Course Information: Français

Course Goals
The main goal of this course is for you to communicate in French. Communication skills include listening, reading, speaking, and writing. You will use French to talk about what’s happening in the classroom and in your life. You will acquire a great deal of vocabulary, and continually use and re-use what you know.

Instruction
This course requires you to participate actively. One of the methods used is called TPRS (Teaching Proficiency with Reading and Storytelling). With this approach, you acquire a foreign language much as you do your own native language: by listening extensively, and learning vocabulary and grammar by example. The teacher emphasizes comprehensible input. You should understand nearly everything you hear in class. The course will be held mostly in French, so that you can get as much time as possible listening and thinking in French.

How to succeed in this class
1. Take charge of your own learning.
Participate. Listen. Do your assignments. But do these things with the important element of being present and focused while you are doing them. Language acquisition is not a spectator sport. In this class you will show what you understand by responding to what you hear and not just letting something slip by either because you don’t understand or you are allowing yourself to “drift.”

2. Take a risk.
Your brain will constantly be working out what something means or how to express a thought. Respond to the part that you do understand. Say or do something, even if you’re not entirely sure of yourself. It is only by continually testing and using your new language skills that you will begin to internalize them. In this class, both in speaking and in writing, it is not only okay, but expected that you will make mistakes! Go for it! Perfectionism can inhibit your development of communication skills.

3. Don’t give up.
Becoming proficient in another language is a process with ups, downs, and plateaus. Just by keeping at it, you’ll build a solid base of comprehension and communicative skills. Some strategies to help keep you moving forward:

• When you don’t understand, say so. Ask questions. Remember, if you’ve been paying attention and still don’t get it, it’s not your fault! You need more information and reinforcement.

• Remember that you’ll need dozens of repetitions for a word to be acquired, so don’t get discouraged when you don’t know it yet.

• Leave your English at the door.

• Talk to yourself in French. Dream in French.
Grading
Grades are compiled from your scores on tests, quizzes, and projects, classwork and homework, and class participation. Percentages are as stated in the student handbook (90% - 100% = A, 80% - 89% = B, etc.).

We are working towards long-term memory and fluency, and so tests and assessments will be natural steps toward the mastery you will acquire in class. Many tests and quizzes will be unannounced because unannounced assessments give a much more reliable measure of what is in your long-term memory than announced tests. This avoids training your brain to "cram" the night before, an effective "short-term" memory tool but not our target in language study. If you have participated, you will be well prepared.

Materials
1. A binder to organize handouts and notes. This may be shared with other subjects.
2. Please bring a writing utensil and paper to every class.
3. A separate notebook to be used as a journal.

Makeup work
Class participation is the single greatest factor in student success. The learning missed on any given day cannot be simply made up, because the class experience cannot be duplicated on your own. So please stay healthy, and attend class! For each day absent, in addition to any other assignments the class completed on that day, write a journal entry using current words or expressions. Length: 50, 100, or 150 words (French I, II, III/IV).

For an excused absence, you have one day to make up work for each day of class missed. This applies to new material introduced and new assignments given; tests or quizzes must be taken even if you were absent beforehand, and long-term assign-ments must still be turned in on time. If you are absent on the day something is due, you are expected to turn it in as soon as you return. For missed quizzes or tests, you have one week from the date of your return. Anything not made up in that time receives a grade of zero.

Late work is accepted for half credit if handed in within a week of due date.

Extra credit will be considered only upon completion of all regular assignments. See me individually for possibilities.

Contact me
Teachers live for questions! I welcome your inquiries, and I will also be available to offer additional help. Find me in room 208 before or after school, during seventh period, or at the beginning of lunch hour. (Note: 8th period I teach in room 213.)

Mrs. Kelly at home: 835-3040 (between 7:00 A.M. and 10:00 P.M.)
Message phone: 255-3040
E-mail address: jennifer_kelly@valdez.cc
School phone: 835-4767