and password
for this course.
Once you receive your login credentials, you can access the online textbook at this
address:
http://my.hrw.com/
Add this Web address to your bookmarks. Once you log in with your username and
password, you can select “Go to the online textbook” to begin. The online textbook
includes the following features:
2 Electronic Textbook
The Bien dit! site features an electronic version of the textbook, which includes the same
text, images, and page numbers as the hard copy, but with several interactive features
added. The most significant of these is the ability to complete practice exercises online
and to check your answers using a Check All button, and a Grammar Tutor feature that
provides more in-depth explanations for key grammar concepts.
Vocabulaire et Grammaire
The grammar and vocabulary workbook that accompanies the textbook reinforces
grammar and vocabulary structures learned in each chapter. You can access the
workbook using the Vocabulaire et grammaire tab on the Bien dit! site. Many of these
activities are practice exercises that you can complete and check your answers to, but
others will be part of the assignments you must submit for grades throughout this course.
Audio and Video
The audio and video resources on the Bien dit! Web site are extremely important because
they enable you to listen to native French speakers. You will hear how words and sounds
are pronounced, and you will be able to practice these sounds yourself. Here are some of
the key audio and video features you will use:
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Vocabulary words and expressions in the online version of the textbook are
highlighted in blue, indicating that you can click each word or expression to hear
it pronounced by a native speaker. This feature makes it easy to listen several
times to a word or expression and to repeat it yourself until you are comfortable
saying it.
Télé-vocab video segments enable you to hear vocabulary words and expressions
used in context, as part of a conversation. This helps you move beyond thinking
of the words and expressions as isolated units.
Écoutons audio exercises enable you to check your listening comprehension by
answering a series of multiple-choice or true/false questions about the selection
you hear.
Grammavision videos review key points of grammar and let you hear new
structures out loud rather than just reading them.
SoundBooth activities enable you to record yourself speaking French online and
play it back. Most of these activities are not assigned for a grade, but they are a
great tool to practice your French-speaking skills and to prepare for the oral
assignments that you will submit.
Télé-roman episodes are available through links in the online textbook. This
enables you to link your reading of each soap opera segment in the textbook with
watching the video online to hear the French spoken in a natural context. The
Video tab on the Bien dit! site takes you to a complete transcript of each episode
in case you have difficulty understanding what you hear.
All these audio and video activities are accessible in the online textbook. Many students
find that speaking and listening are the most enjoyable aspects of learning a language, so
be sure to make a lot of use of these audio and video features, and have fun!
3 Course Organization
French 21F is composed of eight lessons. Lessons 1–3 cover textbook chapters 1 and 2.
Lessons 5, 6, and 7 cover textbook chapters 3, 4, and 5, respectively. Lesson 4 is the
midterm exam review and lesson 8 is the review for the final exam. The Oncourse
syllabus page will connect you to the lessons.
Lessons 1–3 and 5–7 begin with a list of objectives that give you an idea of what you will
learn. These lessons are broken into study sessions, which lead you through the
vocabulary and grammar units in the textbook, highlighting and explaining key concepts
and pointing out practice activities.
Most practice activities allow you to check your answers online. The Check All feature
will tell you whether the answers you enter are correct. For activities without a Check All
button, or if you have trouble coming up with a correct answer, you can find a set of
answers to practice exercises in the Practice Answers link at left.
Assignments
At the end of lessons 1–3 and 5–7, you will be required to submit an assignment to your
instructor for a grade. The assignments will consist of activities from the textbook,
Vocabulaire et grammaire, and Web. The assignments also include an oral (speaking)
portion. The parts to be submitted will be listed at the end of a lesson in the Assignments
section.
The oral portion of the assignment will be recorded using the Tests & Surveys section of
the class Oncourse site. To record your voice, you will need access to a computer with a
microphone.
Most newer laptops already have a microphone built in. If you have to buy one, you can
get a headset-style microphone (used for Internet phone service) for less than ten dollars.
On a desktop computer, the jacks or sockets for microphones are usually on the back.
Microphone jacks are often designated by red or pink colors, while speaker/headphone
jacks are green.
After you have submitted an assignment, you may want to begin working on the next
lesson. But because learning a language is a step-by-step process where new material
builds on an understanding of previous material, you will want to be sure that you
understand the lesson you just finished. Therefore, it is best to wait for the return of your
graded assignment before you submit the next lesson’s assignment.
Examinations
There are two examinations in French 21F, a midterm and a final. The midterm will
cover material from lessons 1–3 (and chapters 1 and 2 in the textbook). The final will
focus on material learned in lessons 5–7 (chapters 3–5 in the textbook). It is important
4 to remember that language learning is cumulative, so you will find questions on the
final exam that relate to the first half of the course.
The exams will include six parts, including listening and writing parts, and activities
similar to those you completed in the lessons and assignments. There will be multiplechoice, true/false, completion, and fill-in-the-blank questions.
Lessons 4 and 8 will provide information about the exams and how to prepare for them.
CD Player and Headphones
Important: You will be required to bring a CD player and headphones to the two
examinations to complete the listening comprehension portion of the exams.
Grading
Your final grade in French 21F will be based on your performance on the six assignments
and the two exams. Your grade is figured based on your points earned versus the points
possible. The grade breaks down as follows:
Assignments (six @ 50 points each)
Midterm exam
Final exam
300 points
150 points
150 points
Total
600 points
For each assignment, you can figure your percent by multiplying your points by 2. (For
example, if you earned 45 points on an assignment, you earned a 90 percent.)
Your letter grade for the course will be based upon the following scale:
540–600
480–539
420–479
360–419
below 360
A
B
C
D
F
Note: According to Independent Study Program policy, the average of your two exam
grades must be at least a D−minus (60 percent) to pass the course. Even if your
assignment grades are excellent, you will not pass the course unless you fulfill this
requirement.
Words of Advice
Your adventure into the French language is sure to be fun and exciting, but it may also be
daunting at times. The following suggestions will help you overcome problems and study
5 more effectively. Remember that you can always contact your instructor with any
questions.
1. Go through each lesson at a reasonable pace; do not attempt to complete an entire
lesson in one sitting. Be sure you understood one lesson before you begin the
next.
2. Divide your study time into small units of 20 to 30 minutes. This works better
than studying for an hour straight. Do a little French every day; it will reinforce
what was learned the day before and encourage you to become a more effective
learner.
3. I cannot overemphasize the value of review. If you review a little each night, you
will not have to study so long prior to the exams. French is like math; it is difficult
to move forward if you have not properly mastered the previous material.
4. Do not translate word-for-word. Rather, read a text all the way through once
before using a dictionary. After the first reading, ask yourself what you
understood. Then try to grasp the meaning of words through the context. Take
advantage of the pictures and dialogue situations in the textbook to help you
understand the material. Then, if you need to, look up words your second time
through the text.
5. Follow the instructions in the lessons. They are designed to shepherd you through
your learning experience. Therefore, it is to your advantage to follow each lesson
and not skip over any parts.
6. Take advantage of outside opportunities to speak, hear, read, and write French. If
your local cinema is showing a French film, go see it, or rent a movie like Jean de
Florette or Marie Antoinette. If you know someone who speaks French, practice
with him or her. Read a French newspaper, such as Le Monde or Le Figaro at
your local library, a large bookstore, or online. There are plenty of opportunities
to expose yourself to French outside of this course; take advantage of them.
7. Reward yourself for your progress. When you have mastered new material,
congratulate yourself!
8. Finally, enjoy your experience. You will learn all kinds of information about the
French language, francophone culture, and yourself. Have fun with this course
and you will be sure to succeed!
About the Author
Rebecca Elkins is the French teacher at Shelby Central Schools in Shelbyville,
Indiana. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in French Education and a minor in
English as a Second Language from Indiana University. She earned a Master of
Science degree in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University. She has previously
taught English to French students in France. Rebecca enjoys traveling, learning about
new cultures, scuba diving, quilting, and running.
6 Course Outline
Introduction
Lesson 1: Ma famille et mes copains
Lesson 2: On fait la fête Part 1
Lesson 3: On fait la fête Part 2
Lesson 4: Midterm Exam Tips
Lesson 5: Faisons les courses
Lesson 6: Au lycée
Lesson 7: Une journée typique
Lesson 8: Final Exam Tips
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